VARIATIONS AMONGST BEERS AND LACTIC ACID BACTERIA RELATING TO BEER SPOILAGE

Abstract

The ability of lactic acid bacteria to grow in beer has been studied using 31 beers, 13 strains of Lactobacillus and 3 strains of Pediococcus isolated from wort or beer. In 3 beers all the micro‐organisms were able to grow, in 5 beers none of them developed and diverse results were obtained with the remaining 23 beers. Resistance of the beers to spoilage was not correlated with values of pH, specific gravity, total or free amino nitrogen, individual or total fermentable sugars, colour or levels of sulphur dioxide. Resistant beers became sensitive after certain filtration treatments and after heating at 80° for 15 minutes, but not after treatment at 60°. Resistance to spoilage is tentatively attributed to the presence of a yeast metabolite which is heat‐labile. The lactic acid bacteria varied in their ability to grow in beer but those possessing a broad range of biochemical abilities had the greater propensity to cause spoilage. 1980 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling