WLP002 English Ale Yeast is a classic ESB strain sourced from one of England’s largest independent breweries. It is a traditional choice for English-style ales – milds, bitters, porters, and stouts – and it also performs beautifully in American pale ales and IPAs when you want a fuller body and a malt-forward foundation.

This strain enhances malt character with a touch of residual sweetness and subtle fruity esters, adding depth to both flavor and aroma without becoming overpowering. WLP002 is also known for very high flocculation, producing bright, clear beers and making yeast harvesting straightforward. Slight diacetyl production can occur, but it is typically easy to manage with good fermentation practices and proper conditioning.

Highlights

• Rich malt accentuation with mild fruity esters
• Very high flocculation for brilliant clarity and easy harvesting
• Great choice when you want a fuller mouthfeel and a rounded finish
• Suitable for English and American-style ales
• PurePitch® Next Generation packaging for consistent, reliable pitching

Brewing Notes

• Expect a slightly fuller finish: attenuation is moderate, which can leave a bit more body and residual sweetness – ideal for many English styles.
• Manage diacetyl with process: keep fermentation steady, avoid underpitching, and consider a short warm finish near the end of fermentation to help the yeast clean up.
• Very high flocculation means it drops clear quickly, but it can also settle out early – rouse gently if fermentation slows before reaching target gravity.
• For hop-forward beers, this strain can support a malt-rich base while still allowing hop aroma to shine, especially with late hopping and dry hopping.

Storage and Handling

• Store refrigerated until use.
• Allow the pouch to warm toward fermentation temperature before pitching to reduce temperature shock.
• Use a starter and/or increased pitch rate for higher-gravity worts when appropriate for your process.

Tech Specs

• Attenuation: 63-70%
• Flocculation: Very High
• Alcohol Tolerance: 5-10%
• Fermentation Temp: 65-68°F (18-20°C)
• STA1: Negative
• Popular Styles: English Bitter, English IPA, Pale Ale, American IPA, Blonde Ale, Brown Ale, Porter, Stout, Red Ale, Double IPA, Imperial Stout, Old Ale, Hazy/Juicy IPA