Yeast Strain · Reference

Fermentis SafAle US-05: Temperature, Attenuation & How to Pitch

SafAle US-05 is a clean American ale yeast: 78–82% attenuation, best at 18–22°C, alcohol tolerance around 9–11%. Specs, how much to pitch, dry vs rehydrated, and the beers it suits.

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Dry ale yeast beside a fermenter and pale ale

Updated October 2026 · 6 min read

Fermentis SafAle US-05 is the most widely used dry ale yeast in home brewing. It is the dry version of the classic “Chico” American ale strain: clean, neutral and dependable, letting the malt and hops lead. If a recipe calls for an American ale yeast and you want something that stores well and works every time, this is it.

US-05 specs

78–82% apparent attenuation
18–22°C for the cleanest beer (range 18–26°C)
11.5 g one sachet for about 20–30 L
PropertyUS-05
TypeAle (top-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
FlavourClean, neutral, low esters at cool temperatures
FlocculationMedium; can stay in suspension for a while
Alcohol toleranceAbout 9–11%
PitchingDry onto the wort or rehydrated
Similar liquid strainsWyeast 1056, White Labs WLP001
Yeast starter flask beside yeast portions and a scale

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Work out how much yeast to pitch from batch size, gravity, and beer type — target cell count, liquid packs, and dry yeast grams.

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Beers US-05 suits

American pale ale and IPA the clean profile lets citrus and pine hops show.
Amber, brown and stout neutral enough to let malt flavours lead.
Cider and blonde ales ferments apple juice cleanly and dry.
Not ideal for English ales (try S-04), Belgian styles or lagers, which need yeasts with their own character.

Pitching and temperature

Pitch at the low end of the range and let the beer free-rise a degree or two as fermentation finishes. Fermentation is usually active within 12–24 hours and done in 4–7 days at 18–20°C, but give it a few extra days to clean up before packaging. Because US-05 can stay in suspension, cold crashing helps clear the beer.

Compare it with S-04, Nottingham and kveik in the yeast strain chart. For finishing, see cold crashing beer, and to confirm strength, use the ABV calculator.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What temperature should I ferment US-05 at?
Fermentis lists 18–26°C (64–79°F). For a clean, neutral American ale, aim for 18–20°C (64–68°F) at the beer, not the room; warmer ferments produce more fruity esters.
What is the attenuation of US-05?
About 78–82%, so a 1.050 wort typically finishes around 1.009–1.011. Mash temperature and recipe can move this a few points either way.
Do I need to rehydrate US-05?
No. Fermentis rates it for pitching dry directly onto the wort. Rehydrating in sterile water at about 25–29°C for 15–30 minutes is also fine and can help in high-gravity beers.
How much US-05 do I need?
One 11.5 g sachet is enough for about 20–30 L (5–8 US gallons) of normal-gravity wort. For strong beers above about 1.065, use two sachets or check the pitch rate calculator.
What is US-05 similar to?
It is the dry equivalent of the classic 'Chico' American ale strain, similar in character to Wyeast 1056 and White Labs WLP001.
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