Boston : Spring 2009 Headlines;
Yeast, "The Living Orgasm"
The MBA (Master Brewers Association) uses PYF (Premature Yeast Flocculation) to reach out to the International Craft Brewers in Boston.

I was able to catch the summary of 2 days of technical presentations on Yeast at the MBAA symposium in Boston prior to attending the Yeast Workshop.
As I listened to a Dr. Ruth of the Yeast industry that was called up to summarize the event, she asked the intemate question, "who here has a problem with PYF?". I came to this event expecting these craft brewers to learn something from the German brewers but my opinion changed when I heard the first German ask why American brewers were storing Yeast in water rather than beer. The wisdom in the answer even impressed the European and now it was clear that it was not the American brewers that were learning from this event, but rather the Germans were learning from the Americans in Yeast technology.
At this point, the Dr. Ruth was asking "who has a problem with PYF?"  I had no idea so I asked the brewer next to me what PYF was, but he gave me a look that could kill. At that, I asked him if he was from Canada, eh? That set the tone for the next 2 hours of discussion until I finally learned what PYF is. PYF is Premature Yeast Flocculation!! a vital part of the reason I was at the Yeast conference to determine food / Beer pairing for a spot I was putting together for the www.FreeBeerBuddy.com Blog that deals with food pairing.

Premature Flocculation was the topic to address Vitality, Taste, and Viability. These are the true leaders of yeast discussions worldwide, until one brewer called the Yeast issue for what it is, Unpredictable. Plus, most brewers want to use and re-use Yeast as much as possible to save costs and look to maintain a consistant beer result. Another brewer just yelled out, why not just taste the stuff to find out if it lives? All groaned at that, no brewer wants to stay on the bus for 3 days from the results of tasting an abundance of Yeast samples.

I met Graeme Walker, BSc, PhD, FIBD Professor of Zymology from the Scotland biotechnical & Forensic Sciences, and asked what he thought about PYF and wondered if it was worth the trip from Scotland? He was encouraging and informative, nothing like the James Bond image I had grasped from his business card. He was happy to reveal his side of the Yeast equation as it relates to beer taste as I mentioned that Free Beer usually tastes best and he agreed.

Once the Workshop on how to improve your Yeast Vitality and Yeast Fermentation effects including Temperature, Consistency, and Down Time were Optimized, most brewers spent the afternoon looking at the bottom of the free beer in the lobby and then back in for a quick look at Yeast under the microscope. Yeast, Yeast and more Yeast, can make you thirsty for beer. The next 3 days proved this and hang on for the best free beer events in history that will never be matched again.

After the yeast event, we were all invited to the Harpoon Brewery for the first ever full open bar in the history of Harpoon and the founders Dan and Rich. We were touring the entire event with our glasses for beer and all kinds of food that matched. This was a historic Beer event that will not be back in Boston for a while but as for Tuesday, we were not feeling sad about this fact but now 2 weeks later, I am truly blessed to have been there.

On Wednesday, the seriousness of the event started to come together. Rows and rows of Vendors to the brewers were lined up at the World Trade Center in Boston. Beer was truly becoming a classical music that someone in the Sophisticated side of the business could relate to. The rock and rollers from the night before were all there in their bikers clothes and ready for knowledge. It wasn't long before the elegant lunch and beer events complemented the morning speakers. Some of the interesting people here were the fellows from the Bureau of Alcohol and Tabacco, and Tank manufacturers from Germany that didn't want to talk with the low ranking American Brewer unless they were ready to buy a well engineered system based upon the reputation of fine German craftsmanship. The trouble with this mentality from Europe is that it was obvious that some of our American Cowboy brewers were making some great beer that surpased the restrictions of the Rheinheitsgebot. Left Hand Brewery was a king now in the European Market and there are a lot to follow.

As I went to the computers to write a summary of the day, little did I know that the hotel computers were located near to the rest room. After so much free beer, everyone had to pass that way, including Jim Koch. Jim recognized me from the Beverage Forum where he was elected man of the year and also from his Boston Entrepreneur outreach last year. We were about to get on busses to the Sam Adams brewery and things were looking great. A little while later, Garrett Oliver, from the Brooklyn Brewery and a great food / beer advocate came by for an introduction. I met Michael Jackson at the Brooklyn brewery years ago and we drove to Virgil's in NY with Marcy at the wheel after that free beer event.

The free beer bus train stopped in Roxbury at the Sam Adams brewery where Jim was waiting with the full floor and Lobster dinner. This was the best FBB outreach in the history of Beer and one that we will never never forget. Tours and beer and food was fun and happy. Lobster, Corn, Chicken, Dessert, Beer. Jim recognized the Underberg and we discussed the benefits of Bitters after a huge meal and on the bus back to Boston, I sat next to a beer lobbyist based in Washington DC and was able to find out a lot about free beer events for the government. He tells me that beer is never denied an ear with our congressmen and senators. Free Beer Runs our government.

On Thursday, the day's events were similar to the day before but as I was preparing to return to the western part of the state, I read my package of information to discover that there was another event being held at the private upper floor Sam Adams bar on back Bay. Once there, on the 8th floor, it was another free beer presentation by Jim Koch and the top level owners and brewers in the industy, including Nick and Fred Matt from Saranac in Utica, NY, as well as Matt from Hebrews beer. Hebrews Beer is the greatest slogans such as "Christ, that's good beer", to "the Genesis of Beer". This beer is made in Saratoga, NY under contract.

Oh, that's not all, after leaving the Sam Adams Private Quarters, it was back to the Harpoon for casks of beer. I introduced myself to Opa Opa and introduced him to Magic Hat that belong to the MBAA in New England. The beer was presented in casks and was a jamin' Rock and roll event. Later days to classical beverages at this event that was sponsored in part by the White brothers that own White Laboratory in California, the leading American supplier of Yeast.

To summarize the week in Boston, we can look to Beer as the miracle of the economy. I sense that beer will be a contributor to revitalizing our economy on every level. Topics that make a difference includes the joining of yeast with hops, Health and Barley. American Beers have arrived and the world will never be the same. Canada, Europe and the open trade will never be the same. Women will notice and the mysteries of yeast will be revealed. Scotland Yard was here!



Mark Dallmeyer
Managerj
Healthy Remnants, LLC
Dallmeyer Industries, Inc.