Technological quality of new Croatian barley varieties intended for whisky malt production

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to assess the technological quality of three novel Croatian spring barley varieties and lines intended for brewing and distilling. Two tested lines Osk.5.45/2-15 and Osk.5.33/23-15 and one variety Pivarac were developed at the Agricultural Institute Osijek, while the used control sample was the recognised whisky barley variety Grace. The quality of starting barley and final malts were assessed. The results indicate that the tested varieties/lines of spring barley have the potential to become recognised as whisky malt varieties. In order to confirm the obtained results, further monitoring should be employed during the statistically relevant period. The tested quality values the OSK.5.33/23-15 has shown were the closest to the recommended values for whisky malts. In all tested varieties β-glucans content should be reduced which would consequently improve the F/C extract difference and friability values and increase the fermentability and extract yield during fermentation.