ADVERTISEMENT

Subscriber Exclusive

Flavor Fever: The Elusive Flavor of Lager Yeast

These cool customers have co-evolved with us as brewers and drinkers, traveling and prospering while producing some of the world’s most popular beers. Behind these yeast strains and their important differences, there is a unique genetic story.

Randy Mosher Oct 14, 2022 - 12 min read

Flavor Fever: The Elusive Flavor of Lager Yeast Primary Image

Photo: Matt Graves/mgravesphoto.com

Subtlety is the defining characteristic of lagers. Compared to the more in-your-face personality of ales, lagers are suave and reserved. If ales are frisky puppies, lagers are purring cats. They’re not climbing up your legs; you have to meet them where they are. But lagers offer easy drinkability, a transparent showcase for brewing ingredients and sublime delights—beer after beer.

And it’s the unique characteristics of their yeast that set them apart.

Crazy Mixed-Up Yeast

Lager yeast, Saccharomyces pastorianus, is designated as a species apart from S. cerevesiae, or ale yeast. S. pastorianus is a cold-tolerant hybrid between ale yeast and a recently identified cold-tolerant species called S. bayanus—which is itself a hybrid that includes DNA from another cold-tolerant yeast, S. uvarum, with some from S. cerevisiae.

Make & Drink Better Beer

Subscribe today to access all of the premium brewing content available (including this article). With thousands of reviews, our subscribers call it "the perfect beer magazine" and "worth every penny." Your subscription is protected by a 100% money back guarantee.

ARTICLES FOR YOU