A comparative study of oat (Avena sativa) cultivars as brewing adjuncts

Brewing with high levels of unmalted oats (Avena sativa) has proven to be successful despite their high contents of β-glucan, protein, and fat. However, little is known about the effect of different oat cultivars on the quality and processability of mashes and worts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the mashing performance of eight oat cultivars, selected because of their low contents of β-glucan, protein, fat, and/or high starch content, when substituting 20 or 40 % barley malt. For this purpose, seven husked (A. sativa L. ‘Lutz’, ‘Buggy’, ‘Galaxy’, ‘Scorpion’, ‘Typhon’, ‘Ivory’, ‘Curly’) and one naked oat cultivar (A. sativa var. nuda ‘NORD 07/711’) were fully characterized using standard methods, Lab-on-a-Chip capillary electrophoresis, and scanning electron microscopy. The rheological behavior of mashes containing up to 40 % of each oat cultivar was measured during mashing by applying a Physica MCR rheometer. In addition, the quality of worts obtained from laboratory-scale mashing trials was analyzed particularly with regard to their cytolytic, proteolytic, and amylolytic properties. The substitution of up to 40 % barley malt with husked or naked oats resulted in significantly higher pH values, β-glucan contents, and viscosities as well as significantly lower soluble nitrogen and polyphenol contents, color values, filtration rates, and apparent attenuation limits. Naked oats contained significantly less β-glucan as well as more protein and starch than the seven husked oat cultivars. The replacement of barley malt with naked oats resulted in a constant extract yield, whereas the use of husked oats caused significant extract losses.     

Brewing with up to 40% unmalted oats (Avena sativa) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor): a review

Beer production with up to 40% unmalted cereals such as barley, wheat, rice and maize is legally allowed and thus practised in many European countries. The use of oats and sorghum as brewing adjuncts has great potential for creating new beer types/flavours and saving costs. In contrast to oats, sorghum is not as well known within Europe; however, its versatility makes it a very promising crop for exploitation in these temperate‐zone regions. This review describes the brewing‐relevant characteristics of unmalted oat and sorghum grain, investigates the role and properties of endogenous/exogenous enzymes during mashing, discusses the processability/quality of mashes, worts and beers produced with up to 40% oat or sorghum adjunct, and examines the effectiveness/limitations of endogenous enzymes as well as the benefits of the application of exogenous enzymes. Copyright © 2014 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Comparison of the impact on the performance of small‐scale mashing with different proportions of unmalted barley,Ondea Pro®, malt and rice

The impact of using different combinations of unmalted barley, Ondea Pro® and barley malt in conjunction with a 35% rice adjunct on mashing performance was examined in a series of small scale mashing trials. The objective was to identify the potential optimal levels and boundaries for the mashing combinations of barley, Ondea Pro®, malt and 35% rice (BOMR) that might apply in commercial brewing. Barley and malt samples used for the trials were selected from a range of Australian commercial barley and malt samples following evaluation by small‐scale mashing. This investigation builds on previous studies in order to adapt the technology to brewing styles common in Asia, where the use of high levels of rice adjunct is common. Mashing with the rice adjunct, combined with differing proportions of barley, Ondea Pro® and malt, resulted in higher extract levels than were observed for reference mashing, using either 100% malt reference or 100% barley reference and Ondea Pro® enzymes. Synergistic mashing effects between barley, Ondea Pro® and malt were observed for mash quality and efficiency parameters, particularly wort fermentability. The optimum levels of barley in the grist (with the relative level of Ondea Pro®) were assessed to be in the range 45–55% when paired with 10–20% malt and 35% rice. When the proportion of malt was reduced below 10% of the grist, substantial reductions in wort quality were observed for wort quality parameters including extract, lautering, fermentability, free amino nitrogen and haze. Extension of this new approach to brewing with rice adjuncts will benefit from further research into barley varietal selection in order to better meet brewer's quality requirements for the finished beer. Copyright © 2016 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Application of Biological Acidification to Improve the Quality and Processability of Wort Produced from 50% Raw Barley

In this study four strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were chosen to bioacidify a mash containing 50% barley and 50% malt. The strains were isolated from malted and unmalted barley and assayed for extracellular enzymatic activities (proteases, amylases, β‐glucanases). The biologically acidified mash was compared to a chemically acidified mash, 100% malt mash un‐acidified and 50% malt and 50% barley mash unacidified. Characteristics such as pH, extract, colour, viscosity, total soluble nitrogen (TSN), free amino nitrogen (FAN), apparent fermentability, β‐glucan and lautering performance of the resultant worts were determined. A model lautering system replicating one used in a brewery was designed and built in University College Cork (UCC) to measure the lautering performance of the bioacidified mashes. The new system was compared to the filtration method used in EBC method 4.5.1. Overall the addition of LAB to bioacidify a mash of 50% barley and 50% malt resulted in faster filtration times, which correlated with decreased β‐glucan levels. Proteolytic LAB had a positive influence on the quality of wort and resulted in increased FAN levels. Lighter colour worts were observed along with increased extract levels.     

Influence of malted barley and exogenous enzymes on the glucose/maltose balance of worts with sorghum or barley as an adjunct

The sugar profile of wort from laboratory malted barley, malted sorghum, unmalted barley and unmalted sorghum grains mashed with commercial enzyme preparations were studied. Similar levels of glucose to maltose (1:7) were observed in wort of malted barley and malted sorghum. Mashing barley or sorghum grains with commercial enzymes changed the glucose to maltose ratio in both worts, with a greater change in wort from sorghum grains. Although hydrolysis with commercial enzymes released more glucose from maltose in sorghum wort, the same treatment retained more maltose in barley wort. Adding malted barley to sorghum grains mashed with commercial enzymes restored the glucose to maltose ratio in sorghum mash. Fermentation of wort produced from all barley malt (ABM) mash and commercial enzyme/barley malt/sorghum adjunct (CEBMSA) mash of similar wort gravity was also studied. ABM and CEBMSA worts exhibited similar glucose to maltose ratios and similar amino acid spectra. However, ABM released more individual amino acids and five times more proline than wort from commercial enzyme/barley malt/sorghum adjunct. ABM produced 27% more glucose and 7% more maltose than CEBMSA. After fermentation, ABM mash produced 9.45% ABV whilst commercial enzyme/barley malt/sorghum adjunct mash produced 9.06% ABV. Restoration of the glucose/maltose ratio in the CEBMSA mash produced wort with a sugar balance required for high gravity brewing. © 2020 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

MICROBIAL ENZYMES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON EXTRACT RECOVERIES FROM UNMALTED ADJUNCTS

Radial diffusion tests were used to detect β-glucan-, starch-, protein-, pentosan- and triglyceride-degrading enzyme activities in a variety of commercial enzyme preparations. Some implications of the presence of unexpected enzymes in particular preparations are discussed. A series of laboratory mashes were made with grists of milled barley, extruded barley, and extruded wheat, using various enzyme additions and temperature-time programmes. In addition a limited number of experiments were made with pale ale barley malt, and wheat flour pellets. Extract yields varied from acceptable to outstandingly good. The most intensive mashing system, with enzyme supplementation, increased the extract yield of an all-malt mash by 3·9% relative to the control mashing programme. Some worts were evaluated for Total Soluble Nitrogen (T.S.N.), Free Amino Nitrogen (F.A.N.) and viscosity. Slow wort-filtration rates occurred in some mashes although the viscosities of the worts from these mashes were low. This problem did not occur in any of the samples intensively mashed over a 5 h period. The results apparently exclude the possibility that a simple, reliable technique for estimating the extract yields of adjuncts could be devised, using these enzyme preparations.     

Comparison of beer quality attributes between beers brewed with 100% barley malt and 100% barley raw material

BACKGROUND: Brewing with 100% barley using the Ondea^® Pro exogenous brewing enzyme product was compared to brewing with 100% barley. The use of barley, rather than malt, in the brewing process and the consequences for selected beer quality attributes (foam formation, colloidal stability and filterability, sensory differences, protein content and composition) was considered. RESULTS: The quality attributes of barley, malt, kettle‐full‐wort, cold wort, unfiltered beer and filtered beer were assessed. A particular focus was given to monitoring changes in the barley protein composition during the brewing process and how the exogenous OndeaPro^® enzymes influenced wort protein composition. All analyses were based on standard brewing methods described in ASBC, EBC or MEBAK. To monitor the protein changes two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used. CONCLUSION: It was shown that by brewing beer with 100% barley and an appropriate addition of exogenous Ondea^® Pro enzymes it was possible to efficiently brew beer of a satisfactory quality. The production of beers brewed with 100% barley resulted in good process efficiency (lautering and filtration) and to a final product whose sensory quality was described as light, with little body and mouthfeel, very good foam stability and similar organoleptic qualities compared to conventional malt beer. In spite of the sensory evaluation differences could still be seen in protein content and composition. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Implementation of commercial oat and sorghum flours in brewing

Brewing with commercial flours has the potential to reduce mashing times and improve brewhouse efficiency. At present, however, no studies are available assessing the application of commercial oat and sorghum flours as brewing adjuncts. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the quality and processability of mashes/worts produced with 10–90 % oat or sorghum flour as well as to reveal the advantages and limitations of their use as a substitute for barley malt. For these purposes, both flour types were fully analyzed in terms of brewing-relevant characteristics using standard methods, Lab-on-a-Chip capillary electrophoresis, and scanning electron microscopy. Laboratory-scale mashing trials were performed to assess the effect of up to 90 % flour adjunct on mash/wort quality. Equivalent factors were introduced to determine the performance efficiency of different oat/sorghum flour concentrations. Commercial oat flour sourced in Ireland exhibited significantly more protein, β-glucan, and fat, less starch, ash, and polyphenols, as well as a lower starch gelatinization temperature than commercial sorghum flour obtained from the USA. Worts produced with 10–90 % oat or sorghum flour had lighter colors, higher pH values, and lower concentrations of foam-positive proteins as well as free amino nitrogen compared to 100 % barley malt worts. In terms of extract yields, the use of up to 70 % oat flour and 50 % sorghum flour, respectively, has proven economically beneficial. Worts containing up to 70 % oat flour showed a very good or good fermentability, those containing 30–50 % sorghum flour resulted, however, in a lower alcohol production.     

Mashing Studies with Unmalted Sorghum and Malted Barley

The effects on wort quality when mashing with unmalted sorghum (0–100%) and malted barley (100–0%) in combination with industrial enzymes were evaluated. A mashing program with temperature stands at 50°C, 95°C and 60°C was used. Different combinations of commercial enzymes were evaluated. A heat stable α‐amylase was found to be essential for efficient saccharification. The inclusion of a fungal α‐amylase in mashes with a high sorghum content improved filtration rates to that of 100% malted barley mashes. Addition of a bacterial protease increased the amount of nitrogen solubilisation and peptide degradation. An increase of the relative proportion of sorghum in the grist resulted in decreases in wort filtration, colour, viscosity, attenuation limit, free amino nitrogen, high molecular weight nitrogen, and a corresponding increase in pH (p < 0.01). Overall the addition of malted barley in small proportions to unmalted sorghum mashes together with commercial enzymes was found to improve the potential for brewing a high quality lager beer from unmalted sorghum.     

Pilot Scale Production of a Lager Beer from a Grist Containing 50% Unmalted Sorghum

Pilot scale (1000 L) brews were carried out with a grist comprising of unmalted sorghum (50% of total wet weight of grain) (South African variety) and malted barley (50% of total wet weight of grain) grist using a mashing program with rests at 50°C, 95°C and 60°C. Mashes were supplemented with a high heat stable bacterial α‐amylase, a bacterial neutral protease and a fungal α‐amylase. A control brew containing 100% malted barley was also carried out. Saccharification difficulties were encountered during mashing, and extraction of the grist was lower for the sorghum mashes. The sorghum mashes showed comparable lautering behaviour to that of the control mash. At mashing off the sorghum worts were starch positive. Apparent degree of fermentation of the sorghum gyles were less than the control gyles. Green beer filtration proved unproblematic. The sorghum beers compared quite closely with the control beer with regard to colour, pH and colloidal stability. Foam stability deficiencies were apparent with the sorghum beer. However, the fermentability of the sorghum worts were lower. Hence the sorghum beers were lower in total alcohol. Sensory analysis indicated that no significant differences existed between the sorghum beer and both the control beer and a commercial malted barley beer with regard to aroma, mouth‐feel, after‐taste and clarity. However, the sorghum beer was found to be significantly different to both of the other beers with regard to colour, initial taste and foam stability.     

THE USE OF EXTRUDED BARLEY,WHEAT AND MAIZE AS ADJUNCTS IN MASHING

The principles of extrusion cooking are summarised. In small scale trials good extracts were obtained from extruded barley when it was mashed with industrial enzymes, using a programmed temperature cycle. Extruded barley, wheat and maize and wheat flour yielded acceptable levels of extract when mashed with lager malt (70%) using a programme with 1 hour rests at 50°C and 65°C. The extracts obtained from these grists were increased above those obtained from grists of lager malt alone and the viscosities of the worts were reduced when the mashes were supplemented by preparations of bacterial enzymes. Enzyme additions also improved extract recoveries from all-malt mashes and reduced the viscosities of the derived worts. Using a temperature programmed mashing cycle and supplementary enzymes beers were prepared from a lager malt grist and grists in which the lager malt was partly replaced, by 30%, with extruded barley or extruded wheat, or extruded maize or wheat flour pellets. In every case wort was recovered relatively easily, the worts fermented normally and the beers were all fully acceptable, although their flavours did differ. However, in contrast to results of preliminary brewing trials, the head retentions of the beers made with adjuncts were unusually low, possibly because of particular enzyme additions.     

Optimisation of the Mashing Procedure for 100% Malted Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) as a Raw Material for Gluten‐free Beverages and Beers

Proso millet is a gluten‐free cereal and is therefore considered a suitable raw material for the manufacturing of foods and beverages for people suffering from celiac disease. The objective of this study was to develop an optimal mashing procedure for 100% proso millet malt with a specific emphasis on high amylolytic activity. Therefore, the influence of temperature and pH on the amylolytic enzyme activity during mashing was investigated. Size exclusion chromatography was used to extract different amylolytic enzyme fractions from proso millet malt. These enzymes were added into a pH‐adjusted, cold water extract of proso millet malt and an isothermal mashing procedure was applied. The temperatures and pH optima for amylolytic enzyme activities were determined. The α‐amylase enzyme showed highest activity at a temperature of 60°C and at pH 5.0, whereas the β‐amylase activity was optimum at 40°C and pH 5.3. The limit dextrinase enzyme reached maximum activity at 50°C and pH 5.3. In the subsequent mashing regimen, the mash was separated and 40% was held for 10 min at 68°C to achieve gelatinisation. The next step in the mashing procedure was the mixture of the part mashes. The combined mash was then subjected to an infusion mashing regimen, taking the temperature optima of the various amylolytic enzymes into account. It was possible to obtain full saccharification of the wort with this mashing regimen. The analytical data obtained with the optimised proso millet mash were comparable to barley wort, which served as a control.     

EXTRUDED SORGHUM AS A BREWING RAW MATERIAL

Small scale mashes (50 g total grist) with grists containing up to 50% by weight of extruded whole sorghum produced worts of high extract yield and low viscosity. Increasing the proportion of extruded sorghum in the grist resulted in decreasing wort filtration volume, total nitrogen and free amino nitrogen content. The wort filtration behaviour of mashes containing sorghum extruded at 175°C was superior to that of mashes containing sorghum extruded at 165°C or 185°C. The results from such small scale mashing experiments suggested that extruded sorghum compared favourably to extruded barley and extruded wheat as a brewing adjunct. Worts and beers were produced on a pilot brewery scale (100 1) from grists comprising 70% malt + 30% extruded sorghum and 100% malt under isothermal infusion mashing conditions. Mashes containing sorghum extruded at 175°C showed comparable wort filtration behaviour to that of the all malt control mash whereas mashes containing sorghum extruded at 165°C or 185°C showed poor wort filtration behaviour. Worts produced from grists containing extruded sorghum fermented more quickly than the control wort and attained lower values of final gravity. The resulting beers were filtered without difficulty. Beers produced from grists containing extruded sorghum contained lower levels of total nitrogen and free amino nitrogen compared to the control beer consistent with extruded sorghum contributing little or no nitrogenous material to the wort and beer. Beers brewed from grists containing extruded sorghum were of sound flavour and showed reasonable foam stability behaviour.     

SMALL SCALE MASHING EXPERIMENTS WITH GRISTS CONTAINING HIGH PROPORTIONS OF RAW SORGHUM

Small scale mashes (50 g total grist) with grists containing high proportions of raw sorghum (50%–80% malt replacement) showed high values of extract recovery and produced worts of lower total nitrogen, free amino nitrogen, viscosity and colour but higher values of pH compared to worts produced from all malt mashes. Increasing the proportion of raw sorghum in the grist relative to malt resulted in a decline in extract recovery, wort total nitrogen, free amino nitrogen and an increase in wort pH. Addition of industrial enzyme preparations to mashes containing raw sorghum resulted in higher values of extract recovery (enzyme preparations containing α amylase and β glucanase), higher values of wort total nitrogen and free amino nitrogen (enzyme preparations containing a neutral proteinase) and decreased wort viscosity (enzyme preparations containing β glucanase or cellulases) compared to worts produced from untreated mashes. Worts and beers were produced on a pilot brewery scale from 50% malt and 50% polished (whole) sorghum (single decoction mashing regime) and 20% malt and 80% raw sorghum supplemented with an industrial enzyme preparation (double mashing regime). Mashes comprising 50% malt and 50% polished sorghum showed comparable wort filtration behaviour (lautering) to that of control mashes (70% malt and 30% maize grists) whereas wort produced from 20% malt and 80% raw sorghum filtered slowly. Worts produced from grists containing sorghum were of high fermentability and showed lower levels of total nitrogen and free amino nitrogen compared to control worts. Analysis of worts produced from small scale mashes containing raw sorghum and a pilot brewery scale mash comprising 20% malt and 80% raw sorghum demonstrated that the levels of total nitrogen and free amino nitrogen were higher than expected from the reduction in the malt content of the mash, consistent with the release of nitrogenous components (polypeptides, peptides and amino acids) derived from sorghum into the wort. Beers produced from 50% malt and 50% polished sorghum and 20% malt and 80% raw sorghum were filtered without difficulty and were of sound flavour. Beers produced from 50% malt and 50% polished sorghum contained lower levels of isobutanol, 2-methylbutanol, dimethylsulphide and higher levels of n propanol and diacetyl compared to control beers.     

Malted and unmalted oats in brewing

Using oats as a raw material in brewing has recently become the focus of increased interest. This is due to research findings that have shown that oats can be consumed safely by coeliac sufferers. It is also a response to consumer demand for products with novel sensory properties. In this study, beer was produced entirely from oat malt, from barley malt and from oat and barley malts mixed with various quantities of unmalted oats. Compared with barley wort, wort made from malted oats provided a lower extract content and had a higher protein content, but a lower free amino nitrogen content (FAN). The oat wort also showed increased viscosity and haze. The addition of unmalted oats during wort production produced significant changes in the physico‐chemical parameters of both oat and barley worts and beers. Unmalted oats caused an increase in wort viscosity and haze, and a reduction in total soluble nitrogen and FAN. Unmalted oats also contributed to lowering the concentration of higher alcohols and esters. Beer made from 100% oat and barley malts exhibited a similar alcohol content. The use of an oat adjunct in both cases resulted in a lower ethanol content. The introduction of enzyme preparations during the production of wort with oat adjunct had many benefits: increased extract content and FAN; a higher volume of wort; and a lower viscosity that led to faster wort filtration. This research suggests that the use of enzymes is necessary to make production using a high proportion of oats in the grist profitable. Copyright © 2014 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

THE VISCOSITY OF WORTS IN RELATION TO THEIR CONTENT OF β-GLUCAN

A procedure is given for assessing that proportion of wort viscosity which is attributable to β-glucan. Worts obtained from unkilned samples of malt which have been processed for 54 or 72 h show enhanced viscosity. This is principally due to β-glucan although the contribution of other constituents, absent from the wort of fully modified malt, is of significance. Barley variety is shown to have a pronounced effect on wort viscosity. Insoluble β-glucan is brought into solution in mashes at 65° C. The β-glucan isolated from malt which has been inactivated using aqueous ethanol prior to extraction at 65° C, is of higher specific viscosity than that isolated from control worts prepared at the same temperature. The introduction of a rest by mashing initially at 40° C results in the production of wort of lower viscosity, a decrease in the β-glucan content of the wort and a reduction in the specific viscosity of the β-glucan. There is no apparent relationship between the endo-β-glucanase content of the malts and either the viscosity of derived worts or the degree of breakdown of β-glucan which occurred during malting and mashing. Abrasion of barley, which is a factor assisting the distribution of enzymes during malting, acts to reduce wort viscosity.     

α-GLUCOSIDASE ACTIVITY OF SORGHUM AND BARLEY MALTS

Sorghum malt α-glucosidase activity was highest at pH 3.75 while that of barley malt was highest at pH 4.6. At pH 5.4 employed in mashing sorghum malt α-glucosidase was more active than the corresponding enzyme of barley malt. α-Glucosidase was partly extracted in water but was readily extracted when L-cysteine was included in the extraction buffer, pH 8. Sorghum malt made at 30°C had higher α-glucosidase activities than the corresponding malts made at 20°C and 25°C. Nevertheless, the sorghum malts made at 20°C and 25°C produced worts which contained more glucose than worts of malt made at 30°C. Although barley malts contained more α-glucosidase activity than sorghum malts, the worts of barley had the lowest levels of glucose. The limitation to maltose production in sorghum worts, produced at 65°C, is due to inadequate gelatinization of starch and not to limitation to β-amylase and α-amylase activities. Gelatinization of the starch granules of sorghum malt in the decantation mashing procedure resulted in the production of sorghum worts which contained high levels of maltose, especially when sorghum malt was produced at 30°C. Although the β-amylase and α-amylase levels of barley malt was significantly higher than those of sorghum malted optimally at 30°C, sorghum worts contained higher levels of glucose and equivalent levels of maltose to those of barley malt. It would appear that the individual activities of α-glucosidase, α-amylase and β-amylase of sorghum malts or barley malts do not correlate with the sugar profile of the corresponding worts. In consequence, specifications for enzymes such as α-amylase and β-amylase in malt is best set at a range of values rather than as single values.     

Optimisation of a Mashing Program for 100% Malted Buckwheat

The objective of this study was to develop a temperature programmed mashing profile for 100% buckwheat malt. Both standard brewing methods and a rheological tool (Rapid Visco Analyser) were used to characterise worts and mashes. An optimal grist: liquor ratio of 1:4 was observed. At this ratio, buckwheat malt showed a gelatinisation temperature of 67°C and barley malt 62°C. A one hour stand at 65°C exhibited higher FAN levels, fermentable extracts and lower viscosity values than stands at 67°C or 69°C, and was therefore used in further mashing trials. An extra mashing step of 30 min, at any of the tested temperatures, increased extract values a minimum of 4%, decreased viscosities a minimum of 0.20 mPas, and increased fermentable extracts 12%. Best results were obtained when a mashing‐in temperature was used in the range of 35°C to 45°C. These mashing‐in temperatures were used to design an optimal mashing procedure: 15 min at 35°C; 15 min at 45°C; 40 min at 65°C; 30 min at 72°C; 10 min at 78°C. This program showed higher extract values and fermentable extract values (72.7% and 49.9%) than obtained by congress mashing (65.3% and 40.0%), thus successfully optimising the mashing program.     

Unmalted triticale cultivars as brewing adjuncts: effects of enzyme activities and composition on beer wort quality

The applicability of three selected triticale cultivars (Trinidad, Lamberto, Fidelio) for use as brewing adjuncts was investigated in comparison with wheat adjunct and barley malt. Fermentable substance, crude protein and arabinoxylan levels of starchy materials were determined as well as their native potencies (amylolytic, proteolytic, pentosolytic) to solubilise and degrade grain components during mashing. Laboratory‐scale experiments were performed to evaluate the influence of the adjuncts (composition, enzyme potency) on beer wort quality by mashing mixed (1:1) grists of malt and adjunct. Barley malt was rated as the superior raw material, possessing considerably higher enzyme activities and yielding the lowest wort viscosity. Among the triticale cultivars cv Trinidad was identified as the most suitable to serve as a brewing adjunct due to its improved starch solubilisation properties and its ability to generate low wort viscosities. Compared with the potent malt enzymes, the enzyme activities of unmalted triticale (such as amylases, pentosanases and proteases) had little affect on the composition of the sweet worts. In contrast, the contents of crude protein and fermentable substance of the triticale varieties greatly affected wort quality. Furthermore, the adjunct moiety determined the level of wort viscosity when mashing a combination of malt and triticale. In general, the brewing properties of triticale cv Trinidad were comparable with those of wheat. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Free α-amino nitrogen production in sorghum beer mashing

Free α-amino nitrogen (FAN) is an essential nutrient for yeast growth during fermentation. Under normal conditions of sorghum beer mashing, 60°C at pH 4.0, production of FAN by proteolysis accounts for approximately 30% of wort FAN, the remaining 70% being preformed in the malt and adjunct. The quality of the FAN in sorghum beer worts is good as it does not contain a high percentage of proline. Optimum conditions for FAN production during mashing are 51°C and pH 4.6. Wort FAN was increased proportionally by raising the ratio of sorghum malt to adjunct and conversely decreased by raising the ratio of adjunct to malt. FAN was also increased by the addition to the mash of a microbial proteolytic enzyme. Wort FAN is directly proportional to malt FAN.