Original: Homolactic fermentation is the production of lactic acid from pyruvate ; alcoholic fermentation is the conversion of pyruvate into ethanol and carbon dioxide ; and heterolactic fermentation is the production of lactic acid as well as other acids and alcohols .
Simplified: When yeast ferments , it breaks down the glucose ( C6H12O6 ) into ethanol ( CH3CH2OH ) and carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) .