Abstract

The effects of brewing style on physicochemical indices, iso-a-acids and antioxidant contents of commercial beers were investigated. A great variability was highlighted for all the considered parameters (sugar and alcohol contents, density, pH, titratable acidity, iso-a-acids, phenolic content, antioxidant activity). The beers having the highest iso-a-acids contents were Guinness Special Export Stout (which also showed the highest phenolic content), Chimay Pères Trappistes Triple, and Greene King IPA whereas the lowest values were detected in Cuveè De Ranke, Heineken Premium Quality Lager, and Riedenburger Brauhaus gluten free. The latter also had the lowest phenolic concentration. The antioxidant activity values strictly correlated with the total phenolic content but not with the iso-?-acid amount. The Principal Component Analysis failed in distinguishing beers based on their declared type/styles. This was a predictable result since the beer styles don’t represent a compositional classification but they are rather used to indicate commercial types.

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