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Brewing a bright future: Yeast's role in craft beer and biotechnological evolution

From the 2024 Annual Report

In August 2024, AB Mauri North America acquired Omega Yeast, a leader in the craft brewing liquid yeast market, to further strengthen and accelerate its speciality yeast business.

We believe there is a good opportunity to expand and enhance the offerings of AB Biotek (an AB Mauri business division) in the beer and wider alcohol beverage market globally.

The origins of AB Biotek’s yeast and associated fermentation technologies for beer can be found within the traditions of whisky production in Scotland and Ireland and leading wine producers worldwide. For many decades our products have been preferred by world-leading artisans to produce some of the most iconic whisky brands and award-winning wines. 

The Omega Yeast Labs production facility in Chicago, United States The Omega Yeast Labs production facility in Chicago, United States

The craft beer segment has experienced significant growth, driven by consumer demand for diverse and consistent high-quality beers. A critical component in this industry is brewing yeast, which plays a vital role in fermentation and flavour profile development. 

In the early days of craft brewing, brewers relied on traditional yeast strains, often sourced from larger breweries or home-brewing communities. However, advances in biotechnology and yeast management have revolutionised the industry. 

AB Biotek’s fermentation and yeast technology experts have meticulously developed a specialist portfolio of yeast solutions for craft brewers. The strategic acquisition of Omega Yeast significantly enhances our existing brewer’s yeast portfolio and brands. It introduces cutting-edge strains and innovative bioengineering capabilities, further strengthening the quality and diversity of our craft brewing solutions.

Omega Yeast is a leading producer of liquid yeast for the craft brewing industry in North America, operating from a state-of-the-art facility in Chicago, Illinois. The business is renowned for its innovative capabilities, catering to a wide range of brewing styles from traditional lagers and ales to West Coast IPAs and hard seltzers.

Omega Yeast offers a diverse range of yeast strains tailored to enable craft brewers to differentiate their products, including traditional styles and innovative advanced solutions such as the NEXT™ Series, featuring bioengineered strains for novel flavours, and the PLUS™ Series, which offers familiar strains with enhanced performance.

These strain evolutions allow brewers to explore new and unique flavour profiles, pushing the boundaries of traditional brewing techniques. Advanced propagation methods ensure consistent quality and performance, improving fermentation reliability. By continuously advancing our yeast technology, we can assist brewers globally to experiment with new brewing methods and styles, keeping the craft beer market dynamic and exciting.

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