New Light on the “Sarcina” Question

This investigation was initiated with the object of determining the true nature of the so-called "pediococci" responsible for "sarcina-sickness" and other defects in beer.Cultures of these organisms have been obtained from various beers in different countries and studied from a comparative point of view.As a result of this study, together with a critical review of the "sarcina literature" the conclusion has been reached that the so-called "beer-sarcinae," or "beerpediococci" are neither sardnae, "pediococci" nor micrococci, but morphologically, culturally and physiologically, belong to the plant division of the genus Streptococcus.