On the Origin of The Yeasts.

[mr_wibble]

Recently (2011) it was announced that the "origin" of lager yeast was traced to the forests of Patagonia (much like Paddington Bear).
ref: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110822151019.htm
The implication, and I have read this elsewhere, is that lager yeast was first brought to Europe from South America.

Yet Europe did not "discover" South America until the year 1492
ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_colonization_of_the_Americas

Reading a history of German Brewing it says that Munich council records mention bottom-fermenting "cold fermenting" yeasts as early as 1420. Which is probably close to 100 years before any significant trade from South America came to central Germany.
ref: http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/history.html

So while this Patagonian Beech-gall yeast might be "... distinct from every known wild species of yeast, but was 99.5 percent identical to the non-ale yeast portion of the lager genome", it seems clear from these records that some form lager yeast was already in Europe at this time. Perhaps the very same yeast.

 

[Mozz]

Christopher Columbus was not the first European into the Americas.

The Vikings had settlements in North America that predate him by 400 years

http://m.newsok.com/article/5490000

Now Patagonia is a long way South however knowing their penchant for travel and beer perhaps they had something to do with the arrival of lager yeast in Europe. You would think they'd have an interest in exploring the lands to the South with 400 years up their sleeve.

 

[MHB]

It's been an interesting couple of years for yeast research, this is worth a glance "New Scientist"
From what I rave read it isn't generally thought the Patagonian yeast was brought to Europe on sailing ships as (as mentioned) Lager predates the discovery of South America.
It is possible that a similar or related yeast is endemic in European beach trees. Remember that we are about 99.5% genetically the same as a chimpanzee so that 0.5% difference can be a pretty important 1/2%.
Mark