WEBAug 1, 2021 — Fermentation Chemistry. Fermentation is a biochemical reaction that extracts energy from carbohydrates without using oxygen. Under anaerobic conditions, microbes break down sugar into alcohol, acid, and/or gas to produce adenosine triphosphate to stay alive, but the microbes also produce ethanol, carbon dioxide, and lactic acid, which increase product shelf life and impart desirable sensory ...