Special vodka yeast is used while making vodka

Since vodka contains very high levels of alcohol, special vodka yeast is used while making vodka. Milder brewing yeasts used for making beer or wine cannot survive in strong ethanol alcohol and hardy distillers yeast is needed for vodka production.

Vodka has been happily consumed since several centuries and has been providing much more than warmth to citizens of several countries around the globe including Russia. This potent drink is made by brewing and distilling ingredients such as wheat or rice or corn or even potatoes, among other ingredients along with water. The first process is to mix the solid ingredients such as grains or vegetables with water to create a mash.

This mash ensures the release of enzymes that convert the starch present in the grains or vegetables into sugars such as dextrose or maltose. While milder yeast such as yeast saccharomyces can be used to ferment lager beer or wine yeast can be added to make wine, vodka needs extremely hardy yeast that can survive in alcohols that can have strength levels of even 70 per cent by volume.

Once active yeast such as special vodka yeast is added to the mash then all fermentable sugars are converted into high-strength ethanol or alcohol. In addition to sugar fermentation, making vodka also involves the process of distillation that involves heating the mash to very high temperatures so as to vaporize the contents before they are condensed and turned into liquid alcohol again.

Many producers also use filters during the distillation process so as to remove any odors or unwanted tastes from the mash. The vodka that is produced after distillation is so strong that water has to be added to bring down the strength to usually around 50 per cent. Several rounds of distillation might be required to achieve vodka with very high alcohol strength with improved clarity.

The yeast that is used to ferment the mash requires surviving and fermenting in high temperatures as well as possessing excellent alcohol tolerance levels so as to produce vodka at the desired proof levels. While most producers of vodka produce the heady spirit in plain form, many producers also manufacture flavored vodka by infusing various types of flavors into the vodka. Vodka enthusiasts can also infuse various flavors including fruity ones such as lime, lemon, strawberry, etc or other equally delicious flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, etc on their own after pouring out a glass of plain vodka. Vodka enthusiasts should use vodka essences that offer genuine flavoring at reasonable rates.

The right type of yeast does play an important part during the production of vodka. Certain alcohols can now be easily made with the introduction of better yeasts such as turbo yeast that possesses high alcohol tolerance as well as wider yeast temperature range. While plain vodka and flavored vodka is preferred in many countries, several vodka recipes including Martini, Bloody Mary, Sex on the Beach, Mudslide, and countless more are becoming increasingly popular with each passing night.

Vodka is an extremely strong spirit and needs to pass through several processes before it is produced and consumed. One important process in the manufacture of vodka is fermenting and this process too requires hardy yeast that can survive in high strength alcohol. Special vodka yeast is used while making vodka so as to produce this potent and popular drink.