Do you possess a daring spirit when it comes to culinary experimentation? Well, count me in! Allow me to share the extraordinary idea that popped into my head a few weeks ago – incorporating various strains of brewers’ yeast into my bread. Imagine the thrill of witnessing how beer yeast performs in a bread recipe!
Of course, I understand that bakers’ yeast is specially formulated for baking. However, considering that all yeasts consume sugars and produce carbon dioxide and alcohol, why not give beer yeast a chance? To commence my experiment, I visited my local homebrew shop, American Brewmaster, and stocked up on an assortment of yeasts, including some dry malt extract.
Before divulging the results, let me provide some insight into the process. I utilized identical ingredients in equal proportions for each batch of dough, the only variable being the type of yeast. I meticulously labeled everything and allocated the same amount of rising time to all the dough, both at room temperature and in the refrigerator.
A Superb Dough for a Flavorful Loaf
By the way, this dough is absolutely fantastic! It possesses a slightly moist consistency, enabling a longer and slower rise. As a result, the bread boasts an excellent chew and an incredibly flavorful profile, even if you solely employ all-purpose flour.
Even if you aren’t keen on experimenting with brewers’ yeast, this recipe still yields a delectable loaf weighing approximately 1 1/2 pounds. It’s a chewy bread with a reasonably airy interior. However, if you desire a sandwich bread, you can explore my Spent Grain Bread recipe, substituting brewers’ yeast for bakers’ yeast.
Supplies and Ingredients for Bread Making
If you’re ready to embark on your own bread-making adventure, here are some recommendations for brewer’s yeast and other products to enhance the flavor profile of your bread:
- SafAle Ale Yeast
- Nottingham yeast
- Lager yeast
- Mangrove Jack’s US West Coast dry yeast
You may also want to consider incorporating malt powder or rock sugar to nourish the yeast. Additionally, if you’re genuinely passionate about baking, investing in an instant-read thermometer, a reliable kitchen scale, and a lamé for scoring bread is highly advisable.
Basic Bread Recipe (per loaf)
Below is the fundamental recipe to serve as your starting point for exploring your own innovations:
- 15 oz all-purpose flour (King Arthur is an excellent choice)
- 9 oz warm water (approximately 100F)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dry malt extract (alternatively, you can use molasses, honey, sugar, maple syrup, etc.)
- 1/4 teaspoon dried yeast
The Rising Process
To ensure optimal flavor development, I adhered to a specific rising schedule. However, if you’re short on time, you can increase the amount of yeast and allow it to rise once until doubled in size.
Here is the rising schedule I followed:
- Let the dough rise at room temperature (around 65F) for 3 1/2 hours inside a labeled zip-top bag.
- Transfer the dough to the refrigerator and let it rise overnight for approximately 10 hours.
- Retrieve the dough from the fridge and let it rise on the counter for 3 hours.
- Punch down the dough, knead it to evenly distribute the yeast, and let it rise for an additional 3 hours.
- Punch down the dough once more, shape it, and let it rise for another 1 1/2 hours on a prepared baking sheet. Alternatively, gently shape it for a more “artisanal” bread with an open-crumbed texture.
- If desired, use a lame to score the dough, then bake it at 350F for 25 minutes.
- Remove the bread from the baking sheets and finish baking directly on the racks for an extra 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 200-205F.
- Allow the bread to cool completely on racks before slicing and freezing.
Remember, this dough is somewhat sticky, so it’s essential to oil your hands to prevent sticking. Refrain from adding more flour, as doing so will result in a better texture.
Not All Brewers Yeast Supplements Are Equal
Once, a reader reached out to me, puzzled as to why their yeast wasn’t functioning correctly. Upon investigation, it was revealed that they had utilized a brewers yeast supplement, which is unsuitable for bread recipes. These nutritional supplements contain inactive yeast and lack the leavening properties necessary for bread making. Trust me; you definitely don’t want a belly full of alcohol and burping carbon dioxide!
Lessons Learned from Baking with Beer Yeast
So, what have I gleaned from my bread-making escapade with beer yeast? Here are a few key takeaways:
- Each type of yeast imparts a subtle, yet detectable, character to the dough.
- The differences in flavor are nuanced and best discerned through side-by-side comparisons.
- Lager yeast thrives in cold temperatures, producing excellent results when left in the fridge or even at room temperature.
- Bread crafted with Nottingham ale yeast emanates a delightful oatmeal aroma.
- The loaf made with bread yeast (the control loaf) is delicious but the least captivating among the variants. Sorry, bread yeast, but I might have to say goodbye to you.
- This base recipe is equally suited for creating baguettes. Just ask my Twitter friend, who employed Safale Dry Ale yeast and achieved a well-structured and evenly-textured crumb.
Let’s Stay Connected!
If you have any inquiries regarding this recipe or any other posts on my website, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Leave a comment, and I’ll respond within 24 hours. For more pressing matters, feel free to email me, and I’ll endeavor to reply within 4 hours (unless I’m catching some z’s).
Before we conclude, allow me to recommend a reliable kitchen scale, an essential tool for accurate and consistent measurements. This lightweight and user-friendly scale will elevate your baking experiences to new heights.
I sincerely hope you’ve gleaned valuable insights from this post and feel inspired to try this recipe. Your feedback and recipe reviews are highly appreciated by me and other readers. If you found this post helpful, please share it on your favorite social platforms to help others discover it too.
Now, go ahead and enjoy the thrill of incorporating brewing yeast into your bread recipes. Embark on your baking adventure, and may you have a beautiful day!