Swiss-born and quietly characterful. S-189 brews clean, fairly neutral lagers with a soft herbal and floral edge — built for the second pint as much as the first.
Attenuation 80–84 % · 12–18 °C · Fast sedimentation · Herbal & floral notes · 80–120 g/hl · 11.5 g sachet
What it does in your beer
S-189 comes from the Hürlimann brewery in Switzerland. Fermentis describes a fairly neutral profile with high drinkability, and depending on how you ferment it, it can show noticeable herbal and floral notes.
Esters and higher alcohols are both low, apparent attenuation is 80–84 % and the yeast settles fast once the work is done. Alcohol tolerance is 9–11 %.
At a glance
| Manufacturer | Fermentis |
| Strain / type | Lager yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus) |
| Strain origin | Hürlimann brewery, Switzerland |
| Form | Active dry yeast |
| Pack size | 11.5 g sachet |
| Apparent attenuation | 80–84 % |
| Sedimentation | Fast |
| Fermentation temperature | 12–18 °C (ideal range) |
| Alcohol tolerance | 9–11 % |
| Esters / higher alcohols | Low / low |
| Dosage | 80–120 g/hl at 12–18 °C; up to 200–300 g/hl at 9 °C |
| Rehydration | Optional — direct pitch or rehydrate |
How much for a 20 L batch
Fermentis recommends 80–120 g/hl at 12–18 °C. For 20 L (0.2 hl) that's 16–24 g, i.e. 2–3 sachets (approx.: dosage × 0.2 hl, rounded up to whole 11.5 g sachets). That's more than the 50–80 g/hl Fermentis gives for its ale strains.
Fermenting below 12 °C? Fermentis says to increase the pitch up to 200–300 g/hl at 9 °C — 40–60 g, i.e. 4–6 sachets for 20 L (same method).
How to use
- Direct pitch: sprinkle the yeast gradually over the entire wort surface, at or above fermentation temperature, to avoid clumps.
- Or rehydrate: at least 10× its weight of sterile water or boiled, hopped wort at 15–25 °C, rest 15–30 minutes, stir gently and pitch the cream.
- Ferment at 12–18 °C. Going colder than 12 °C means pitching more yeast (see above), not less.
- Leftover yeast in an opened sachet: seal, 4 °C, use within 7 days.
Pairs well with
Brewing a crisp pale lager? Try it with Czech Pilsner Malt, a little Weyermann® CARAPILS® and Saaz Shine hops.
Storage & shelf life
- Unopened: cool and dry. Our advice is below 10 °C; Fermentis requires below 24 °C for up to 6 months and below 15 °C for anything longer.
- Shelf life: 36 months from the production date on the sachet.
- Opened: seal it, store at 4 °C and use it within 7 days.
Food information
- Name: Active dry brewing yeast (lager)
- Ingredients: yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus), emulsifier: sorbitan monostearate (E491)
- Allergens: none — neither ingredient is a listed allergen under EU Regulation 1169/2011
- Net quantity: 11.5 g
- Storage: keep cool (below 10 °C) and dry
Good to know
- Budget 2–3 sachets per 20 L at 12–18 °C, and 4–6 if you ferment around 9 °C.
- The 36-month best-before date is printed on every sachet.
- This sachet travels from our partner warehouse in the Czech Republic, separately from any hardware in your order.
FAQ
How many sachets of S-189 for 20 L?
2–3 at 12–18 °C (80–120 g/hl = 16–24 g). Below 12 °C Fermentis advises up to 200–300 g/hl at 9 °C, which is 4–6 sachets.
What does S-189 taste like?
Fairly neutral and very drinkable, with noticeable herbal and floral notes depending on fermentation conditions.
S-189 or W-34/70?
Both are Fermentis lager strains with 80–84 % attenuation, 12–18 °C and 80–120 g/hl. S-189 (Swiss) leans herbal and floral; W-34/70 (Weihenstephan) gives a balance of floral and fruity aromas with clean flavours.
Can I pitch it dry?
Yes. Sprinkle it directly onto the wort at or above fermentation temperature; rehydration is optional.