You may be able to get a strain without buying it. Are there any corn ethanol plants near you? If so, you can contact them and see if they will give you a culture. Another alternative is to search the recent literature. You may be able to find someone in academia studying ethanol production by yeast who would be willing to send you a culture.
I hope this information helps you.
Bill Colonna Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA [email protected]