Mixed Cultures

Introduction

Mixed cultures contain 2 or more different genera from each of these genera of organisms: Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Brettanomyces, and Saccharomyces (see each of the previous links for commercially available pure cultures of these organisms).

(Note: this definition is partly determined by the structure of this wiki. All of the commercial cultures are separated by genus rather than species on this wiki. Technically, any culture that contains more than one species could be called a "mixed culture". However, for the purposes of organizing the charts of commercially available microorganisms by genus, for now the above is the definition of a "mixed culture".)

Commercial Mixed Cultures

In cooperation with Eric Bandauski .

Name	Lab	Attenuation	Flocculation	Temp°F	Notes
WLP655 Belgian Sour Mix	White Labs	70-80	Med	80-85	Brettanomyces, Saccharomyces, and the bacterial strains Lactobacillus and Pediococcus.
WLP 630 Berlinerweisse Blend	White Labs	73-80	Med	68-72	German Weizen yeast and Lactobacillus
WLP665 Flemish Ale Blend	White Labs	80-85	Med	65-80	Saccharomyces yeasts, Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus, this culture creates a more complex, dark stone fruit characteristic than WLP 655 Belgian Sour Mix
WLP670 American Farmhouse Blend	White Labs	75-82	Med	68-72	farmhouse yeast strain and Brettanomyces
Mélange	The Yeast Bay	85	Med	68-70	two Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolates,Saccharomyces fermentati, five Brettanomyces isolates, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus delbreuckii and Pediococcus damnosus.
Farmhouse Sour Ale	The Yeast Bay	80-90	Med	70-78	Two farmhouse/saison Saccharomyces cerevisiaeisolates,  Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus delbreuckii / Expect this blend to take 1-3 months to begin creating appreciable levels of acidity
ECY01 - BugFarm	East Coast Yeast				wild yeast and lactic bacteria to emulate sour or wild beers such as lambic-style ales. Over time displays a citrus sourness and barnyard funk profile
ECY02 Flemish Ale	East Coast Yeast				blend of yeast and lactic bacteria producing sour beers with leather, fruit, and cherry stone flavors, base Belgian yeast, several Brettanomyces, Lactobacilli, and Pediococcus
ECY03 Farmhouse Brett	East Coast Yeast				produce a funky and acidic farmhouse ale particularly when a secondary fermentable is added (i.e. priming sugar or fruit)
ECY20 BugCounty	East Coast Yeast				20 different isolates combined for fermentation to overwhelm the senses
3278 - Lambic Blend	Wyeast	70-80	Varies	63-75	Belgian style ale strain, a sherry strain, two Brettanomyces strains, a Lactobacillus culture, and a Pediococcus culture
3763 - Roeselare Blend	Wyeast	75-80	Varies	65-85	Belgian style ale strain, a sherry strain, two Brettanomyces strains, a Lactobacillus culture, and a Pediococcus culture
3203 De Bom	Wyeast	70-75	Varies	80-85	Under optimum conditions, beers can be ready for consumption in 1-2 months. AVAILABLE ONLY FROM JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2014 (Michael Dawson from Wyeast indicated that this culture may return at some point) .
3209 Oud Bruin	Wyeast	70-80	Varies	80-85	sour blend is built for dark, malt-accented sour styles – like 3763 Roselaere™ it will create sharp acidity, but unlike 3763 it will leave the malt character intact, creating a balanced and complex end product. Excellent base for blending fruit in secondary. AVAILABLE ONLY FROM JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2014 (Michael Dawson from Wyeast indicated that this culture may return at some point).
3191 Berlinerweisse Blend	Wyeast	73-77	Low	68-72	blend includes a German ale strain with low ester formation and a dry, crisp finish. The Lactobacillus included produces moderate levels of acidity. The unique Brettanomyces strain imparts a critical earthy characteristic that is indicative of a true Berliner Weisse
Where Da Funk	Omega Yeast Labs	78-88	Low	68-80	This blend will not produce significant “funk” or acid, even with extended aging. The blend pairs well with fruity aroma hops to make a unique pale ale. Trois and ECY-03b blend.
Bit O' Funk	Omega Yeast Labs	85+	Low	68-80	Brettanomyces bruxellensis for development of moderate “funk” during a secondary fermentation. The “bit ‘o funkiness” will take extended time (3+ months) to develop. Trois, ECY-03b, and bruxellensis blend.
Bring on da Funk	Omega Yeast Labs	85+	Low	68-80	Trois, ECY-03b, bruxellensis, claussenii, lambicus, custersianus, and naardenensis blend; funky and fruity given time, acid production increases with exposure to oxygen over time
GB144 Sweet Flemish Brett	GigaYeast	80-85	Low	68-75	Produces a sweet, slightly fruity profile with just a hint of barnyard and spicy phenolics
GB122 Berliner Blend	GigaYeast				A blend of neutral ale yeast and lactic acid bacteria.  Use directly in a primary to make a crisp, sour beer!
GB123 Sour Plum Belgian	GigaYeast				Belgian ale yeast and lactic acid bacteria.  Cleaner than GB121.  Creates a beer with stone fruit/plum esters and sour notes
GB121 Farmhouse Sour	GigaYeast		Low	68-80	Belgian Ale Yeast, Brettanomyces and Lactic Acid Bacteria, Bright sour flavors with sweet, fruity esters, small amount of spicy phenolics and a hint of funky barnyard.
GB124 Saison Sour	GigaYeast		Low	68-80	Sour with fruity esters and black pepper.
Saison 1 Blend	SouthYeast Labs	High	Medium		Use for Blonde, wit, saison, sours. "Medium acidity". 2-4 weeks in primary. Large bouquet of fruit and spice; complex . Contains two unidentified yeasts, along with their N1 "Native Strong Ale" Sacch strain. The two unidentified strains are assumed not to be Sacch or Brett at this time. SYL is waiting on DNA lab results on these two yeasts. "The one behaves more similar to sacch, while the other more brett. Both are very acidic strains with notes of peach, citrus and apple cider."
Farmhouse Saison Blend	SouthYeast Labs	High	Low		Use for farmhouse ales. "Medium acidity". Peach, citrus esters; straw spice phenolics. 2-6 months to reach maturity . This is the same blend as Saison 1, but also includes their Lactobacillus 2 strain, and an unidentified Brettanomyces strain that is very similar to the Boulevard Saison brett strain .
BY-A Brett. Saison Blend	Boutique Yeast	High - Very High	Medium Low - Low	65-95°F	This blend is perfect for creating low-funk, low tartness, Belgian-based Brettanomyces Saisons. The Brett. strains bring ripe, tropical fruit with low funkiness. The first Sacc. strain is a traditional high-temperature Belgian Saison strain, the second is a Belgian-style Abbey strain that help ensure quick attenuation, aids in flocculation, and provides additional complexity to the finished beer. Shipped in a 10mL, screw top vial with cell count, viability, and contamination testing report. Recommended making a 1-2L starter.

Manufacturer Tips

Editor's note: generally starters are not needed with mixed cultures, although starters can be used for some mixed cultures, particularly if the packaging is old or has not been stored well. Nick Impellitteri's advice below regarding making a starter for Mélange can probably be used for other commercial cultures as well.

The Yeast Bay on Mélange

"You can definitely make a starter for the Melange or the Lochristi Blend. For the Lochristi, run it semi-aerobic for 4-6 days in the 70's and then let it settle at room temp and decant what you can if the starter is large. For the Mélange, run the starter semi-aerobic at 66-68 F for 24-36 hours. This should build up the yeast population sufficiently while not allowing the bacteria to become to active and produce a ton of acid."