Why Liquid Yeast is Superior to Dry Yeast for Brewing Beer
When it comes to brewing beer, the choice of yeast can significantly impact the final product. Brewers often debate between using liquid yeast and dry yeast, each with its own set of advantages and challenges. However, many experienced brewers argue that liquid yeast is superior for several compelling reasons. In this post, we’ll explore why liquid yeast might be the superior choice to dry yeast for your next brew.
Higher Viability for Better Fermentation
Viability refers to the proportion of yeast cells that are alive and active when they are added to the wort. Fresh liquid yeast boasts a viability rate of around 98%, compared to less than 70% for rehydrated dry yeast. The dehydrating process, necessary for creating dry yeast, is harsh on yeast cells, significantly reducing their viability upon rehydration. Lower viability can be detrimental to your beer. This leads to less predictable fermentation and off-flavors that impact the quality of the beer. Starting with a higher viability rate with liquid yeast ensures a more vigorous and reliable fermentation in comparison to dry yeast.
Greater Variety of Strains
The dehydration process does not work for all strains of brewer’s yeast, particularly lager strains. This limitation means that the variety of strains available in dry yeast form is relatively small. Liquid yeast offers a much broader selection of strains, giving brewers the freedom to experiment with different flavors and styles. This variety allows for greater creativity and the ability to differentiate your beer from competitors. Check out BSI’s extensive yeast library!
Superior Vitality
Vitality is a measure of how robust and healthy the yeast cells are. The dehydration process damages yeast cells, leading to lower vitality when the yeast is rehydrated and added to the wort. Fresh liquid yeast in comparison to dry yeast has higher vitality. This means the yeast is healthier and more capable of performing its role in fermentation effectively. This can lead to faster and more consistent fermentations with shorter lag times. This can potentially reduce your tank residency time, saving you time and money while producing a higher quality beer.
Saving money using Liquid Yeast through Re-pitching
One significant advantage of liquid yeast to dry yeast is the ability to re-pitch from batch to batch, drastically reducing costs. For example, if the initial pitch of liquid yeast costs $500, re-pitching it once reduces the cost to $250 per batch. If you can get 10 generations out of your initial liquid yeast pitch, the cost per batch drops to as low as $50. This cost-saving method is not recommended for dry yeast due to its lower initial vitality and viability. Dry yeast is packaged in fixed quantities often referred to as “bricks”. Liquid yeast is pre-measured in precise increments. This allows the brewer to dial in proper pitch rates, not guess at pitch rates.Harvesting and re-pitching liquid yeast can be cheaper in as little as three batches when compared to pitching a new brick of dry yeast for each individual batch. Call our tech support department with any questions!
Lower Contamination Risk
Liquid yeast from high-quality suppliers has a lower incidence of contaminants compared to dry yeast. The processes involved in dehydrating and packaging dry yeast increases the risk of contamination. Whereas the production of liquid yeast is more controlled and can maintain higher purity levels. If brewers need a partial quantity of a “brick” to pitch, they must risk contamination of the culture slurry to portion the proper amount of yeast. Microbiological plating on differential media, and analytical tests like PCR, are much more straightforward and reliable on a liquid sample versus a dry powder, and can yield faster results. Because liquid yeast can be grown on a smaller scale, it allows for more direct testing on the actual product you receive. BSI offers a COA and wort test kit for every order it ships ensuring you receive the highest quality liquid yeast cultures, free from contaminants.
Support for Domestic Production
Many dry yeast companies produce their products internationally. By purchasing liquid yeast cultures grown domestically, you are directly supporting the yeast industry in the United States. This often means fresher yeast and faster delivery times compared to dry yeast produced internationally. At The Brewing Science Institute (BSI), we have been producing quality liquid yeast cultures in the US since 1996 and we are proud to be the only employee-owned yeast supplier in the industry.
Conclusion
While dry yeast might offer convenience, liquid yeast provides several advantages that can significantly enhance the quality and cost-effectiveness of your brewing process. From higher viability and vitality to greater strain variety and lower contamination risk, liquid yeast stands out as the superior choice for brewers looking to produce exceptional beer. Next time you brew, consider the benefits of liquid yeast and how it can help you create a product that stands out in a competitive market. And remember, “It’s all about the fermentation!”
Happy brewing!
By Josh Armagost, Tech Support Specialist; Ashley McGee, Production Supervisor; Bryan Pearson, BSI Officer
Sources:
Jenkins, D.M., Powell, C.D., Fischborn, T. and Smart, K.A. (2011), Rehydration of Active Dry Brewing Yeast and its Effect on Cell Viability. Journal of the Institute of Brewing, 117: 377-382. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2050-0416.2011.tb00482.x