Patent ID: 7563469

Claim:
A method of enhancing yeast fermentation of wort, the method comprising the steps of: (a) suspending yeast in a wort-free aqueous solution comprising liquid adjunct in an amount sufficient to give a specific gravity in the range of from about 2 to about 25 degrees Plato, wherein the liquid adjunct comprises a cereal sugar; (b) aerating the yeast suspension for a period of time with a gas comprising oxygen to allow oxygen uptake by the yeast, wherein the gas is delivered above a maximum oxygen uptake rate of the yeast and wherein the period of time is 8 hours up to about 21 hours; (c) adding zinc to the yeast suspension of step (b); (d) transferring the yeast suspension of step (b) to a suitable volume of nonaerated wort having a specific gravity comparable to the specific gravity of the solution of step (a); and (e) allowing fermentation to occur under suitable fermentation conditions to produce beer.