Exploring Yeast for Cold-Weather Brews
As the winter chill sets in, we see brewers turn to robust, warming beer styles that bring comfort during the colder months. From rich malt complexity to bold, boozy character, winter beers invite creativity and indulgence. And the right yeast strain is key to getting the most out of these seasonal brews. Below, we explore a range of classic winter styles, each matched with a yeast strain from Escarpment Labs to help you craft something special this winter.
1. Doppelbock: Deep Malt Complexity with a Dry Finish
Doppelbocks are strong German lagers known for their rich malt profiles, offering flavours of caramel, bread, and sometimes a touch of dried fruit. While these beers are typically full-bodied and smooth, you can opt for a more refined finish by selecting the right yeast.
Recommended Yeast: Isar Lager or Biergarten for a Drying Finish
If you're looking to achieve a classic doppelbock with a clean lager character, Isar Lager is your go-to. This strain provides a crisp, balanced fermentation that enhances malt complexity without overwhelming sweetness. But if you're after a slightly drier, more drinkable finish, try our Biergarten yeast. Its attenuation helps dry out the finish while still highlighting the rich malt character—perfect for those who want to showcase a more refined version of this winter staple.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BIERGARTEN LAGER
2. Dubbel: Dark Fruit and Spice for Festive Flavours
Belgian Dubbels are quintessential winter beers, offering a harmony of dark fruit, caramelized sugar, and subtle spiciness. Yeast choice is vital to achieving that perfect balance of complex aromas and flavours.
Recommended Yeast: West Abbey
Our West Abbey yeast strain excels in Belgian styles, bringing out dark fruit flavours like raisin and plum while contributing a beautiful layer of spice. This yeast creates the signature rich and malty base of a Dubbel with complex esters and phenols, making it the perfect choice for holiday gatherings or cozy evenings by the fire.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WEST ABBEY ALE
3. Imperial Stouts and Barley Wines: Big, Bold, and Boozy
Imperial stouts and barley wines are winter classics for those who appreciate high ABV and intense flavours. These beers demand a yeast that can handle the hefty malt bill and deliver clean, efficient fermentation.
Recommended Yeast: House Ale (EL-D1)
Our House Ale strain is ideal for brewing both imperial stouts and barley wines. It offers clean and efficient fermentation, even in high-gravity wort, ensuring that the malt character shines through while keeping off-flavours at bay. Whether you're going for the rich, roasty notes of an imperial stout or the caramel and toffee complexity of a barley wine, House Ale will help you hit those high-ABV marks without compromising on flavour.
4. Dark Fruit and Spice Beers: Fruity and Festive
For those beers where dark fruit and spice take centre stage—think spiced ales, winter warmers, or even some unique takes on Scotch ales—you want a yeast that adds a little something extra to complement those flavours.
Recommended Yeast: English Ale II
Our English Ale II strain is perfect for these darker, fruit-forward beers. It produces esters of cherry and strawberry that pair beautifully with the caramel and roasted malt notes, creating a festive, warming beer ideal for the winter months. Whether you’re brewing a spiced holiday ale or a rich Scotch ale, English Ale II will enhance those fruity, spiced profiles without overwhelming the malt character.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ENGLISH ALE II
5. Nitro Beers: Smooth and Creamy with No Haze
Nitro beers are all about texture, offering a smooth, creamy mouthfeel that's particularly enjoyable in winter styles like stouts or porters. The right yeast can ensure the body and texture are on point without contributing unwanted haze.
Recommended Yeast: Foggy London Ale
While often associated with hazy IPAs, Foggy London Ale is also an excellent choice for nitro beers. It brings a smooth mouthfeel and full body, ideal for creating the velvety texture that nitro beers are famous for. Plus, if you’re not planning on heavy dry hopping, Foggy will deliver those benefits without introducing haze—giving you the clarity and creaminess you want for your winter nitro stouts and porters.
LEARN MORE ABOUT FOGGY LONDON ALE
6. Dark Lagers: Clean and Crisp with a Malt Forward Focus
Dark lagers, such as schwarzbier or dark Vienna lagers, combine the crispness of lagers with the roasty or caramel malt character typically found in ales. For these beers, fermentation cleanliness is key.
Recommended Yeast: Lost Lager or Isar Lager
If you're brewing a dark lager, our Lost Lager or Isar Lager strains are excellent choices. Both provide the clean fermentation necessary for lagers while allowing the malt complexity to shine. Lost Lager excels at delivering a smooth, refined finish, while Isar Lager offers versatility for a range of lager styles, giving you that perfect balance of roasted malts with a crisp lager profile.
Conclusion
Winter beers are all about comfort, complexity, and creativity. Whether you’re looking to brew a malt-forward doppelbock, a rich Dubbel, or a bold imperial stout, choosing the right yeast can elevate your brew from good to great. At Escarpment Labs, we have a range of yeast strains to help you explore the full spectrum of winter styles. Check out our full yeast catalogue to start brewing your next winter warmer today.
