Wallerstein Laboratory Nutrient Agar (WLN)

Wallerstein Laboratory Nutrient Agar (WLN)

Differential Agar for Brewery, Winery & Fermentation Microbiology
Catalog Number: AS-1320

Overview

Wallerstein Laboratory Nutrient Agar (WLN) is a specialised differential solid culture medium developed for the detection, isolation, and enumeration of yeasts, molds, and bacteria encountered in brewing, winemaking, and food fermentation environments.

With a carefully balanced nutrient formulation and a slightly acidic pH, WLN Agar enables clear differentiation of microbial colonies based on colour, size, and morphology, making it a long-standing gold standard medium for beverage microbiology quality control.

Ausamics WLN Agar delivers consistent colony development and reliable differentiation, supporting both routine QC testing and advanced fermentation research.

Key Features & Benefits

• Optimised for breweries, wineries, and fermentation laboratories

• Supports growth of yeasts and molds while limiting bacterial overgrowth

• Differential medium – colony colour and morphology aid identification

• Acidic pH (5.5 ± 0.2) simulates beer, wine, and beverage environments

• Excellent clarity for accurate enumeration and interpretation

• Suitable for routine QC, troubleshooting, and research use

Typical Applications

Beverage Quality Control

• Monitoring microbial contamination in beer, wine, cider, kombucha, and soft drinks

• Detection of spoilage yeasts and molds

Fermentation Microbiology

• Isolation and differentiation of wild yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, and spoilage organisms

• Hygiene verification in production environments

Research & Education

• Academic and industrial fermentation microbiology

• Teaching laboratories focused on beverage microbiology

Principle of the Medium

WL Nutrient Agar provides a nutrient-rich yet selective environment with an acidic pH that favours beverage-associated microorganisms. Differential components produce distinct colony colours and morphologies, allowing visual differentiation of yeasts, molds, and bacteria without additional reagents.

Technical Specifications

• Medium Type: Dehydrated solid culture medium

• Form: Powder

• Final pH: 5.5 ± 0.2 at 25 °C

• Prepared Appearance: Clear to lightly amber agar with distinct colony contrast

Preparation (Typical)

1. Suspend the recommended quantity of dehydrated medium in purified water

2. Heat with agitation until fully dissolved

3. Sterilise by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 minutes

4. Cool to 45–50 °C, mix gently, and pour plates

(Exact preparation parameters may be adjusted to laboratory SOPs.)

Storage & Shelf Life

• Dehydrated medium: Store tightly sealed at 15–25 °C in a dry place

• Prepared plates: Store at 2–8 °C, protected from drying

• Shelf life: Long-term stability when stored under recommended conditions

Intended Use

For laboratory research, quality control, and industrial microbiology use only.
Not intended for therapeutic or direct food use.

Why Buy WLN Agar from Ausamics?

Ausamics supplies reliable, batch-consistent microbiological media trusted by fermentation professionals for:

• Clear differentiation and reproducible results

• Transparent documentation (COA & SDS available)

• Competitive pricing vs international brands

• Fast local and international shipping

• Responsive technical and scientific support