
Seltzer beer is a popular beverage that is brewed and fermented, similar to traditional beer. However, the process of making seltzer beer is slightly different. While beer uses malted grains, seltzer beer typically ferments straight-up sugar or cane sugar in water. This results in a low-calorie, crisp, and clean beverage. The yeast used in seltzer beer is crucial, as it determines the flavor profile of the final product. Neutral yeast is often preferred for seltzer beer, as it allows for flavor additions and clarifying/fining to be more noticeable.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Brewing process | Both beer and hard seltzer are brewed and fermented |
Sugar source | Beer uses malted grains, while hard seltzer uses sugar or cane sugar |
Fermentation process | Beer ferments malted grains, while hard seltzer skips this process and ferments sugar directly |
Yeast usage | Beer uses yeast to turn sugary mixture into alcohol |
Flavor profile | Neutral yeast is recommended for hard seltzer |
Caloric content | Hard seltzer can be brewed with low-calorie ingredients |
Post-fermentation alterations | Seltzer can have more drastic flavor alterations post-fermentation compared to beer |
What You'll Learn
Brewing process of seltzer beer
Hard seltzer and beer are similar in many ways: both are brewed and fermented, using a sugar source to create a sweet liquid that, with yeast, will turn into alcohol. The key difference is what is fermented. In beer's case, malted grains are mashed in hot water in order to extract the sugars from the grains to make a wort. The wort is then boiled and cooled — hops are also added in these stages — and when the wort is cooled and yeast is added, it turns the sugary mixture into alcohol. When it comes to hard seltzer, while grains can be used, brewers usually skip this process and go straight to fermenting straight-up sugar or cane sugar in water.
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.
The overall popularity of seltzers with their broad flavor potentials is because 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.
When brewing seltzer, you should stick with neutral yeast. You don’t want to neglect those end-of-process steps such as flavor additions, clarifying/fining, and (if you have the requisite equipment) CO2 scrubbing. When you add flavorings or flavor extracts, add to taste in small increments until you get your precise volumes and recipes dialed in. You’ll also want to use a fining agent such as isinglass or gelatin to get a bright, clear finished product—and if ever there was a great candidate for aggressive filtering, this is it, especially with no hops to clog your filter.
There’s also no concern about stripping IBUs, as there might be with beer. Last, Stemler recommends one additional step to get the most out of your seltzer: “Scrub with CO2 after transferring off yeast, to drive any lingering yeast characteristics out.” Those can include sulfur, DMS, and other compounds that
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Yeast fermentation in seltzer beer
Hard seltzer and beer are similar in many ways: both are brewed and fermented, using a sugar source to create a sweet liquid that, with yeast, will turn into alcohol. The key difference is what is fermented. In beer’s case, malted grains are mashed in hot water in order to extract the sugars from the grains to make a wort. The wort is then boiled and cooled — hops are also added in these stages — and when the wort is cooled and yeast is added, it turns the sugary mixture into alcohol. When it comes to hard seltzer, while grains can be used, brewers usually skip this process and go straight to fermenting straight-up sugar or cane sugar in water.
Just like brewing beer, with seltzer yeast – it’s all about the fermentation. 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.
There’s also no concern about stripping IBUs, as there might be with beer. Last, Stemler recommends one additional step to get the most out of your seltzer: “Scrub with CO2 after transferring off yeast, to drive any lingering yeast characteristics out.” Those can include sulfur, DMS, and other compounds that can be removed with CO2.
At the end of the day, you can make hard seltzer with just about any beer yeast, but remember that the goal is a crisp, clean product, whatever other flavors you’re adding. You’ll also want to use a fining agent such as isinglass or gelatin to get a bright, clear finished product—and if ever there was a great candidate for aggressive filtering, this is it, especially with no hops to clog your filter.
When you add flavorings or flavor extracts, add to taste in small increments until you get your precise volumes and recipes dialed in. You’ll also want to use a fining agent such as isinglass or gelatin to get a bright, clear finished product—and if ever there was a great candidate for aggressive filtering, this is it, especially with no hops to clog your filter.
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Sugar source for seltzer beer
Seltzer beer is made using a sugar source to create a sweet liquid that, with yeast, will turn into alcohol. The key difference between beer and seltzer is that beer uses malted grains while seltzer uses sugar or cane sugar.
When brewing beer, malted grains are mashed in hot water to extract the sugars from the grains to make a wort. The wort is then boiled and cooled and hops are also added in these stages. When the wort is cooled and yeast is added, it turns the sugary mixture into alcohol.
When brewing seltzer, brewers usually skip the grain-mashing process and go straight to fermenting straight-up sugar or cane sugar in water.
The Louis P Hard Seltzer Yeast is an ideal candidate for brewing a low-calorie, clean, and crisp seltzer. 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.
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Flavoring profile of seltzer beer
Seltzer beer is a popular beverage that has gained traction due to its broad flavor potentials. The fermentation process is similar to brewing beer, but with some key differences.
When it comes to yeast, brewers typically opt for a neutral flavoring profile to achieve a clean and crisp taste. Louis P Hard Seltzer Yeast, for example, is a high alcohol-tolerant strain derived from the Pasteur Champagne Yeast and is well-suited for brewing low-calorie seltzers.
The fermentation process is crucial in developing the flavor profile of seltzer beer. Sugar or cane sugar is fermented in water, creating a sweet liquid that, when yeast is added, turns into alcohol. This process allows for flavor additions and modifications post-fermentation, giving brewers greater control over the final product.
Flavoring additions should be done with care, as the end-of-process steps like flavoring, clarifying, and fining are crucial in achieving the desired flavor profile. CO2 scrubbing can also be employed to remove any lingering yeast characteristics, such as sulfur and DMS compounds.
In summary, the flavoring profile of seltzer beer is shaped by the fermentation process and the choice of yeast. Neutral yeast strains are often preferred to achieve a clean and crisp taste, allowing for flavor additions and modifications post-fermentation.
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Yeast strain for seltzer beer
Hard seltzer and beer are similar in many ways: both are brewed and fermented, using a sugar source to create a sweet liquid that, with yeast, will turn into alcohol. The key difference is what is fermented. In beer’s case, malted grains are mashed in hot water in order to extract the sugars from the grains to make a wort. The wort is then boiled and cooled — hops are also added in these stages — and when the wort is cooled and yeast is added, it turns the sugary mixture into alcohol. When it comes to hard seltzer, while grains can be used, brewers usually skip this process and go straight to fermenting straight-up sugar or cane sugar in water.
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.
At the end of the day, you can make hard seltzer with just about any beer yeast, but remember that the goal is a crisp, clean product, whatever other flavors you’re adding. You don’t want to neglect those end-of-process steps such as flavor additions, clarifying/fining, and (if you have the requisite equipment) CO2 scrubbing. When you add flavorings or flavor extracts, add to taste in small increments until you get your precise volumes and recipes dialed in. You’ll also want to use a fining agent such as isinglass or gelatin to get a bright, clear finished product—and if ever there was a great candidate for aggressive filtering, this is it, especially with no hops to clog your filter.
There’s also no concern about stripping IBUs, as there might be with beer. Last, Stemler recommends one additional step to get the most out of your seltzer: “Scrub with CO2 after transferring off yeast, to drive any lingering yeast characteristics out.” Those can include sulfur, DMS, and other compounds that
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, seltzer beer is brewed and fermented using yeast to turn a sweet liquid into alcohol.
Beer is brewed using malted grains which are mashed in hot water to extract sugars which are then boiled and cooled with hops added. Seltzer skips this process and ferments straight-up sugar or cane sugar in water.
Neutral yeast is used for making seltzer as it is best advised to stick with neutral yeast.