DIFFERENTIATION OF BREWING YEAST

Current methods for the differentiation of brewing yeasts are described and their performance critically discussed. Although these methods are widely used they are non-specific and require confirmation by other tests. Emergent approaches such as pyrolysis gas chromatography or the use of gene cloning techniques are considered and their application reviewed. It is concluded that development of such methods could offer a unique ‘fingerprint’ for each brewing yeast based on a single test.