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Much has been written about terroir—about conveying a sense of place in our food and drink—and perhaps no beer ingredient can do that as palpably as yeast can.
Locally grown malt and hops can reflect their soil and weather, but they are also just local versions of the same varieties grown elsewhere—like cover bands riffing on widely popular tunes. Yeast, on the other hand, have evolved over millennia to the local flora. They are unique to their home environment; they represent original music.
Here are a few ways that breweries are creatively applying these yeasts, often in unexpected ways, along with some pros and cons to consider in your own brewery.