Brewing Better Beer: The New Era of Yeast Quality Control

The beer industry thrives on the passion and commitment of brewers, suppliers, and partners who constantly push the craft to new heights. From small independent brewers to large-scale producers, everyone faces the same challenge: balancing product quality with operational efficiency. As the industry evolves, investing in advanced quality control—beyond just basic presence/absence testing—has become a key strategy for maintaining brand integrity, improving margins, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Raising the Bar on Yeast Quality Control

Science is changing the game, especially when it comes to yeast—the backbone of every great beer. Historically, brewers had limited quality-control options for yeast in its raw state because of its dense cellular structure. This meant testing could only be done with traditional microbiological plating, allowing for reactive results up to five to seven days later and leaving little room for proactive quality management. Now, with new molecular testing capabilities, brewers can monitor yeast quality earlier in the process, leading to more consistent and high-quality fermentations.

Breakthrough in Yeast Slurry Testing

For years, developing an effective yeast quality-control solution has been an industry-wide challenge. In 2023, yeast supplier White Labs partnered with bioMérieux—known for our expertise in brewing quality control—to create the first-ever test designed specifically to detect bacteria and yeast contamination in yeast propagations and slurries.

The result? GENE-UP® BREWPRO™ YS—a fast, PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-based test with enhanced sensitivity tailored for yeast slurries. This test doesn’t detect just common spoilage organisms; it also identifies other contaminants unique to yeast, providing brewers with a full-spectrum quality snapshot. With this data and improved sampling power, brewers can make more informed decisions, improve efficiency, and confidently ensure the integrity of their raw materials.

Since the 2024 launch of GENE-UP® BREWPRO™ YS, brewers and yeast suppliers alike have embraced this innovation, recognizing the benefits of rapid contamination detection in yeast propagation and harvesting.

Smarter Testing for Diastaticus

The brewing industry thrives on innovation, and yeast quality control is no exception. To further improve detection methods, bioMérieux teamed up with Cornell University to research new genetic markers for Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus, an aggressively attenuative yeast known for causing unintended secondary fermentations that can cause exploding cans or bottles in the marketplace.

This collaboration led to the development of BREWPRO™ WILD YEAST PLUS, an advanced PCR test that aids brewers in distinguishing between spoilage and nonspoilage strains of diastatic yeast. By combining conventional and proprietary biomarkers, BREWPRO™ WILD YEAST PLUS helps brewers avoid costly decisions such as unnecessary quarantining or, worse, letting compromised product hit the market. With this predictive risk-based testing, brewers can act fast and confidently protect their beer.

Moving Forward with Confidence

These latest innovations are just the beginning. BioMérieux has long been committed to supporting the brewing industry with accessible, ready-to-use quality-control solutions. From streamlined workflows and hands-on training to ongoing support and service programs, our goal is to make high-level quality control feasible for brewers of all sizes.

As the industry continues to evolve, so do the tools available to brewers. By investing in advanced quality-control solutions, brewers can not only protect their products but also push the craft forward, ensuring that every pour meets the highest standards.

Want to learn more about how bioMérieux’s diagnostic solutions can improve your brewing operations? Visit: biomerieux.com.