LalBrew Windsor British Ale Yeast – 11g

Best Yeast for Full-Bodied, Fruity British Ales

LalBrew Windsor™ is a true English ale strain, your go-to yeast if you’re brewing something British, malty, and easy-drinking.

It’s a classic top-fermenting ale yeast that produces a balanced fruity aroma with lower attenuation due to an inability to metabolize maltotriose.

That means it can’t ferment the more complex sugar maltotriose — which makes up about 10–15% of wort — leaving more body and sweetness in the final beer.

This has quickly become a favourite among homebrewers looking to produce session-strength ales that still need character.

What Beer Styles Is Windsor Best For?

• English Milds & Bitters – Soft esters, smooth finish, easy drinking
• Brown Ales & Irish Reds – Balanced, toasty, and malty with a hint of fruit
• Porters & Sweet Stouts – Adds depth, sweetness, and body
• Low-ABV Ales – Ideal for beers under 4% that still feel full and satisfying

Windsor Yeast Characteristics

• Strain: Saccharomyces cerevisiae (top fermenting)
• Attenuation: 65–72%
• Alcohol Tolerance: Up to 12%
• Fermentation Temp: 15–25°C
• Flocculation: Low – will take time to clear without finings
• Aroma: Estery – light red apple, pear, subtle fruitiness

How to Use LalBrew Windsor

Dry Pitching: Just sprinkle it directly into your wort. No starter needed. It’ll get to work quickly.

Advanced Method: (Making a Yeast Starter)

• Add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and the contents of the sachet to a glass with about 50ml of warm water. (approx. 20 °C)
• Cover the glass with a clean plate and simply leave for 15-20 minutes.
• Before you empty the glass of yeast into your brew we recommend vigorously stirring your wort.
• The more oxygen introduced before you put the yeast on will promote a strong healthy fermentation.

Substitute Yeasts

If LalBrew Windsor isn’t available here are some solid alternatives we recommend:

• Gervin GV12 – Similar esters, a touch drier, good all-round English ale yeast
• Mangrove Jack’s M15 Empire Ale – A low attenuation yeast, that's great for making sweet stouts.
• LalBrew® Nottingham – Cleaner, higher attenuation, good for drier English-style ales
• Mangrove Jack’s M36 Liberty Bell – Full-bodied, low-flocculating English ale yeast
• SafAle S-04 – Fast, compact flocculation, classic British flavour profile

FAQs – Windsor Yeast in a Nutshell

Is Windsor good for low-alcohol beers?
Yes. It leaves residual sugars, which makes low-ABV beers feel full and flavourful without boosting alcohol.

Can Windsor be used for modern IPAs?
Not really. It’s too estery and not attenuative enough for dry, hop-forward styles. Stick to British recipes with a malt focus.

Do I need finings with Windsor?
It helps. Windsor flocculates low, so a bit of gelatin, isinglass, or time will go a long way in clearing the beer.