Beer Yeast vs Bread Yeast

Ever wondered what the difference between Brewers Yeast and Bread Yeast was? Essentially both brewers and bakers yeast comes from the Saccharomyces Cerevisiae fungus, just from a different version of the species. The only fundamental difference is brewers yeast contains chromium a vital vitamin that aids with blood/sugar regulation. Its also high in B vitamins which is crucial for a variety of enzymes to function correctly.

What Is Baker Yeast?

Bakers yeast is an alternative term for yeast used in the baking of bread and other bakery goods. This yeast comes in several forms which include: Fresh, Liquid, Quick and Active Dry. When bakers yeast is combined with sugar it produces carbon dioxide which expands the dough, causing it to puff and rise. Brewers yeast is manufactured by the removal of yeast after the brewing process and by inactivation of organic acids.

Currently, there are more than 1,500 recognized brewers yeast strains

How Many Brewers Yeasts Are There?

Currently, there are more than 1,500 recognized brewers yeast strains. There exists 2 types of brewers yeast: Firstly, top-fermenting ale yeast and most likely the yeast used accidently by brewers over 3,000 years ago. Top-fermenting refers to the yeasts preference for rising to the top of the beer as it consumes sugars, and creates alcohol as well as CO2, etc. Ale yeasts prefer warmer temperatures to ferment, which most preferring to ferment around 10C (50F) and 21C (70F).

Bottom-Dwellers

Secondly, we have Saccharomyces Pastorianus which is a lager yeast that ferments more towards the bottom. Bavarian brewers discovered and developed this strain of yeast a little over 200 years ago, bottom-fermentation occurs then the liquid ferments at the bottom of the tank, which is exactly what occurs during the lagering process.

bottom-fermentation occurs then the liquid ferments at the bottom of the tank

Finally…

Lager yeasts thrive at temperatures around 8C (48F) and 14C (58F) which is noticeably cooler than most ale yeasts. And that folks is the difference between Beer Yeast and Bakers Yeast.

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