Seltzer for the Masses

Love them, or despise them, the trend is seltzer for the masses. That’s why we’re going to talk about seltzer yeast and where to get it. The seltzer, a beverage that is usually fermented using a sucrose or fructose base; and tends to have a lower calorie content has gained in popularity with consumers across the nation. Seltzers express little flavor, until flavoring agents have been added post fermentation; it is here that we see the broad flavor spectrum that seltzers cover.

Seltzer Flavors

Ranging from light natural flavors of lime to iced tea flavors and even fruit punch. Overall seltzers have gained popularity with their broad flavor potentials, as these can be altered more drastically post fermentation in comparison to our traditionally brewed beers. Just like brewing beer, with seltzer yeast – it’s all about the fermentation.

Where to Get Seltzer Yeast

BSI’s Louis P Hard Seltzer Yeast is an ideal candidate for brewing a low calorie, clean, and crisp seltzer. Why? When looking for the perfect yeast strain to brew a seltzer; a brewer will want a clean and neutral flavoring profile. In addition, a strain that comes with natural abilities to ferment sucrose or fructose.

Being derived from the  Pasteur Champagne Yeast, a high alcohol tolerant strain with a neutral profile, the Louis P Hard Seltzer Yeast can tolerate the difficult original gravity while resisting phenolic properties when paired with FAN (free amino nitrogens) and a seltzer nutrient.

Be Sure to Get Your Seltzer Nutrient

Since a seltzer’s base does not conform to an original wort nutrient base, nutrient additives are necessary.  Therefore, the N Pure Seltzer Nutrient is recommended, to provide the proper nutrients when fermenting with a seltzer base at a recommended rate of 176g/BBL. Additionally, altering the seltzer yeast fermentation temperature, and nutrient levels, brewers can foster a variety of different strength seltzers. A low ABV seltzer can be fostered at a warmer temperature with shorter fermentation time or a higher ABV seltzer at a lower temperature and longer fermentation  time (Best Practices for Hard Seltzer Fermentation). Given the broad temperature tolerance Louis P Hard Setzer yeast can operate under, it makes it a great choice for brewing a wide range of ABV seltzers, with little experimentation of temperature, nutrient blends, and fermentation time.

Blog written by: Patrick Munn, BSI Microtechnologist

Works cited:

“Best Practices for Hard Seltzer Fermentation.” Scott Labs, June 2021, https://scottlab.com/best-practices-hard-seltzer-fermentation.