SafLager SH-45

What the manufacturer says

This strain possesses the capability to release and esterify thiols; as a result, beers crafted with SafLager SH-45 may present enhanced levels of fruitiness and intensified citrus and tropical notes.

Product page

What the evidence says

• Fermentis states that SH-45 can release and esterify thiols, so beers made with it may show more fruitiness and stronger citrus and tropical notes when hopped with thiol-rich varieties. Fermentis, SH-45
• Lager yeast releasing thiols from both hop and malt precursors during fermentation has been demonstrated in peer-reviewed work, which is the mechanism this strain is selected for. Chenot et al. 2022

Rating context: manufacturers usually quote free-thiol concentration relative to the sensory threshold, not conversion yield. Peer-reviewed work finds that only a small fraction of bound precursors is converted in beer fermentation, so the ordering between strains is more reliable than any absolute number Chenot et al. 2021 Michel et al. 2019.

In practice

A route to thiol character in hoppy lagers and cold IPA without an ale strain. Cold fermentation slows the enzyme, so give it precursor-rich hops in the whirlpool and time. Independent measurements are still scarce; treat the high rating as the manufacturer's positioning until third-party data appears.

Non-GMO.

Hops that reward this strain

Citra, Cryo Citra, Cryo Mosaic, Cryo Simcoe, Ekuanot, Galaxy, Hallertau Blanc, Kohatu, Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, Riwaka, Sabro, Simcoe, Strata, Superdelic, Talus, Vista, Waimea. Each carries a high rating for bound 3MH-family or 4MMP precursors. Mash and whirlpool additions supply precursors during fermentation; a cold dry hop mostly adds the free fraction.