The Profiles of Low Molecular Nitrogen Compounds and Fatty Acids in Wort and Beer Obtained with the Addition of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) or Maltose Syrup

Foods. 2020 Nov 7;9(11):1626. doi: 10.3390/foods9111626.

Abstract

Replacement of a part of malt with unmalted materials is a common practice in beer production. These materials may differ in chemical composition than barley malt, which in turn can contribute to changes in the final composition of the wort. Consequently, it may affect yeast metabolism and final parameters of the obtained products. In this research, two unmalted pseudocereals were used: quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.). Maltose syrup was tested as a reference material due to its commercial usage as a substitute of malt in production of worts. Replacement of a part of the malt with quinoa or amaranth favorably influenced the profiles of amino and fatty acids. Due to the fact that the type and concentration of individual amino acids and fatty acids in the fermented wort significantly affect the flavor compounds synthesized by yeast, differences in the profiles of esters and higher alcohol have been noted in beers produced with pseudocereals.

Keywords: Saccharomyces pastorianus; amaranth; amino acids; beer; esters; fatty acids; higher alcohols; quinoa; unmalted raw materials; yeasts.