Studies on Fermentation: The diseases of beer, their causes, and the means of preventing them — John Shaqi
Studies on Fermentation: The diseases of beer, their causes, and the means of preventing themPasteur, Louis
Science
Studies on Fermentation: The diseases of beer, their causes, and the means of preventing them
Pasteur, Louis
Beer; Fermentation
No. 1 of the engraving represents the ferments of _turned_ beer, as it
is called. These are filaments, simple or articulated into chains of
different size, and having a diameter of about the thousandth part of a
millimetre (about 1/25000 inch). Under a very high power they are seen
to be composed of many series of shorter filaments, immovable in their
articulations, which are scarcely visible.
In No. 2 are given the lactic ferments of wort and beer. These are
small, fine and contracted in their middle. They are generally detached,
but sometimes occur in chains of two or three. Their diameter is a
little greater than that of No. 1.
In No. 3 are given the ferments of putrid wort and beer. These are
mobile filaments whose movements are more or less rapid, according to
the temperature. Their diameter varies, but is for the most part greater
than that of the filaments of Nos. 1 and 2. They generally appear at the
commencement of fermentation, when it is slow, and are almost invariably
the result of very defective working.
In No. 4 are given the ferments of viscous wort, and those of ropy beer,
which the French call _filante_. They form chaplets of nearly spherical
grains. These ferments rarely occur in wort, and still less frequently
in beer.
No. 5 represents the ferments of pungent, sour beer, which possesses an
acetic odour. These ferments occur in the shape of chaplets, and consist
of the _mycoderma aceti_, which bears a close resemblance to lactic
ferments (No. 2), especially in the early stages of development. Their
physiological functions are widely different, in spite of this
similarity.
The ferments given in No. 7 characterize beer of a peculiar acidity,
which reminds one more or less of unripe, acid fruit, with an odour _sui
generis_. These ferments occur in the form of grains which resemble
little spherical points, placed two together, or forming squares. They
are generally found with the filaments of No. 1, and are more to be
feared than the latter, which cause no very great deterioration in the
quality of beer, when alone. When No. 7 is present, by itself or with
No. 1, the beer acquires a sour taste and smell that render it
detestable. We have met with this ferment existing in beer,
unaccompanied by other ferments, and have been convinced of its fatal
effects.
No. 6 represents one of the deposits belonging to wort. This must not be
confounded with the deposits of diseased ferments. The latter are always
visibly organized, whilst the former is shapeless, although it would not
always be easy to decide between the two characters, if several samples
of both descriptions were not present. This shapeless deposit interferes
with wort during its cooling. It is generally absent from beer, because
it remains in the backs, or on the coolers; or it may get entangled in
the yeast during fermentation and disappear with it.
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