Genetic and physiological characterization of yeast isolated from ripe fruit and analysis of fermentation and brewing potential

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Abstract

'Wild' and spontaneously fermented beers are growing in popularity in the craft beer industry. Most of these beers are fermented by the use of either pure cultures of unconventional yeast and bacteria or spontaneous fermentation using mixed local microflora. This study examined the potential of using pure strains of new isolates of wild yeast in the fermentation of a unique beer. The microbial communities from the fruit of pindo palm, loquat, hackberry and blackberry were collected in liquid culture, then plated for isolation. Ten isolates were selected for further analysis. Strains were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and analysed for growth in a simple liquid media, fermentation in a complex media, alcohol tolerance and acid tolerance. Despite identification of some strains as the same species, they displayed a wide range of physiological properties. All strains were tolerant of pH values as low as 2.4, but none were tolerant of pH1.9. Alcohol tolerance of different strains varied from 6 to 12%. Several strains had properties that suggest potential as primary fermenters, including the alcohol fermentation of a beer wort. Organoleptic properties of beers fermented with several of the strains demonstrated potential for commercial brewing.

Publication Title

Journal of the Institute of Brewing

Volume

120

Issue

4

First Page

559

Last Page

564

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/jib.154

ISSN

00469750

E-ISSN

20500416

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