As craft brewing has grown, U.S. consumers are encountering a much wider range of flavors in their beers – from caramel to clove, banana, apple and even roses. But did you know that most of these flavors are created directly from the yeast itself?

At this STEM Café, hear from Eric Scherzer, the head of quality control at Two Brothers Brewing Company, about the history of yeast, how yeast has changed alongside human culture and why yeasts produce different flavors. He’ll also discuss current genetically engineered yeasts and their flavors. Eric earned his degree in biology from Northern Illinois University in 2004 and studied brewing at the Siebel Institute in Chicago and Doemens Academy in Munich. Join us to explore the science behind beer flavors!

Northern Illinois University STEM Cafés are part of NIU STEAM and are designed to increase public awareness of the critical role that STEM fields play in our everyday lives. They are offered in partnership with the NIU Alumni Association and made possible with support from Thermo Fisher Scientific and Bayer Fund.