Yeast and Beer UNIT
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
1 Dipl. Brew. Module 2: Unit 2.7 – The Properties of Beer – Section 2.7.1 MODULE 2: Yeast and Beer UNIT 2.7: The Properties of Beer SECTION 2.7.1: Beer Hazes ABSTRACT: Appearance and taste are the two sensory attributes on which beer consumers judge the acceptability of the product and these parameters may be used to evaluate critically every glass of beer drunk. The flavour attributes are considered in detail in section 2.8, but in this unit we will address the key features of appearance, viz. clarity (haze stability), head formation and retention (foam stability), colour and lack of gushing! These parameters can be physically measured and, thereby, controlled. LEARNING OUTCOMES: On completion and comprehension of this unit you will be able to: 1. Describe the nature and typical composition of hazes. 2. Know the scientific principles behind non-biological haze formation. 3. Explain the measurement of non-biological hazes. 4. Understand how accelerated haze formation can predict shelf life. PREREQUISITE UNDERSTANDING: To have studied Section 2.5 © The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (Dipl. Brew. 2 Revision Notes Version 1 2008) 2 Dipl. Brew. Module 2: Unit 2.7 – The Properties of Beer – Section 2.7.1 2.7 The Properties of Beer________________________________3 2.7.1 Beer Hazes ______________________________________3 2.7.1.1 Introduction ___________________________________3 2.7.1.2 Mechanism of Haze Formation____________________3 2.7.1.3 Methods of Haze Prevention ____________________ 6 2.7.1.4 Haze Stabilisation ____________________________ 8 (a) Processing Aids to Reduce Sensitive Proteins _________8 (b) Processing Aids to Reduce Polyphenols______________9 (c) Combination Treatments __________________________9 (d) Summary ____________________________________ 10 2.7.1.5 Measurement Methods for Non-Biological Haze ____ 10 (a) Zero Time Tests _______________________________11 (b) Haze Stability Prediction Tests ____________________11 © The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (Dipl. Brew. 2 Revision Notes Version 1 2008) 3 Dipl. Brew. Module 2: Unit 2.7 – The Properties of Beer – Section 2.7.1 2.7 THE PROPERTIES OF BEER 2.7.1 BEER HAZES 2.7.1.1 INTRODUCTION When beer from the primary fermenter is chilled to 0°C, it usually becomes hazy due to the precipitation of material which typically is mainly a complex of protein, carbohydrate and polyphenol plus a small amount of inorganic substances. When the beer is warmed, the haze tends to disappear. It is therefore called chill haze. The beer may be subject to a succession of alternating periods of chilling and warming, with the beer becoming hazy and then clearing again. Gradually, however, the haze formation ceases to be reversible. That which is stable at 20°C is called permanent haze. 2.7.1.2 MECHANISM OF HAZE FORMATION Not all hazes are associated with protein and tannins. Some may arise from calcium oxalate crystals although these are unlikely if there is excess calcium present during wort production. Other hazes comprise carbohydrates, especially β-glucan material. The most common however are derived from protein fractions, chiefly degradation products of hordein. These protein precursors are acidic (isoelectric points below 5.5), are initially of rather low molecular weight (10,000-60,000) and are therefore better described as polypeptides. Associated with the polypeptides are various carbohydrates and polyphenols; probably a proportion is covalently linked, another part hydrogen-bonded and the rest free. An essential role in the polymerisation of the polypeptide material is played by the polyphenols or tannins, particularly the dimers as shown in Fig. 1. Such polyphenols easily oxidise to become highly reactive so that the level of dissolved oxygen in the beer has importance in this context. Heavy metals also seem important as they link oxidised polyphenols and polypeptides. The metals which are remarkably effective are titanium, tin and lead, with copper and iron moderately effective at concentrations over 1mg/litre. © The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (Dipl. Brew. 2 Revision Notes Version 1 2008) 4 Dipl. Brew. Module 2: Unit 2.7 – The Properties of Beer – Section 2.7.1 Figure 1. Dimeric polyphenol present in beer and believed to be important in haze formation. Thus the building up of visible haze particles is particularly rapid in the presence of dissolved oxygen and heavy metals. The oxidised polyphenol units become linked with polypeptide units firstly by the hydrogen-bonding. Chill haze represents such reversible association, the material coming out of solution because of the decreased solubility at low temperature. Permanent haze is characterised by the more durable covalent linkages. In summary, chill haze forms when beer is cooled to 0 ºC and redissolves on warming to 20 ºC, whereas permanent haze forms on cooling to 0ºC and does not redissolve on warming. The mechanism of formation of chill haze and permanent haze is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. © The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (Dipl. Brew. 2 Revision Notes Version 1 2008) 5 Dipl. Brew. Module 2: Unit 2.7 – The Properties of Beer – Section 2.7.1 Figure 2. Mechanism for the formation of Chill haze and Permanent haze . Although protein – polyphenol complexes are the most common cause of beer haze, other materials can cause hazes in beer. The protein-polyphenol complex may also have carbohydrate material (e.g. β-glucan) and/or metal ions (e.g iron, copper) associated with the complex, but undegraded α-glucan (starch) or β-glucan can form © The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (Dipl. Brew. 2 Revision Notes Version 1 2008) 6 Dipl. Brew. Module 2: Unit 2.7 – The Properties of Beer – Section 2.7.1 gelatinous precipates in beer. Further, calcium oxalate crystals (if present in beer at greater than 20 mg/l) can precipate at low temperatures and collapsed beer foam (bubble “skins”) can also cause haze. Finally, carried over filter powder may leave a particulate residue in finished beer. 2.7.1.3 METHODS OF HAZE PREVENTION There are several possibilities open to brewers to slow down the formation of haze in packaged beer. Various combinations are normally selected from list below: Avoid contamination of water and raw materials by heavy metals and avoid their introduction from materials of construction of equipment. Select grist materials so that the total nitrogen of the wort is not excessive (say <800 mg/litre for SG 1040) and particularly the high molecular weight (non- dialysable) nitrogen. Select grist materials so that the level of polyphenols is relatively low. (Analytical problems make it difficult to provide exact figures.) Ensure adequate boiling of mash (where directions apply) and of wort to precipitate protein – polyphenol material. Promote proteolytic action during mashing where necessary, such as stands in the range 45-55°C. Remove all hot trub from the wort and most of the cold trub. Ensure a strong production of hot trub be getting a good balance of high molecular protein and polyphenols. This involves the choice and amount of hop material added. Thus some hop extracts contain little or no polyphenol. Avoid last runnings from the mashing unless they are to be used for mashing-in ( as in high gravity brewing). Remove any brown scum which appears during fermentation. Ensure strong yeast growth so that new cells will absorb onto their surfaces protein – polyphenol material. Treat the beer with proteolytic enzyme – purified papain is particularly effective. © The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (Dipl. Brew. 2 Revision Notes Version 1 2008) 7 Dipl. Brew. Module 2: Unit 2.7 – The Properties of Beer – Section 2.7.1 Use a protein adsorbent such as silica gel. (Bentonite is less selective and is difficult to separate from the beer). Use a polyphenol adsorbent such as PVPP (polymerised polyvinyl pyrrolidone) Reduce the dissolved oxygen content of the beer by care in processing and the use of reducing agents ( e.g. SO2 plus ascorbic acid ) or the enzyme glucose oxidase. Attempt to balance polypeptide and polyphenol levels by adding tannic acid or protein ( e. g . isinglass finings). Chill the beer to as low a temperature as possible before very fine filtration. Keep beer free of dissolved oxygen and heavy metals in packaging. Hold packaged beer in cold store (or at least avoid warm storage conditions. It must be emphasized that some of these measures will be rejected by many brewers on the grounds of cost. If only a short shelf life is required, only elementary measures are adopted. Other measures above are rejected on the grounds of violating food regulations. Thus in Germany, only water, malt, hops and yeast may be used; even enzyme additions are precluded. But protein and polyphenol adsorbents add nothing to the beer and do not move on in the processing. They are therefore permitted. At this juncture, it should also be emphasized that certain measures listed above will, in addition, slow down the deterioration of flavour and aroma of beer held in package. This particulary applies to the reduction in dissolved oxygen content, to as low as possible and the storage of packaged beer in cold conditions. Indeed, the present state of the art of brewing is that there is confidence in achieving colloidal stability ( i. e, haze prevention) and attention has switched to improving flavour stability. One of the most intriguing points about colloidal stability is the effectiveness of papain. This enzyme has a pH optimum for activity of about 5.5 - 6.0. Yet it is effective in beers with pH values in the range 3.8 - 4.4. Furthermore it can be used at temperatures in the range 0-15°C and give results in 2-7 days. It is an endo-enzyme and therefore cleaves the polypeptides at a point several amino units from the end of a chain. The enzyme’s shape is known to be like that of Paramecium , the ciliate protozoan with an oral groove.