Alcotec 8 turbo yeast high alcohol

The first very high alcohol fermentation

After the first turbo yeast (Alcotec 6 or possibly Turbo 3) was launched in the mid 1990's, there was a lot of effort everywhere to try and get out first with a turbo yeast that could do higher alcohol. The Alcotec 6 managed to produce 14%, not bad compared to previous alternatives, but the aim was to go higher.

Around 1997 the Alcotec 8 was launched as the first high alcohol turbo in the world. It can ferment up to 18% alcohol by volume, a fantastic achievement at the time and pretty amazing today as well. This turbo yeast is still in production and it is very popular.

The major improvements after this recipe has been within temperature tolerance, i.e. the ability to withstand high summer temperatures. This is a bigger problem than you might think as the turbo yeast itself produces a lot of heat so the brew risk overheating if there isn't enough cool air around the fermenter.

The Alcotec 8 makes 18% alcohol in 5-7 days, using 8kgs of sugar in a 25 litre mix.