Cicerone Certified Beer Server Practice Test

What is the role of yeast in beer production?

1. To filter the beer

2. To ferment sugars into alcohol

3. To add color and flavor

4. To stabilize the beer's pH

The correct answer is: To ferment sugars into alcohol

Yeast plays a crucial role in beer production primarily through the fermentation process. During fermentation, yeast consumes the sugars present in the wort (the unhopped liquid extracted from malted grains) and converts them into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This conversion is essential because it not only produces the alcohol that characterizes beer but also contributes to the overall flavor profile through various by-products generated during fermentation. While it is true that yeast can influence certain flavors and aromas, its primary function is the fermentation of sugars. The other roles mentioned, such as filtering the beer, adding color and flavor, and stabilizing the beer's pH, are performed by different aspects of the brewing process or are influenced by other ingredients such as malt, hops, and water. Thus, the role of yeast as the agent that ferments sugars into alcohol is foundational to the brewing process, making it the correct answer.