Lager brewing can sometimes be daunting because a crisp, clean lager requires weeks to ferment properly with traditional lager yeast. Cold and slow fermentations with lager yeast create a unique mouthfeel, aroma, and flavor that can’t be rushed.
Recently, a new wave of innovation is gaining in popularity - using Kveik strains to ferment lagers. These “pseudo” lagers fermented with Kveik strains have gained popularity for their ability to ferment fast, at ale temps, with that crisp lager profile.
Our R&D department recently conducted an experiment using WLP518 Opshaug Kveik Ale Yeast and a competitor Kveik strain for a lager recipe at two different pitch rates.
Sourced by Lars Marius Garshol, WLP518 Opshaug Kveik Ale Yeast was isolated from a culture that belonged to Harald Opshaug, a farmhouse brewer in Stranda, Norway. This strain has been used, domesticated, and dried on Kveik rings since the 1990s to produce several kornøl-style beers.
Honey | Bready | Clean
Based on our previous findings, we tested these Kveik strains at both a low (0.25 mill cells/mL/°P) and high pitching rate (1.5 mill cells/mL/°P) to test if the pitching rate affected the sensory attributes of the lagers.
Both WLP518 and the competitor strain finished fermenting in less than 2 weeks at 68°F (20°C) and resulted in clean and crisp fermentations.
Figure 1. Fermentation Kinetics
While performance was nearly identical, we noted the competitor strain did have much higher levels of acetaldehyde than WLP518 Opshaug Kveik Ale Yeast when analyzed using standard methods on the Gas Chromatograph (see figure below). Acetaldehyde can result in off-flavors such as green apples or raw pumpkins.
Figure 2. Metabolites at 20°C Fermentation
We also noted the lower pitching rates resulted in higher acetaldehyde levels in both strains overall. Based on the data, we would recommend traditional higher lager pitching rates to produce cleaner fermentation profiles using Kveik yeasts.
The ability to effectively communicate fermentation attributes is crucial in the business of brewing. Through this technical series we want to expand on how to communicate the many flavor of fermentation by: Exploring ways to describe yeast-influenced flavor/aroma compounds Learning how yeast can manipulate other ingredients Different ways to establish brand identity through sensory We…
Read more
Located in downtown San Diego. East Village Brewing Company is an independent brewery committed to wholesome ingredients, sustainability, and community. They believe in the old adage “you are what you eat”. Beer is food, so it is imperative that we only source the highest quality and most wholesome ingredients. From years of experience and trialing…
Read more
Chris White, CEO of White Labs Inc., shares his insights on the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) held in Indianapolis, IN. He discusses Indianapolis' history, what he has seen happen in the craft beer industry since the late 1990s, the importance of quality and cost-effectiveness of reusing yeast, how beer flavor impacts drinkability, and the…
Read more