From time immemorial, wine has been a type of liquor that is highly valued by many. I am pretty sure this is because of the high fermentation levels it comes with. And people love to feel in high spirits, especially on a Friday night when they take a break from work for the weekend.
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Nevertheless, this does not mean that beer is not as good. Each one of them carries its benefits and has its repercussions. The thing is, both of them use different types of yeast levels during the fermentation process.
But can we argue that yeast is yeast? So long as it carries its functions well? What if I have wine yeast left in my store and need to make beer; is it possible? All these questions will be answered by understanding how each operates.
First and foremost, it is important to know that the difference between Liquid beer and Wine yeast exists. In the case of beer yeast, it is known to ferment maltose, a complex sugar found in wort but not in wine. Therefore, if you use wine yeast to brew beer, you may get unexpected results and an unpleasant aroma that may not be so pleasing to your target clients. And who wants clients to run away from the shop? Of course, not me.
As the saying goes, “Wine is the answer, but I can’t remember the question.”Wine comes with high levels of fermentation such that even though your life is complicated, you may not remember them because of the refreshing taste. The same goes for the beer equation. However, note that wine yeasts can tolerate high alcohol concentrations but may not be good for fermenting beer because they are incompatible with beer sensory outline.
Liquid Beer and Wine Yeast Differences Explained
One common factor among the two types of yeast is the main agent in fermenting wine, beer, cider, and any other beverage; the Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is used in over 650 stains but is known to provide different variations of fermentations.
However, various factors bring about the difference, and we will explain them below.
The History of the Two Yeasts
Because both yeasts come from the same species of yeast, each one was developed in its own way, depending on the stage of development and the way it was produced.
In the case of beer yeast, it was and is still produced at any time of the year. The yeast is produced from the best batches of grapes to cultivate it and bring out the original taste for the fermentation process to be effective.
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However, when it comes to wine yeast, the brewers(vintners) did not rely on reusing yeast from batch to batch. This was done by breaking the grape’s skin and allowing the wild yeast to start the fermentation process. To date, this is a yearly process done when harvesting grapes meant for fermentation. This has seen brewers get a different taste of the vintage depending on the stage of development.
Fermentable.
Liquid beer helps in the fermentation of maltose, while wine yeast is meant to ferment glucose and fructose. Maltose is harvested from dried cereal grain or malt, but in the case of glucose and fructose, you can only find it in fruits fermented to become wine.
For the fermentation to become effective, there are several factors that one needs to consider; these are the amount of yeast, temperature, and wort nutrients.
The Type of Strain.
The main strain comes from the species of S. cerevisiae. However, with the technology in human nature, this has evolved further to produce different types of yeasts.
When it comes to liquid beer yeast, the yeast cannot thrive in nature due to its specialization in the production process.
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However, when it comes to wine yeast, winemakers have developed a far more consistent tasting wine throughout the year out of the hereditary engineering nature, which is known to neutralize any other yeast to bring out the wine strain.
Level of Alcohol.
Because of the strains involved in making beer or wine, the alcohol levels vary. For instance, Liquid beer yeast requires a level of 8-10% ABV, contrary to wine yeast, which requires a higher level of tolerance, around 11-18%. This means that wine requires a high level of alcohol tolerance compared to liquid beer yeast.
It is also important to know that brewers can add more fruits to the yeast to increase the alcohol content. However, doing this will change the flavor, and care should be taken to achieve the required flavor.
On the other hand, adding wine yeast sugar is done through the chaptalization process, which acts as a catalyst towards creating more alcohol but not necessarily increasing the alcohol levels.
Yeast Amounts to Use.
Yeast in beer or wine production can be added as a starter. However, the temperature levels should determine the amount of yeast to pitch when processing each. Liquid beer yeast requires more yeast than when one is making wine. The lesser levels of yeast pitched in making wine are because of the wild nature of wine. For instance, you can use between 7 and 14 grams of yeast per 5 gallons of wort when making beer and 5 grams of wine yeast per 5 gallons of grape must. All these will, however, depend on the level and style of the result.
Attenuation.
During the fermentation process, sugar is converted into alcohol, known as attenuation. This depends on a number of factors that occur during beer or wine production.
Regarding liquid beer, the yeast provides different strains of the beer in question. For instance, if you need to produce beer with higher attenuation, you need a crisper beer, while richer beer with caramel notes w requires a low attenuation rate.
In the case of winemaking, let’s say when making Champagne, yeasts needed are those with low attenuation levels. However, most wines go for 100% attenuation to achieve the sweet taste expectations.
Flavor Factor
The flavor of beer and wine depends on the level of yeast used by brewers. For instance, if you use wine yeast to brew beer, you will get different flavors that may not be equal to the users’ requirements. As such, use liquid beer yeast for brewing beer and wine yeast for making wine for optimal results.
One day I decided to do the reverse, and I regret it to date; my customers were the most disappointed. I had to pour out all the remaining consumables and use the right tools for the job.
Time Taken to Ferment
The time varies from one product to another. However, other major factors that contribute to the time it takes to ferment include aeration, temperature, and yeast-to-sugar ratio. But then there is a need to note that wine takes longer to ferment than beer.
For instance, wine can take as long as one year to ferment, while different strains of beer can take shorter. Ales, for example, take between 1 and three weeks to ferment, while lagers can take about six weeks.
Related: What’s The Difference Between Brewer’s Yeast and Active Dry Yeast?
If you want to know the level of fermentation, you can use a hydrometer to determine if the fermentation is complete.
Which is Better in Nutrition? Beer or Wine?
While both of these products are great, beer is known as the liquid bread because of the major nutrients that it comes with, as below;
- Minerals– Beer contains numerous minerals such as phosphorous, folate, vitamin B, and niacin which have higher levels compared to the same amount of wine.
Beer is also a silicon source, which strengthens bones and reduces the chances of contracting diseases like osteoporosis.
- Antioxidants– By producing good bacteria, beer contains prebiotics, which help gut health.
- Calories– The first time I heard of beer, my heart beat fast at the thought of a big belly. In the case of beer, a glass contains 180 calories as opposed to wine which carries only half of it. However, it is important to note that these calories do not contribute so much to the mineral formation, and one may not use them for good health checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wine Ferment Maltose?
Liquid beer Yeast is meant to ferment maltose, a sugar found in cereals. Wine does not ferment maltose, but fructose and glucose sugars are not found in the wort.
Can you use wine yeast to make beer?
It is possible to make beer using wine yeast. However, the process is too complicated and may mess with the flavor profile; thus not recommended.
RELATED: What Wine Gets You Drunk Fastest?
Conclusion
The main difference between beer and wine is that beer is produced from grains while wine is made from fruits. The main thing they share is where they get the yeast. But at the end of the day, all that is required is a perfect drink that nourishes the body and soul. These points have given an overview of the differences between the two, and I hope that you understand the process it takes to make wine or beer, the next time you ask for a glass of wine in the restaurant.
References
https://stilldragon.com/blog/difference-between-beer-wine-production/