SafAle K-97 German Ale Dry Yeast 11.5g

SafAle K-97 German Ale Yeast

SafAle K-97 is a German ale yeast with a subtle, floral profile and balanced fruity character. It is well suited to delicate and hop-forward beers where you want a restrained fermentation profile with more personality than a completely neutral American ale strain.

The strain is also known for producing a large, firm fermentation head and is a useful choice for Kölsch-style beer, session ales and heavily hopped beers.

Yeast Details

• Yeast Type: German ale yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
• Pack Size: 11.5g
• Fermentation Temperature: Ideally 18–26°C
• Apparent Attenuation: Medium
• Character: Subtle, floral and balanced fruity notes
• Pitching Rate: 50–80g/hl
• Good For: Kölsch-style beer, delicate ales, session ales and hop-forward beers

How to Use

K-97 can be pitched directly onto the wort or rehydrated before pitching. Allow enough headspace in the fermenter because this strain can form a substantial foam head.

Substitutes

LalBrew Nottingham is a useful alternative for clean, cool-fermented ale styles, but it is more attenuative and less floral. SafAle US-05 works well when the priority is a clean base for pale or highly hopped beers, although it lacks K-97's distinctly German, floral character.

Brewer's Tip

Leave generous headspace during active fermentation. K-97 can build a substantial krausen even when the fermentation itself is otherwise straightforward.