Abstract: The disclosure provides a culture plate comprising medium which supports microbial growth and comprises a dextrin comprising four or more glucose units linked by ?(1?4) glycosidic bonds as a sole carbon source. The culture plate comprises a first zone inoculated with a sta? S. cerevisiae strain which produces a pigment upon sugar fermentation, and a second zone adjacent to the first zone and which is not inoculated with a microbe. The disclosure further provides a method of using the culture plate to characterize microbial diastatic activity.

Abstract: Described herein are materials and methods for the conversion of a non-volatile form of 3-sulfanyl-1-hexanol (3SH) to free 3SH during a brewing process.

Abstract: The invention provides a hybrid ale strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and uses thereof.