Changes

After primary fermentation, the mostly attenuated beer is sometimes moved to a secondary fermentation vessel. Often in traditional commercial production secondary fermentation is conducted in wine barrels, however, home brewers can accomplish this phase in glass or plastic carboys with low oxygen permeability. A mixed culture of ''Brettanomyces'', ''Lactobacillus'' and ''Pediococcus'' is then introduced to the beer. If barrels are being used then these microbes may simply come from the walls of the barrel, originating from a previous batch. Alternatively, the brewer might inoculate the wort with a mixed culture directly, either with a house culture or by introducing the dregs of bottled sour beer. Upon their introduction, these new microorganisms begin converting the longer chain sugars left over from the primary fermentation. These sugars are primarily converted into alcohol and lactic acid, increasing the degree of attenuation and lowering the pH of the beer. This also corresponds with a decrease in ''S. cerevisiae'' cell counts, and the release of amino acids and vitamins from yeast autolysis might help fuel lactic acid bacteria and ''Brettanomyces'' <ref name="Hubbe">[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/1407620505932826/ Effect of mixed cultures on microbiological development in Berliner Weisse (master thesis). Thomas Hübbe. 2016.]</ref>. Other flavor-impacting secondary metabolites are also produced, depending on the strains used. For example, if the beer contains ''Brettanomyces'' this often results in the production of a high amount of fruity esters such as ethyl acetate and ethyl lactate, as well as "funky" phenols and other flavor compounds specific to ''Brettanomyces'' (see [[Brettanomyces#Secondary_Metabolites|''Brettanomyces'' secondary metabolites)]]. In the presence of oxygen, acetic acid is also produced by ''Brettanomyces'' (and acetic acid bacteria if they are present) which in low amounts can be complementary, adding to the complexity of the beer.