Diamond Lager is classified as Saccharomyces pastorianus, a bottom-fermenting yeast commonly used for crisp, smooth and highly drinkable beer. Its restrained fermentation profile allows delicate malt, noble hops and carefully developed lager flavours to remain clear in the finished beer.

This strain is suitable for a broad range of lager recipes, from pale and refreshing Pilsners through to rich Doppelbock and dark Schwarzbier. It can also be used for California Common-style beer when the recipe calls for lager yeast fermented under suitable conditions.

Suitable Beer Styles

Use LalBrew Diamond Lager for brewing:

• Munich Helles
• Dortmunder Export
• German Pilsner
• Bohemian Pilsner
• American Pilsner
• Vienna Lager
• Oktoberfest
• Märzen
• Dark American Lager
• Munich Dunkel
• Schwarzbier
• Traditional Bock
• Doppelbock
• Eisbock
• California Common
• Lager-style fresh wort kits

Its versatility makes it a useful lager yeast for both light, hop-focused beers and richer malt-driven styles.

Clean Lager Character

The main benefit of Diamond Lager is its ability to produce a clean and authentic lager profile. A neutral fermentation allows the recipe ingredients to remain the focus.

Depending on the chosen beer style, this may help highlight:

• Soft Pilsner malt
• Bread and biscuit notes
• Toasted Vienna or Munich malt
• Noble hop aroma
• Smooth bitterness
• Dark malt complexity
• Clean fermentation character

For pale lagers, the strain supports a crisp and refreshing finish. In darker styles, it allows caramel, toast, chocolate and roasted malt notes to develop without excessive yeast-derived flavour.

Yeast Characteristics

• Yeast classification: Saccharomyces pastorianus
• Fermentation type: Bottom fermenting
• Format: Active dry brewing yeast
• Sachet size: 11 grams
• Origin: Doemens Academy Culture Collection, Germany
• Fermentation profile: Clean and authentic lager character
• Diastaticus status: Negative
• Solids: Approximately 93–97%
• Living yeast cells: At least 5 × 10⁹ per gram
• Wild yeast: Less than 1 per 1,000,000 yeast cells
• Bacteria: Less than 1 per 1,000,000 yeast cells

The final fermentation performance will depend on wort gravity, pitching rate, yeast handling, fermentation temperature and available nutrients.

General Brewing Instructions

1. Clean and sanitise the fermenter and all equipment that will contact the wort.
2. Transfer the prepared wort into the sanitised fermentation vessel.
3. Bring the wort to the recommended pitching temperature shown on the sachet.
4. Pitch the required amount of yeast according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Maintain a stable fermentation temperature.
6. Monitor fermentation with a hydrometer or another reliable gravity-reading device.
7. Confirm that the specific gravity remains stable over consecutive days.
8. Complete a diacetyl rest where required by the brewing process.
9. Cold condition the beer where suitable.
10. Bottle or keg only after fermentation is complete.

Lager fermentation generally requires careful temperature control and an appropriate pitching rate. Larger batches, stronger wort and colder fermentation may require more than one sachet.

Lagering and Cold Conditioning

Cold conditioning can improve clarity, smooth the flavour and create the crisp finish associated with traditional lager.

After fermentation is complete, gradually reducing the temperature may help:

• Settle suspended yeast
• Improve beer clarity
• Smooth harsh fermentation flavours
• Refine malt and hop balance
• Create a cleaner finish

The required conditioning time will vary according to the beer style and original gravity. A light Pilsner may require less maturation than a strong Bock or Doppelbock.

Using Diamond Lager with Fresh Wort Kits

LalBrew Premium Series Diamond Lager Yeast x 11g is a practical choice for lager-style fresh wort kits supplied without yeast.

Suitable kits may include:

• Japanese Rice Lager
• Mexican Lager
• New Zealand Pilsner
• Aussie Draught
• German Lager
• Munich Helles
• Vienna Lager
• Dark Lager
• Pilsner base kits
• Bock-style wort

Its clean fermentation profile helps preserve the professionally prepared malt and hop character of the wort.

Always check the original gravity and final batch volume before selecting the amount of yeast required.

Brewing Pale Lagers

For Pilsner, Helles and similar light beer styles, sanitation and temperature control are especially important because delicate recipes can reveal fermentation faults more easily.

Use fresh ingredients, healthy yeast and properly cleaned equipment. Keep oxygen exposure low after fermentation to protect the beer’s crisp flavour and pale colour.

Traditional noble hop varieties such as Saaz, Hallertau, Tettnang and Spalt work particularly well with this strain.

Brewing Dark and Strong Lagers

Diamond Lager can also be used for malt-rich styles such as Dunkel, Schwarzbier, Bock and Doppelbock.

For these beers:

• Match the pitching quantity to the higher original gravity
• Use suitable yeast nutrient where required
• Allow enough fermentation time
• Confirm stable gravity before packaging
• Provide additional conditioning time
• Maintain careful temperature control

Strong lagers often improve after extended maturation, allowing alcohol warmth and complex malt flavours to become smoother.

Yeast Nutrient Recommendation

Adding a suitable yeast nutrient can help support healthy fermentation, particularly in high-gravity wort, cold-pitched lager or recipes with limited nutrient availability.

Use the nutrient according to the dosage printed on its packaging. Do not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended amount.

Storage and Handling

Store unopened yeast according to the directions printed on the sachet. Protect it from moisture, direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Check the best-before date before brewing. Do not use sachets that appear swollen, damaged, soft or poorly sealed.

During warm weather, selecting a faster freight option may reduce the amount of time the yeast spends in transit. Express delivery is not refrigerated, but shorter travel time may help limit prolonged heat exposure.

Place the yeast into suitable cool storage promptly after delivery.

LalBrew Premium Series Diamond Lager Yeast x 11g is an excellent choice for brewers seeking clean German lager character and dependable fermentation performance. Its broad style compatibility makes it suitable for crisp Pilsners, smooth Helles, rich Märzen, dark lagers and strong Bock-style beer.