FLAVOUR AND HAZE STABILITY DIFFERENCES DUE TO HOP AND MALT TANNINS IN ALL-MALT PILSNER BEERS BREWED WITH PROANTHOCYANIDIN-FREE AND WITH REGULAR MALT

All-malt Pilsner beers were brewed with and without hop and malt proanthocyanidins by using regular malt and whole leaf hops as well as proanthocyanidin-free malt and n-hexane tannin-free hop extract. The different beers were analysed chemically and presented to an expert panel to detect possible differences in bitterness and astringency. The impact of proanthocyanidins on the formation of haze was demonstrated clearly. No differences between the beers were found in triangular tests although their levels of total polyphenolics and anthocyanogens differed by about 225 and 85 mg/litre. Statistical analysis of the paired comparison tests showed only very slight differences between beers with or without hop and malt proanthocyanidins. Thus, proanthocyanidin-free beer was considered less than slightly more bitter and astringent than regular beer and there was a very slight preference for the latter.