13,703
edits
Changes
m
no edit summary
[[File:Omega-lacto-microscope.jpg|thumb|Omega Yeast Labs OYL-605 Lactobacillus Blend; photo by [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1096077917087088/ Stephen Little].]]
'''Lactobacillus''' (often referred to by brewers as "Lacto") is a genus of Gram-positive, rod-shaped lactic acid bacteria (LAB) which produces acidity and sour flavors in the form of lactic acid and [[Lactobacillus#Sugar_Utilization_and_Secondary_Metabolites|secondary metabolites]] found in lambics, Berliner Weiss, sour brown ales, and gueuze. All ''Lactobacillus'' species are facultative anaerobes, which means they grow anaerobically but can also grow in the presence of oxygen and use oxygen to some degree <ref name="todar_lactics4"></ref>. There are more than 100 species, many of which are found in the human gastrointestinal track <ref name="todar_lactics4">[http://textbookofbacteriology.net/lactics_4.html ''Lactic Acid Bacteria''. Todar's Online Texbook of Bacteriology. Kenneth Todar, PhD. Pg. 4. Retrieved 07/28/2015.]</ref><ref name="Todar_nutgro4">[http://textbookofbacteriology.net/nutgro_4.html ''Nutrition and Growth of Bacteria''. Todar's Online Texbook of Bacteriology. Kenneth Todar, PhD. Retrieved 07/28/2015.]</ref>. In addition to beer, some species of ''Lactobacillus'' are also used to ferment yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, pickles, wine, cider, kimchi, cocoa, and kefir <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactobacillus ''Lactobacillus''. Wikipedia. Retrieved 07/28/2015.]</ref>. ''Lactobacillus'' can form a [[pellicle]] (need reference). See ''[[Pediococcus]]'', ''[[Brettanomyces]]'', ''[[Saccharomyces]]'', [[Mixed Cultures]], and [[Nonconventional Yeasts and Bacteria]] charts for other commercially available cultures. See the [[Sour WortingWort Souring]] and [[Mixed Fermentation]] pages for brewing techniques with ''Lactobacillus''. See the [[Alternative Bacteria Sources]] section for culturing ''Lactobacillus'' from grains, yogurt, probiotics, and other sources.
==Commercial Lactobacillus Cultures==
| [[East Coast Yeast]] || ECY32 || ''L. brevis'' || Heterofermentative || || Originally isolated from kefir. Bright acidity and hop-tolerant (up to 30 IBU). Fermentation temperature 60 - 80F <ref name="ecy_website">[http://www.eastcoastyeast.com/wild-stuff.html "Wild Yeast / Brettanomyces / Lactic Bacteria". East Coast Yeast website. Retrieved 04/27/2018.]</ref>.
|-
| [[Escarpment Laboratories]] || Lactobacillus Blend || L. brevis and L. plantarum || Heterofermentative || || This blend is designed to be usable at a wide range of temperatures, and is especially suited for kettle souring/sour wortingWort Souring. We recommend pre-acidifying wort to 4.5 with lactic acid, then pitching the Lactobacillus blend in a CO2-purged kettle or fermentor at 32-42°C.
|-
| [[Escarpment Laboratories]] || Lactobacillus brevis || L. brevis || Heterofermentative || || This strain is moderately hop-tolerant, and as such it can also be used for long-term souring of <10IBU beers. It also performs well in kettle souring/sour worting wort souring where fast and clean lactic acidity is desired. We recommend pre-acidifying wort to 4.5 with lactic acid, then pitching the Lactobacillus blend in a CO2-purged kettle or fermentor at 35-45°C.
|-
| [[Fermmentos Labs]] (Brazil) || FB7 Pure Sour || L. plantarum and L. brevis || Heterofermentative || || Designed for kettle souring. Optimal temperatures of 20-25°C <ref name="fermmentos_catalog_2017">[https://fermmentolabs.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Cat%C3%A1logo_Fermmento_Labs_TWTF.pdf Fermmentos Labs Catalog. Retrieved 12/21/2017.]</ref>.