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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Purpose Diacetyl is a common buttery off-flavor that occurs during fermentation. Alpha-acetolactate, the precursor to diacetyl, can also remain in beer after fermentation and is odorless. Once the yeast is removed from beer, this precursor is converted to diacetyl, leaving residual buttery character. Compound Spotlight: Diacetyl This method is a quick and easy way to…
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Pitching the right amount of yeast is key to reliable fermentations and great-tasting beer every time. Cell counting yeast cultures help determine the correct volume/weight of live yeast needed and the current condition of the generation, making for more consistent fermentations. Differences in pitching rate can affect flavor production, fermentation speed, yeast health, and flocculation,…
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Our dedication to exceptional quality at White Labs means we carry out the same standards and care for every batch for consistently superior products. That means constantly reevaluating our processes for a more effective cleaning program to maintain cleanliness. Changing processes means changing SOPs; documentation is typically the first thing to “fall through the cracks”…
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The New Fermentation Society Exclusive Strain One of the best ways to stay connected with White Labs is our Exclusive & FREE society, White Labs Fermentation Society. By joining the society, you will get notified of first-look at exclusive unique strain drops with fun swag, label redemptions for Fermentation Society Gear, as well as a…
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Stop Diacetyl in its tracks Prevent the Formation of Diacetyl during Fermentation. What is Diacetyl? Diacetyl formation is a natural byproduct of yeast fermentation. When yeast consumes sugars, it creates amino acids, mainly valine; meanwhile, α-acetolactate is created as a byproduct of amino acid metabolism. Excess α-acetolactate leaks out of the yeast cell and is…
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Enzymes are a fundamental part of the brewing process, mediating steps as vital as sugar and flavor extraction from raw materials or off-flavors removal in the final product. Different enzyme families are responsible for different tasks in the brewing process, and the careful manipulation of temperature and pH allows the brewer to choose which enzymes…
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One topic of active study and discussion in yeast circles recently is the hybridization event that led to the creation of lager yeast strains as we know them. Much research has focused on lager strains, and the extensive White Labs lager collection has been at the core of many of such efforts. Check out our…
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Yeast has a complex nutritional requirement. Conversion of wort sugar to alcohol is not just one chemical reaction. Hundreds of chemical reactions occur inside a yeast cell. A yeast cell can be thought of as a “bag of enzymes”. Each enzyme catalyzes a different chemical reaction. Each enzyme also has specific mineral requirements for optimum…
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