Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Fossil fueled beer? 45 million year-old yeast used to craft new ale
Share:
by Tina Kells | September 25, 2008 at 02:17 pm
1342 views | 24 Recommendations | 16 comments
Photos
You may want to call the Fossil Fuels Brewing Company's beers the mother of all ales; the company is crafting its German Lager and Pale Ale from 45 million year old yeast.
In a story straight from the movie Jurassic Park, Fossil Fuels Brewing Company extracts its special ingredient from ancient Burmese amber. But instead of the key to resurrecting dinosaurs, the amber contains a dormant yeast that hails back to the dawn-of-time.
That 45 million year-old yeast is now the cornerstone ingredient in a selection of modern era beer.
Trapped inside a Lebanese weevil covered in ancient Burmese amber, a tiny colony of bacteria and yeast has lain dormant for up to 45 million years. A decade ago Raul Cano, now a scientist at the California Polytechnic State University, drilled a tiny hole into the amber and extracted more than 2,000 different kinds of microscopic creatures.
Activating the ancient yeast, Cano now brews barrels (not bottles) of pale ale and German wheat beer through the Fossil Fuels Brewing Company.
"You can always buy brewing yeast, and your product will be based on the brewmaster's recipes," said Cano. "Our yeast has a double angle: We have yeast no one else has and our own beer recipes."
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
Ben McLeod
Concord, New Hampshire, United Statespeggy.
Palm Harbor, Florida, United States
mahkrueger
Shawnee Mission, Kansas, United Statesgardnecl
Salt Lake City, Utah, United Statesathrasher
Hewitt, Texas, United States
Dred242
San Jose, California, United Statesbpitzer20
Ballwin, Missouri, United Statessomah
West Hollywood, California, United Statesawynhaus
Durham, North Carolina, United States
DLTbluefrog
Nashua, New Hampshire, United States
cmbellman
Stockholm, Sweden
jeff-o-matic
Dayton, Ohio, United States
NogsOnline
Christiansburg, Virginia, United States
voxefx
Severn, Maryland, United States
giophotos
Rancho Cucamonga, California, United Statesvon_brandis
South Africa
DRAUGHTMAN
Poland
James Grayson
Austin, Texas, United StatesTimmayK
Niagara Falls, New York, United States
bet3
Ankara, Turkey
Grovlam
Copenhagen, Denmarkjanlim
Malaysia
cs2nd
Nagareyama-shi, Japanmpirnat
Westlake, Ohio, United States
Morris Chiu
Taipei, TaiwanMarc Aurel
Germanylarry1960
Grass Valley, California, United Statesericschoon
Washington, District Of Columbia, United Statesgyazickr
Palo Alto, California, United Statescarl_lexicon
Fargo, North Dakota, United StatesMathew Packer Photography
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australiakandot_resinite
Malaysiaseemolf
Germanysmiling.jack
Swedengreyanemone
Elgin, Illinois, United StatesDatsEvolution
Germanyilerdino
SpainScott Mattiuz
Osseo, Minnesota, United StatesMelissa Steep
The Hammer, Canadacebucuber
Philippines
tishybaby
Makati, Metro Manila, Philippinesoscarmachaconjr
Philippinesalmostlindy
Austin, Texas, United Statesmmcneer
Atlanta, Georgia, United Stateslebitot
Philippinesameyag
Indiaduque2008
Braziltibau1
BrazilIceNetminder
McKinney, Texas, United Statesrenieravin
IndiaWillShoot
Herndon, Virginia, United Statesfreddie boy
Sollentuna, SwedenSigalakos
GreeceRoshni Joseph
IndiaRoger_AusTx
Austin, Texas, United Statesirazeg
Los Angeles, California, United Statesgumbyliberation
Pompano Beach, Florida, United Statesckramer
Laurel, Maryland, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (16)
at 18:41 on September 25th, 2008
really easy!
mmcneer has contributed a photo to this story.
at 21:03 on September 25th, 2008
Cool
Grovlam has contributed a photo to this story.
at 21:46 on September 25th, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff.
What a waist I think.
at 22:41 on September 25th, 2008
great story, I would love to try the beer
at 02:42 on September 26th, 2008
I was in a bistro near the Opera in Paris. The beer tasted great and I was coming from Africa on the way to Brazil!
duque2008 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 04:31 on September 26th, 2008
Sounds like it would go well with a nice steak.
at 04:42 on September 26th, 2008
I'm pleased that my photos wer thought to be good enough to use for this story.
DatsEvolution has contributed a photo to this story.
at 04:45 on September 26th, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff.Beautiful amber pictures!
at 04:47 on September 26th, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 07:54 on September 26th, 2008
Oh ok. It is an interesting story. I'm a fan of any kind of beer. :)
at 08:39 on September 26th, 2008
I'll drink to that !
at 10:50 on September 27th, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 15:55 on September 27th, 2008
Cheers - I'd drink that
at 01:15 on September 30th, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff. Very interesting news, and a nice break from morbid stuff. Thanks, Tina.
at 12:49 on October 1st, 2008
Bet it tastes great! How strange to think that an ingredient would be so old!!
karenc2510 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 18:41 on October 20th, 2008
I'm so glad I don't like beer