Nice, the Oregonian is reporting that a bill has been introduced in the state legislature to declare Saccharomyces cerevisiae — a.k.a. brewer’s yeast or ale yeast — the state microbe. If successful, it would be the first time a state has had a state microbe. I sincerely hope it happens. I think that would be pretty fun.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Frankly, I think California should declare Brettanomyces to be our state microbe, though we may get some push back from the wineries.

Brettanomyces.

UPDATE: Oregon may not be first after all, and Delaware may not just be the First State, but also the first one with a state microbe. According to a story from late 2011 in the University of Delaware’s UDaily:

Delaware is the first state to have its own yeast. Gov. Jack Markell signed a proclamation giving a yeast named Kloeckera (apiculata) (strain KA 1) this designation, which is an honorary title because the state legislature is not currently in session to vote on the matter.