LalBrew Essential Lager Yeast – 500g packet

LalBrew Essential® Lager Dry Yeast

LalBrew Essential® Lager is a premium bottom-fermenting strain from the Lallemand Yeast Culture Collection, specifically curated to meet the technical and economic objectives of commercial brewing operations. It delivers authentic lager characteristics with a very neutral flavour and aroma profile, allowing the quality of the malt and hops to be the primary focus. This strain is technically distinguished by its vigorous fermentation kinetics, even at cold temperatures, and its high flocculation, which facilitates easy harvesting and produces excellent beer clarity. Capable of completing primary fermentation in approximately 9 days at 12°C, it provides a dependable and efficient workflow for producing high-quality core lager brands without the premium cost of specialty strains.

Key Benefits

1. Cost-Effective Performance: Tailored for high-volume production without compromising on quality or reliability.
2. Authentic Lager Profile: Produces clean, neutral flavours and aromas typical of traditional European lagers.
3. High Flocculation: Settles quickly for bright beer and efficient yeast cropping.
4. Vigorous Kinetics: Fast-acting for a lager strain, reducing tank residency time.
5. STA1 Negative: Confirmed non-diastatic strain, ensuring no risk of over-attenuation or cross-contamination.

Applications

1. Brewing: Specifically engineered for traditional lager styles, including German Pilsner, Munich Helles, Dortmunder Export, and International Pale Lager. Its neutral character also makes it suitable for “pseudo-lagers” when used at the lower end of its range.
2. Distilling: Highly suitable for clean, grain-neutral spirit bases where minimal ester production is required.
3. Cider Making: An excellent choice for crisp, cold-fermented ciders where a clean, dry finish is needed to accentuate primary fruit character.

Typical Usage

1. Pitching Rate: 100 – 200g per hL of wort (achieving 5 – 10 million viable cells/mL).
2. Fermentation Strategy: For the cleanest profile, maintain a steady 12°C. A diacetyl rest at 15°C toward the end of fermentation is recommended to ensure a crisp finish.

Technical Data & Properties

1. Classification: Saccharomyces pastorianus (Bottom-fermenting).
2. Attenuation: High.
3. Flocculation: High.
4. Alcohol Tolerance: 10% ABV.
5. Optimal Temp Range: 10°C – 15°C.
6. STA1 (Diastaticus): Negative.

Storage and Handling

1. Storage: Store in a vacuum-sealed package in dry conditions below 4°C.
2. Shelf Life: 3 years from the date of manufacture if the seal remains intact.
3. Handling: Once the vacuum seal is broken, the yeast must be used within 3 days. Dry pitching is the preferred method; sprinkle the yeast evenly onto the surface of the wort as the fermenter is being filled. Note: Repitching and propagation are not recommended for the Essential Series as it may alter the performance characteristics of the strain over generations.

Summary

LalBrew Essential® Lager is the “workhorse” for the modern production brewery. It provides the technical security of a Lallemand strain—including high viability and purity—at a price point that supports the commercial viability of high-volume lager brands.