Understanding pH in Brewing The pH scale, that fundamental guide in brewing, was crafted in 1909 by S.P.L. Sørensen. He devised a method for determining the acidity or alkalinity of solutions on a scale from 0 to 14. His ingenious creation unveiled the significance of pH in biochemical reactions, particularly those brewing relies on. Why…
Read more
White Labs is entering its 30th year of business in 2025, and we can only thank our customers and dedicated team members for this longevity. We are proud to be part of the fermentation world and everyone involved who strive for greater flavor and performance in everything they create. We hope our experience, knowledge and…
Read more
Non-Alcoholic and Low Alcohol Beer Non-alcoholic beer has been popular internationally for quite some time. More recently, the popularity of these beverages in the US has increased. This category spans beers ranging from <0.5% to about 2.5% ABV. Several methods are used to produce these methods. Not all of them are applicable to the craft…
Read more
Tropical flavors. Fruit bomb beers. Unlocking bound thiols. These are buzz phrases often tossed around whenever the topic turns to biotransformation. In reality, the biotransformation of hop compounds by yeast strains in beer is a fascinating and multifaceted process embraced with great excitement and enthusiasm. Brewers are right to be intrigued, given the clear potential…
Read more
WHAT IS THE GRODZISKIE STYLE BEER? We are excited to be part of the revival of the iconic Grodziskie style, a 100% smoked wheat ale in the sessionable 2.5-3.3% ABV range, that defines Poland’s rich brewing heritage, with a yeast blend collected from the original Grodziskie brewery straight from the revived Grodzisk Brewery in the…
Read more
Introduction to Acetaldehyde Acetaldehyde is a natural byproduct of yeast fermentation and a precursor compound to alcohol. It is an “off-flavor” known to have the aroma and taste of green apple or pumpkin rind. It can be commonly referred to as “green” beer or unfinished beer. Factors influencing the acetaldehyde levels in beer are yeast…
Read more
“Yeast cells need 100% of their essential vitamins and minerals (nutrients) to make it through a fermentation properly nourished and to be ready to work again another day, much the same way humans do.” At White Labs, we do countless experiments on nutrient levels, especially FAN (Free Amino Nitrogen). Yeast needs sufficient nitrogen to carry…
Read more
Brewers regularly produce wort with varying strengths and chemical properties. Most brewing strains have evolved to thrive within a narrow range of growth conditions specific to certain styles. As brewers, we already choose strain parameters depending on the yeast strain, from attenuation ranges, flocculation characteristics, and preferred fermentation temperatures. Filter Through Our Yeast & Bacteria…
Read more
Contamination is the Culprit Contamination is one of the quickest ways to spoil a great beer. Beer generally uses a pure single culture of yeast to help produce a consistent fermentation and flavor profile. However, there are many control points in the brewing process where contamination can occur. Preventing beer contamination and maintaining brand reputation…
Read more
WLP655 Belgian Sour Mix 1 is a unique blend of Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus. Beers produced with Belgian blends, such as WLP655, are often aged in bottles or barrels for several months, continuously evolving their sensory profiles. The impacts of different fermentation conditions on beer evolution are not fully understood. Our R&D team experimented…
Read more.jpg?width=360&height=189&name=tropicale%20yeast%20blend%20cover%20(2).jpg)
Before Emil Christian Hansen isolated a single yeast culture, in early brewing history, beers were most likely a combination of multiple strains since brewers did not have the ability to isolate a pure yeast strain. This is evident in things like Kveik strains, from the traditional farmhouse methods. These mixed cultures contained a variety of…
Read more
A forced fermentation test is performed to identify the final gravity/full attenuation potential of a wort sample and yeast culture. This is particularly helpful when developing new beer recipes, if there are changes in the mash profile, as well as working with new ingredients, including yeast. The sample is held at a higher temperature and…
Read more