Lager Yeast with Dr Greg Casey – BeerSmith Podcast #278

by Brad Smith on March 27, 2023 · 0 comments

Dr Greg Casey joins me this week to discuss the history of lager yeast, and its evolution in brewing.

Subscribe on iTunes to Audio version or Video version or Spotify or Google Play

Download the MP3 File– Right Click and Save As to download this mp3 file.

Topics in This Week’s Episode (50:07)

  • This week I welcome back Dr Greg Casey. Greg has an extensive history in brewing at Annheuser-Bush, Red Star Yeast, Stroh, Coors, Molson and Millers. He has a PhD in Applied Microbiology and was President of the American Society of Brewing Chemists from 2005-2006.
  • We start with a discussion of the status of Greg’s 5 volume set on the history of Adjunct Lager we discussed in episode 248. Greg has two volumes coming out as early as this Fall and is working on the third volume.
  • We start with a discussion of what lager yeast is and how it is historically and fundamentally different than ale yeasts.
  • Greg shares what he learned working for an entire career in many of the larger US lager breweries.
  • We talk about the state of the art in lager yeast brewing back in 1979 when he started his career.
  • I ask what’s changed in the last 44 years with regard to our understanding of lager yeast.
  • Greg shares a bit about the genetic and historical origins of lager yeast.
  • We discuss nature vs nurture and how both have played important roles in lager yeast evolution.
  • Greg explains the differnce between the Carlsburg and Tubor lager yeasts and how both variations are still used in producing adjunct lagers.
  • Greg discusses how the rapid gain in genetics and microbiology have shaped how we now look at lager yeast.
  • We discuss how he’s incorporated much of what he learned into his five volume set on adjunct lagers.
  • Greg shares his closing thoughts.

Sponsors

Thanks to Dr Greg Casey for appearing on the show and also to you for listening!
iTunes Announcements: I launched a new video channel for the BeerSmith podcast on iTunes, so subscribe now! At the moment it will only feature the new widescreen episodes (#75 and up). Older episodes are available on my revamped Youtube channel. Also all of my audio episodes are on iTunes now – so grab the older episodes if you missed any.

Thoughts on the Podcast?

Leave me a comment below or visit our discussion forum to leave a comment in the podcast section there.

Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes or BeerSmith Radio

You can listen to all of my podcast episodes streaming live around the clock on our BeerSmith Radio online radio station! You can also subscribe to the audio or video using the iTunes links below, or the feed address

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the blog and my newsletter (or use the links in the sidebar) – to get free weekly articles on home brewing.

Related Beer Brewing Articles from BeerSmith:

Enjoy this Article? You'll Love Our BeerSmith Software!
  Don't make another bad batch of beer! Give BeerSmith a try - you'll brew your best beer ever.
Download a free 21 day trial of BeerSmith now

{ 0 comments… add one now }

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: