What Are the Different Varieties of Yeast?
There are over 1500 species of yeast that are currently identified. The most common form of yeast used in the making of foods and alcoholic beverages is Brewer’s and Baker’s yeast which in most instances are the same species of yeast. In brewing alcoholic beverages and in wine making there are varieties of yeast that are known as bottom and top fermenting. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces pastorianus are two common yeasts used in the food and beverage industry. Yeast can be purchased in stores for home use in foil packets and jars or as fresh cakes of yeast. The baker and brewer types are normally variant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The dry yeasts do not require refrigeration for storage and posses a reasonably long shelf life. Active-dry yeast needs to be activated in a bit of warm water before mixing into the recipe where dry yeast can be added along with the other dry ingredients of a recipe.
