Yeast strain 25-G was isolated from naturally fermented cereal beverage (boza). By biochemical (API 20 C Aux) and molecular-genetic (partial sequencing of the 26S rRNA gene) methods, a representative of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus was identified. The enzymatic profile of the strain was determined by applying a kit system API ZYM (BioMerieux, France). Its proteolytic and amylase activities were examined as well. Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus strain 25-G exhibits amylase activity, which makes it suitable for being included in the composition of starter cultures used at the production of fermented cereal foods and beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]