How Lumina works
Engineered for clarity
We discovered the HZY1 gene responsible for yeast-derived haze and created Lumina technology to remove it. Take a strain like British Ale V that's prized for its stable haze: Lumina removes its haze gene to create DayBreak-V. The parent strain's fermentation character remains the same while the cloud of yeast-derived haze lifts. Brightness stops being a fight with your yeast and becomes a setting you choose.
The Strains
Utilizing Lumina
• DayBreak-V (OYL-408) British Ale V with the haze gene removed. The same juice, now in a clear glass.
• West Coast I+ (OYL-430) Chico with Lumina plus DKO. Reliable clarity and no diacetyl.
• Point Loma+ (OYL-434) More West Coast clarity with Lumina and DKO working together.
What to expect
Lumina takes care of most of the work
Lumina handles the yeast-derived haze. You handle the rest. Haze in a dry-hopped beer comes from more than one place. For genuinely crystal-clear beer, brewers still have to address the haze potential from malt and hop sources with kettle finings, separating cold break, and enzymes or fining agents in the cellar. Lumina then pushes clarity further than those steps could alone.
Dry hop timing is still a factor. Pay attention to your hop schedule. Early dry hopping before or during high krausen reduces haze. Mid- to late-fermentation dry hopping promotes it.
Use Lumina to brighten or to transform. Lumina can clean up an IPA's appearance or bring the juiciness of a hazy strain to a clear beer.
The test
Engineered for clarity
We brewed a single hop West Coast IPA with Citra and divided the batch to compare the turbidity (NTU) of each strain engineered with Lumina against their parent strains. The turbidity of the versions brewed with Lumina versions measured dramatically lower.
Common Questions
Some answers to clear things up
What is stable haze?
The thick, lasting haze in a modern IPA isn't yeast floating in suspension. It's non-biological, and it's far more intense than the chill haze that clears on its own. HZY1 is the yeast-side lever of that system—and Lumina is how we remove it.
Can you remove HZY1 from any strain? Yes, but it's not always necessary. Many strains are already haze-neutral. We apply Lumina where it matters most, when haze becomes problematic.
Will my malt and hop haze disappear too? No. Lumina only removes yeast-derived haze. Keep using your best clarifying practices for the rest.
Next Steps
Cultivate something new
By now, you know strains engineered with Lumina can be used to sharpen existing recipes or create something new. DayBreak-V for a West Coast IPA is a good place to start. Turn on the bright lights and appreciate the clarity you've found.
Stay bubbling,
The Omega Team