Free Amino Nitrogen (FAN) is a critical parameter in beer analysis that leads to healthy fermentation, and, thus better beer quality. It is a measure of the concentration of amino acids and small peptides that are essential for yeast metabolism. In simpler terms, it indicates the amount of food available for yeast, helping them convert…
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Recently we’ve worked on a method to categorize our yeast strain's alcohol tolerance level more accurately. We developed a standardized method to give brewers a more quantifiable description. In this procedure, we use a media such as YPD and add ethanol in various percentages in a 96-well plate. Yeast is inoculated in each well at…
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Oxygen is something brewers inevitably want to minimize in their process, with one exception: wort oxygenation. In other aspects of beer production, oxygen causes detrimental effects on flavor and stability, but the opposite is true in the early phases of fermentation. Yeast depends on oxygen to provide them with the building blocks needed to synthesize…
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A Global Trend For craft brewers, producing low-ABV beers is an opportunity to extend their portfolio and appeal to a new generation of beer drinkers, which is shifting towards healthier eating and drinking habits, with reduced calories and alcohol consumption. These beers also enable easier compliance with harsher government policies on driving under alcohol influence…
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A Global Trend The beer industry, in particular the craft beer segment, has been in continuous expansion for the past few decades. Many trends and styles appeared and disappeared over this period, but one segment keeps gaining momentum: Non-Alcoholic and Low Alcohol Beers (NAB/LAB). For craft brewers, producing low-ABV beers is an opportunity to extend…
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Fermenting with Kveik Yeast 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…
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Best Blonde Ale Yeast Ever wonder which yeast would go well in a blonde ale recipe? At White Labs, we took the White Lab Brewing Co's concept of using the same base recipe and making the only difference the yeast strain to highlight its importance! In collaboration with Craft Beer Professionals, we went coast to…
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Yeast Pitching Calculator Have you seen or used our PurePitch® Next Generation Pouches? Do you still have some questions about what is printed on the pouch and how much to use? If the recommendations confuse you a little bit, or you just want to dig into some of the science behind it, keep reading! Same…
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Kveik Strains are ready to spring into your summer brews! Have you ever heard of a strain that can ferment hot and fast without adding phenolic characters to let your hops and malt shine?! Don’t have temperature control for the hot summer months? Need to knock out a brew in less than 10 days? We…
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What is kombucha? Kombucha is a popular fermented drink traditionally made of sugar, black tea, and a SCOBY. What is a SCOBY? A SCOBY is an acronym for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. These SCOBYs consist of microorganisms that differ greatly depending on the environment. Typically the SCOBY or “mother” are transferred batch to…
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The market for gluten-free products is ever increasing. Beer has traditionally not been a product available for the gluten-intolerant crowd. Using a specific enzyme, drinking gluten-reduced beer has now become a reality. Clarity Ferm® Clarity Ferm® is an enzyme containing proline-specific endo-protease derived from a selected strain of Aspergillus niger. Clarity Ferm® IS INTENDED FOR…
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Compound Spotlight: Diacetyl Category: Usually undesirable Aroma: Butter, butterscotch Threshold (in beer): 50-100ppb Introduction to Diacetyl Diacetyl is a chemical compound produced by brewer’s yeast which can be reminiscent of butter or buttered popcorn. While a few styles (e.g. some English ales and European lagers) have low levels of diacetyl, it is generally considered undesirable…
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