Method of producing malt alcohol beverages

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20060257526
  • Publication Number
    20060257526
  • Date Filed
    July 18, 2006
    18 years ago
  • Date Published
    November 16, 2006
    18 years ago
Abstract
The method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to this invention is characterized in that in the production of the malt alcohol beverage an adsorbent is used to remove through adsorption at least a part of rough flavor components from malt, a malt alcohol beverage intermediate product, or the malt alcohol beverage. Such method of producing a malt alcohol beverage enables to provide a method of producing a malt alcohol beverage such that the aging of flavor after production can be suppressed and the flavor immediately after production can be maintained over a prolonged period of time.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method of producing a malt alcohol beverage. More particularly, it relates to a method of producing a malt alcohol beverage by suppressing the generation of stale flavor after production of the malt alcohol beverage.


BACKGROUND ART

In malt alcohol beverages (such as beer and low-malt beer (Happoshu)) that use malt as a raw material, a variety of reactions, including oxidation and dehydration of their components, are promoted during or after their production by virtue of the lapse of time or the increase in temperature (generally referred to as “the stale flavor of malt alcohol beverages”). Consequently, it is known that the original flavor of malt alcohol beverages is impaired.


Therefore, different measures are taken in order to prevent the qualities of such malt alcohol beverages from being deteriorated. Specifically, among others the quality control after production, the time management after production to sale, the temperature control during transportation are strictly enforced, which allows products with freshness and high quality to be provided. However, even if the aforementioned management is thoroughly employed, it has been difficult to stably maintain the freshness obtained immediately after production for a prolonged period of time.


A method of suppressing the oxidation of a malt alcohol beverage during its production to stably maintain the freshness immediately after production was developed that relays on decreasing the oxygen concentration of the atmosphere in the entire process or a part thereof during the production of the malt alcohol beverage (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No.2000-4866). According to this method, by decreasing the oxygen concentration of the atmosphere during production, the reducing power of intermediate products in the production process is enhanced with the result of increased reducing power of the final product, which has made it possible to enhance resistance to the oxidation-or aging of the malt alcohol beverage.


However, while the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No.2000-4866 can prevent the malt alcohol beverage from being oxidized to certain degree, it is not necessarily adequate to suppress the aging of the flavor after production for a prolonged period of time.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In light of the aforementioned problems inherent in the prior art this invention has been made, and it aims at providing a method of producing a malt alcohol beverage by which the aging of the flavor after production is suppressed and the flavor immediately after the production can be maintained over a prolonged period of time.


In order to accomplish the aforementioned object, the present inventors researched diligently and consequently, discovered that by removing through adsorption rough flavor (powdery) components in the malt alcohol beverage with the aid of an adsorbent during the production process of the malt alcohol beverage, it was possible to suppress the aging of the flavor after production and to maintain the flavor immediately after the production over a prolonged period of time, thus leading to the completion of this invention.


Specifically, this invention relates to a method of producing a malt alcohol beverage comprising removing through adsorption at least a part of rough flavor components from malt, a malt alcohol beverage intermediate product, or the malt alcohol beverage with the aid of an adsorbent.


Also, in the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to this invention, the adsorbent is preferably an ion-exchange resin or a synthetic adsorbent.


Further, in the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to the invention, the rough flavor component is a causative substance for the aging of flavor or a precursor thereof: there are mentioned, for example, a carbonyl compound or a Maillard compound.


Also, in the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to the invention, the rough flavor component includes an organic acid.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1A is a graph showing the relationship between time and pH upon addition of ion-exchange resins to a low-malt beer.



FIG. 1B is a graph showing the relationship between time and pH upon addition of ion-exchange resins to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 2A is a graph showing the relationship between time and pH upon addition of the ion-exchange resins to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 2B is a graph showing the relationship between time and pH upon addition of the ion-exchange resins to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 3A is a graph showing the relationship between time and pH upon addition of the ion-exchange resins to a beer.



FIG. 3B is a graph showing the relationship between time and pH upon addition of the ion-exchange resins to the beer.



FIG. 4A is a graph showing the relationship between time and pH upon addition of the ion-exchange resins to the beer.



FIG. 4B is a graph showing the relationship between time and pH upon addition of the ion-exchange resins to the beer.



FIG. 5A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 5B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 6A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 6B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 7A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 7B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 8A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 8B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 9A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 9B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 10A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 10B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 11A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 11B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 12A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 12B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 13A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when a variety of synthetic adsorbents were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 13B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the variety of synthetic adsorbents were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 14A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks as detected by HPLC when a variety of synthetic adsorbents were added to the beer.



FIG. 14B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks as detected by HPLC when the variety of synthetic adsorbents were added to the beer.



FIG. 15 is a graph showing time-dependent variations in the concentration of iso-α acid in the low-malt beer when ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 16A is a graph showing the contents of organic acids in the low-malt beer when ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 16B is a graph showing the contents of organic acids in the low-malt beer when ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 17A is a graph showing the contents of organic acids in the beer wine when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 17B is a graph showing the contents of organic acids in the beer when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 18A is a graph showing the contents of polyphenols in the low-malt beer when the ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 18B is a graph showing the contents of polyphenols in the low-malt beer when the ion-exchange resins were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 18C is a graph showing the contents of polyphenols in the low-malt beer when synthetic adsorbents were added to the low-malt beer.



FIG. 19A is a graph showing the content of polyphenols in the low-malt beer when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 19B is a graph showing the contents of polyphenols in the low-malt beer when the ion-exchange resins were added to the beer.



FIG. 19C is a graph showing the contents of polyphenols in the low-malt beer when the synthetic adsorbents were added to the beer.



FIG. 20A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks from the low-malt beer filtered through an adsorbent, as detected by HPLC.



FIG. 20B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks from the low-malt beer filtered through the adsorbent, as detected by HPLC.



FIG. 21A is a graph showing the sum of hydrophilic peaks from the beer filtered through an adsorbent, as detected by HPLC.



FIG. 21B is a graph showing the sum of hydrophobic peaks from the beer filtered through the adsorbent, as detected by HPLC.




BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

This invention will be described in detail with respect to preferred embodiments hereunder.


In the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage comprising: a preparation step of mixing a raw material containing malt with water for preparation, saccharifying the malt by warming the resultant mixture, and collecting wort from the saccharified malt; a fermentation step of fermenting the wort by addition of yeast thereto and obtaining a malt alcohol beverage intermediate product; a storage step of storing the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product (finished fermentation solution) obtained from the fermentation step; and a filtration step of filtering the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product (finished storage solution) obtained from the storage step to produce the malt alcohol beverage, the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to this invention is characterized in that it removes through adsorption at Least a part of rough flavor components from malt, the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product, or the malt alcohol beverage with the aid of an adsorbent.


The malt alcohol beverage according to this invention may be any alcoholic beverage produced from malt as its raw material since the use ratio of malt employed in the production, whether large or small, is not particularly limited. Specifically, there are mentioned beer and low-malt beer (malt alcohol beverage with a malt use ratio of less than 67%) among others.


The first step of this invention is a preparation step of mixing a raw material containing malt with water for preparation, saccharifying the malt by warning the resultant mixture, and collecting wort from the saccharified malt.


The malt used in the step is preferably malt produced by providing barley with water and air to germinate and removing rootlets therefrom after drying. The malt serves as an enzyme source necessary for the production of wort and at the same time serves as a principle starch source which is a material to be saccharified. The germinated malt that has been smoke-dried is used in the malt production to give the flavor and the dye characteristic of a malt alcohol beverage. In addition, supplementary materials such as hop, cornstarch, corn grits, rice and sugars other than malt may be added as materials.


In the step of producing the wort, wort may be obtaining by mixing commercially available or prepared malt extract with water for preparation and adding the supplementary materials thereto as necessary.


The malt is added to the water for preparation and then mixed. It the supplementary materials are to be added, they may be admixed here concurrently. The water for preparation is not particularly limited, and appropriate water may be employed depending on the malt alcohol beverage to be produced. Saccharification may be carried out basically under known conditions, and for example, it is preferably carried out by warming the mixed malt and water for preparation at 65-75° C. This allows the saccharification by amylase in the malt to progress. The thus-obtained saccharified malt solution is filtered to yield wort.


The second step of this invention is a fermentation step of fermenting the wort by addition of yeast thereto and obtaining a malt alcohol beverage intermediate product.


The yeasts used here may be any yeasts for alcoholic beverages that produce alcohol, carbon dioxide, and the like by metabolizing sugar in the wort obtainable from the saccharification of malt (so-called “causing alcoholic fermentation”). Specifically, there are mentioned Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces uvarum among others.


The wort obtained in the preparation step is cooled and the yeast as described above is added to carry out fermentation. The fermentation conditions are not essentially different from those known in the art; and the fermentation temperature is usually 15° C. or less, preferably from 8 to 11° C. and the fermentation time is preferably from 8 to 10 days.


The third step of this invention is a storage step of storing the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product obtained from the fermentation step.


In this step the fermentation solution for which alcoholic fermentation has been completed is transferred to a sealed tank and stored. The storage conditions are not essentially different from those known in the art; and for example, the storage temperature is preferably from 0 to 2° C. and the fermentation time is preferably from 20 to 90 days. The fermentation-finished solution is stored to cause the remaining extract to undergo refermentation and maturation.


The fourth step of this invention is a filtration step of filtering the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product obtained from the storage step to produce the malt alcohol beverage.


The filtration conditions are not essentially different from those known in the art: for example, filtration aids such as diatomaceous earth, PVPP (polyvinylpolypyrrolidone), silica gel, and cellulose powder are used and the filtration is carried out at a temperature of 0±1° C. Thus the malt alcohol beverages (such as beer or low-malt beer) are produced. After the filtered malt alcohol beverages are subjected to sterile filtration or heating treatment, they are filled into tanks, barrels, bottles or cans and are shipped to the market.


The malt alcohol beverage of this invention is produced by having undergone the step of removing through adsorption at least a part of rough flavor components from malt, the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product, or the malt alcohol beverage (which will be referred to as “treated solution”) with the aid of an adsorbent at any of from the first step to the fourth step, plural steps or between the first step and the fourth step.


In the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to this invention, the step of removing rough flavor components through adsorption with the aid of an adsorbent may be either at any of from the first step to the fourth step or between the steps, but it should preferably be carried out before filtration in the fourth step. Alternatively, the adsorptive removal of the rough flavor components may be carried out between the steps by contacting the treated solution with the adsorbent in a container or in a transfer line.


The Adsorbents used in this invention and the substances to be adsorbed by the adsorbents will be described hereunder.


The adsorbents according to this invention may be any adsorbents having the function of reducing the stale flavor by removing the rough flavor components through adsorption, and include, for example, ion-exchange resins, synthetic adsorbents, and the like.


The ion-exchange resins may be largely classified into strongly acidic cation-exchange resins, weekly acidic cation-exchange resins, strongly basic anion-exchange resins, and weekly basic anion-exchange resins. The strongly/weekly acidic cation-exchange resins may be classified into the styrene type, the acrylic type and the methacrylic type; the strongly/weekly basic anion-exchange resins may be classified into the styrene type and the acrylic type. The strongly/weekly acidic cation-exchange resins, for example, include SK1B, SK104, SK110, SK112, SK116, PK208, PK212, PK216, PK220, PK228, WK10, WK11, WK100, WT01S, WK40, UBK530, UBK550, UBK535, UBK555 (all available from Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), IR120BNa, IR124Na, IR118H, IRC50 and IRC76 (all available from Organo Corporation). The strongly/weekly basic anion-exchanqe resins, for example, include SA10A, SA11A, SA12A, NSA100, SA20A, SA21A, PA308, PA312, PA312, PA316, PA408, PA412, PA418, HPA25, HPA75, WA10, WA20, WA21J, WA30 (all available from Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), IRA400C1, IRA402BLC1, IRA410C1, IRA96SB, IRA67, and IRAXE583 (all available from Organo Corporation). Among the aforementioned ion-exchange resins WA10, WA20, WA30, IRA67, IRA96SB, and IRAXE583 are preferably used, and WA10, WA20 and WA30 are more preferably used When the ion-exchange resin is to be used, it may be used after the exchange groups have been converted to any ionic type of the OH, Cl', sulfuric acid and hydrogensulfite types by pretreatment. Specifically, after the ion-exchange resin is washed with distilled water, it is pretreated with NaCl aqueous solution or HCl aqueous solution, in which case the Cltype can be obtained. When it is pretreated with NaOH aqueous solution, the OHtype can be obtained; when it is pretreated with H2SO4 aqueous solution, the sulfuric acid type can be obtained; and when it is pretreated with NaHSO3 aqueous solution, the hydrogensulfite type can be obtained.


When the ion-exchange resin is used, the pH of the malt alcohol beverage can be adjusted depending on the ionic type. For example, when the pH of the malt alcohol beverage is to be raised, various ion-exchange resins of which the ionic type is OHmay be used. On the other hand, when the pH is to be lowered, the ionic type of Clor sulfuric acid may be used. Alternatively, ion-exchange resins of plural ionic types may be combined for use.


The aforementioned synthetic adsorbents may be largely classified into the aromatic type, the substituted aromatic type, and the acrylic type based on their chemical structures. Synthetic adsorbents of the aromatic type, for example, include HP20, HP21, SP825, SP850, SP70, SP700 (all available from Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), XAD2 and XAD4 (all available from Organo Corporation). Synthetic adsorbents of the substituted aromatic type, for example, include SP207 (available from Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation). Synthetic adsorbents of the acrylic type include HP1MG, HP2MG (all available from Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), XAD7 (available from Organo Corporation). Among these HP20, SP825, XAD2, XAD4, SP207, HP1MG and XAD7 are preferably used.


In the process of producing a malt alcohol beverage, the aforementioned adsorbent may be used alone or a plural number of adsorbents may be used in combination.


In the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to this invention, the rough flavor components that are removed through adsorption include causative substances for stale flavor, precursor substances thereof, or organic acids.


The causative substances for stale flavor, for example, include carbonyl compounds and Maillard compounds. These reaction intermediates and final reaction products are also included in the causative substances for stale flavor. Concrete examples of carbonyl compounds, for example, include propanal, hexanal, hexenal, pentanal, furfural, trans-2-nonenal and phenylacetaldehyde. Concrete examples of Maillard compounds, for example, include 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and Amadori substances, precursor thereof, which are the reaction products of sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and amino acids. The Amadori substances, for example, include glucose-glycine, glucose-alanine, glucose-leucine, glucose-isoleucine, fructose-proline, fructose-glutamic acid, fructose-serine, and fructose-threonine. Further included are heterocyclic compounds having a pyrazine ring, pyrrole ring, or imidazole ring such as pyrazine, 2-methylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, and trimethylpyrazine, for which the maillard reaction has progressed. Still further as causative substances that yield stale flavor other than the substances mentioned above there are mentioned the causative substances for stale flavor that are resulted from the decomposition of unsaturated fatty acids. Here, by selectively removing not only the causative substances for stale flavor but also precursors thereof (such as unsaturated fatty acids) through adsorption, it will be possible to suppress the formation of their decomposed products and to reduce the stale flavor.


The aforementioned organic acids are substances that produce sourness and rough flavors by being present in the malt alcohol beverage. Specifically there are mentioned pyroglutamic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid and isocitric acid.


A majority of the causative substances for stale flavor including the unsaturated fatty acids mentioned above are highly hydrophobic substances. Such hydrophobic substances are removed through adsorption by. the adsorbents mentioned above, which allows the causative substances for stale flavor to be effectively eliminated.


In contrast, the substances that are essential to the flavor of a malt alcohol beverage and that should remain in the malt alcohol beverage without being adsorbed by the adsorbents of this invention include, for example, iso-α acid and reduced iso-α acid. Iso-α acid is a substance that produce bitterness in the malt alcohol beverage, and its degree of bitterness is expressed in terms of BU unit or the content of iso-α acid (mg/l): the former bitterness unit is quantified by measuring absorbance at 275 nm after addition of 6N hydrochloric acid solution to the malt alcohol beverage and extraction with isooctane; and the latter is measured by HPLC according to the method of BCOJ (Brewery Convention of Japan) or ASBC (American Society of Brewing Chemists). Because iso-α acid has high hydrophobicity, it tends to be adsorbed by the adsorbent. the amount of iso-α acid adsorbed to the adsorbent of this invention is determined and the resin with a small amount of adsorption is selected. Thus, it is possible to select the type of adsorbent suitable to the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to this invention. Specifically, after rough flavor components are removed through adsorption using an adsorbent, the decrease in BU for the malt alcohol beverage is preferably 0-50% and more preferably 5-30%. In order to have the lowered BU value returned and to have the lost hop flavor regained both of which are caused by adsorptive treatment with the adsorbent, iso-α acid, iso-hop extract, or its equivalent may be added during the production of the malt alcohol beverage, or alternatively iso-α acid, iso-hop extract, or its equivalent may be added prior to the adsorptive treatment in consideration of the BU value to be decreased and the lost hop flavor resulting from adsorption.


There will be next described the method for measuring the contents of various components, including the rough flavor components, that are present in the malt alcohol beverage in accordance with this invention. Measurement of various components, including the rough flavor components, that are present in the malt alcohol beverage is not only essential to the investigation of conditions under which the adsorbents of this invention are determined, but also is an essential means for the quality control of the malt alcohol beverage that has undergone removal of the rough flavor components by adsorption with the aid of the adsorbent.


For a device or method for measuring various components including the rough flavor components, HPLC or gas chromatography (GC) may, for example, be used. When the adsorbed amount of the substance described above is determined using HPLC, the malt alcohol beverage may be used as a sample and water/acetonitrile as a mobile phase to effect detection at 280 nm UV. When an ODS (silica gel bound with octadecyl groups) column is used as the filler, the peaks appeared resulting from elution often contain highly hydrophilic substances in the first half and highly hydrophobic substances in the second half. When the contents of the causative substances for stale flavor are to be measured, hydrophobic peaks should be caught attention and may be measured. When gas chromatography is used to measure the adsorbed amounts described above, the malt alcohol beverage may be used as a sample, and after extraction with organic solvents such as ether-pentane or solid-phase extraction, measurement can be made using conventional techniques. In any measurement described above, these substances in the sample may be directly or chemically modified as necessary, after which measurement may be made.


The methods described above are used to determine the presence or absence of or the contents of the substances that influence the flavor of the malt alcohol beverage. This makes it possible to appropriately select an adsorbent capable of selectively removing the rough flavor components as well as to find the adequate amount of the adsorbent to be added to the malt alcohol beverage. Accordingly, by using the adsorbent selected by the aforementioned method, it will be possible to remove only the rough flavor components and to produce the malt alcoholic beverage that has excellent flavor and that can maintain the flavor immediately after production over a prolonged period of time.


EXAMPLES

This invention will be described in further detail by way of examples hereunder; however, the invention should not be limited to these examples.


Examples 1-70 and Comparative Examples 1-14

Three hundred milliliters of malt alcohol beverages (two types: low-malt beer and beer), from which CO2 had been removed by ultrasonication, was transferred to 500 ml-beakers for preparation. To the respective beverages was added ion-exchange resins or synthetic adsorbents that had been filtered through an extensively washed glass filter at amounts of addition indicated below and the pH of the malt alcohol beverage was measured with time at stirring. With respect to HPLC peak, the content of iso-α acid, the content of organic acid, and the content of total polyphenol, measurement was made with the malt alcohol beverages that had been stirred for 3 hours. Here, iso-a acid was analyzed using HPLC and total polyphenol was analyzed according to the BCOJ method (ammonium iron (III) citrate, carbozinmethylcellulose, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and ammonia water were added to develop color, after which the measurement was done at 600 nm). All the manipulations above were conducted at room temperature.


(Ion-Exchange Resins)


The ion-exchange resins used are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1WA10WA20WA30IR67IRA96SBXE583featureacrylicstyrenestyreneacrylicstyrenestyrenetypetypetypetypetypetypegel typeporoushyperporousgel typetypetypewhitelightlightwhitelightlighttransparentyellowyellowtansparentyellowyellowsphericalopaqueopaquesphericalopaqueopaquesphericalsphericalsphericalsphericalwater63-6939-4543-5556-6256-6248-54contentexchange1.2 or more2.5 or1.5 or more1.61.21.5capacitymore(meq/ml)


The ion-exchange resins used and the amounts of their addition are shown below.

amount ofexamplesresin nameaddition (g/100 ml)1, 13, 25, 37WA100.22, 14, 26, 38WA1013, 15, 27, 39WA200.24, 16, 28, 40WA2015, 17, 29, 41WA300.26, 18, 30, 42WA3017, 19, 31, 43IRA670.28, 20, 32, 44IRA6719, 21, 33, 45IRA96SB0.210, 22, 34, 46IRA96SB111, 23, 35, 47IRAXE5830.212, 24, 36, 48IRAXE5831


Here, the resins were washed with distilled water, then with. 1N-HC1, distilled water, and 1N-NaOH in this order, and they were washed with distilled water until they turned neutral, by which they were made a Cltype or a OHtype. In addition, WA10, WA20, and WA30 were available from Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and IRA67, IRA96SB and IRAXE583 were available from Organo Corporation.


The ion types of the ion-exchange resins and the samples used in Example 1 to 48 are as follows:

  • Examples 1-12: Ion-exchange resin of which the ion type is OHand low-malt beer
  • Examples 13-24: Ion-exchange resin of which the ion type is Cland low-malt beer
  • Examples 25-36: Ion-exchange resin of which the ion type is OHand beer
  • Examples 37-48: Ion-exchange resin of which the ion type is Cland beer


Variations in the pH of the malt alcohol beverages after treatment with ion-exchange resins are shown in FIGS. 1-4. The results from Examples 1-6 are shown in FIG. 1A, the results from Examples 7-12 in FIG. 1B, the results from Examples 13-18 in FIG. 2A, the results from Examples 19-24 in FIG. 2B, the results from Examples 25-30 in FIG. 3A, the results from Examples 31-36 in FIG. 3B, the results from Examples 37-42 in FIG. 4A, and the results from Examples 43-48 in FIG. 4B. In the figures IAXE583 is indicated as “IRAXE,” and the amount of addition for an ion-exchange resin (g/100ml) is shown in the bracket.


Consequently, when the ion type of an ion-exchange resin was OH, the pH of the treated malt alcohol beverage increased; whereas the pH decreased when the ion type was Cl.



FIGS. 5-12 graphically show the sum of peak areas when the components of a malt alcohol beverage were detected by HPLC after treatment with ion-exchange resins. With respect to the peaks appeared resulting from elution, it was likely that there were obtained those of hydrophilic components in the first half of elution and there were obtained those of hydrophobic components in the second half of elution. Graphic representation was made such that the first half portions of elution are hydrophilic peaks and the is second half portions of elution are hydrophobic peaks.


The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 1-6 and the control (Comparative Example 1) are shown in FIG. 5A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 1-6 and the control (Comparative Example 1) are shown in FIG. 5B. The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 7-12 and the control (Comparative Example 2) are shown in FIG. 6A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 7-12 and the control (Comparative Example 2) are shown in FIG. 6B. The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 13-18 and the control (Comparative Example 5) are shown in FIG. 7A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 13-18 and the control (Comparative Example 5) are shown in FIG. 7B. The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 19-24 and the control (Comparative Example 6) are shown in FIG. 8A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 19-24 and the control (Comparative Example 6) are shown in FIG. 8B. The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 25-30 and the control (Comparative Example 5) are shown in FIG. 9A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 25-30 and the control (Comparative Example 5) are shown in FIG. 9B. The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 31-36 and the control (Comparative Example 6) are shown in FIG. 10A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 31-36 and the control (Comparative Example 6) are shown in FIG. 10B. The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 37-42 and the control (Comparative Example 7) are shown in FIG. 11A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 37-42 and the control (Comparative Example 7) are shown in FIG. 11B. The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 43-48 and the control (Comparative Example 8) are shown in FIG. 12A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 43-48 and the control (Comparative Example 8) are shown in FIG. 12B. In the figures peak area is indicated as “mAu*S” and the amount of addition for an ion-exchange resin (g/100ml) is shown in the bracket.


Consequently, it has been confirmed that hydrophobic components are adsorbed on the ion-exchange resin. It has also been confirmed that when WA30, IRA96SB or IRAXE583 is used, there is a greater amount of adsorbed components and that the more the amount of addition for an adsorbent is, the higher the effect of adsorption becomes.


Furthermore, the contents of organic acids in malt alcohol beverages after treatment with ion-exchange resins are shown in FIGS. 16-17. Examples 1-6, 13-18 and the control (Comparative Examples 1 and 3) are shown in FIG. 16A; Examples 7-12, 19-24 and the control (Comparative Examples 2 and 4) are shown in FIG. 16B. Examples 25-30, 37-42 and the control (Comparative Examples 5 and 7) are shown in FIG. 17A; Examples 31-36, 43-48 and the control (Comparative Examples 6 and 8) are shown in FIG. 17B. In FIGS. 16-17, the ion-exchange resins of which the ion type is Clare indicated as “the name of resin-Cl,” while the ion-exchange resins of which the ion type is OHare indicated only in terms of their names. In the figures, the amount of addition for an ion-exchange resin (g/100ml) is shown in the bracket.


Various organic acids were adsorbed on the resin the ion type of which was either OHor Cl; among those citric acid tended to be adsorbed to the greatest extent, and either of acetic acid and pyroglutamic acid was hardly adsorbed.


The contents of polyphenols in malt alcohol beverages after treatment with ion-exchange resins are shown in FIGS. 18-19. Examples 1-6, 13-18 and the control (Comparative Examples 1 and 3) are shown in FIG. 18A; Examples 7-12, 19-24 and the control (Comparative Examples 2 and 4) are shown in FIG. 18B. Examples 25-30, 37-42 and the control (Comparative Examples 7 and 9) are shown in FIG. 19A; Examples 31-36, 43-48 and the control (Comparative Examples 8 and 10) are shown in FIG. 19B. In each figure, the amount of addition for an ion-exchange resin (g/100ml) is shown in the bracket.


Consequently, it has been confirmed that when WA30, IRA96SB or IRAXE583 is used, polyphenols tend to be adsorbed.


(Synthetic Adsorbents)


The synthetic adsorbents used are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

TABLE 2HP1MGSP207SB825HP20materialmethacrlylicaromatic typestyrene-styrene-typedivinyl-divinyl-benzenebenzenetypetypewater63.050.456.156.5contentspecific333627977511surfacearea(m2/g)featureHigh polaritystronghydrophobicity














TABLE 3












XAD2
XAD4
XAD7









material
styrene type
styrene type
acrylic type



surface area
300
725
450



(m2/g)



Water content
47
48
69



mean pore
100
48
85



diameter



specific
333
627
977



surface area



(m2/g)



feature
non-polar
non-polar










The synthetic adsorbents used and their amounts of addition are shown below.

amount ofadditiontime ofexampleadsorbent(g/100 ml)addition (h)ExamplesXAD21149, 59ExamplesXAD41150, 60ExamplesXAD40.1351, 61ExamplesXAD71152, 62ExamplesXAD70.1353, 63ExamplesHP1MG1154, 64ExamplesSP2071155, 65ExamplesHP201156, 66ExamplesHP200.1357, 67ExamplesSP8251158, 68


Examples 49-58 show the cases where the low-malt beer was subjected to measurement, and Examples 59-68 show the cases where beer was subjected to measurement.


Graphic representation for the sum of peak areas as detected by HPLC is as follows. The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 49-58 and the control (Comparative Example 11) are shown in FIG. 13A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 49-58 and the control (Comparative Example 11) are shown in FIG. 13B. The hydrophilic peaks from Examples 59-68 and the control (Comparative Example 12) are shown in FIG. 14A; the hydrophobic peaks from Examples 59-68 and the control (Comparative Example 12) are shown in FIG. 14B. In FIG. 14, “(1h)” indicates that the time of addition for a synthetic adsorbent is one hour, and “(0.1)” indicates that the amount of addition for a synthetic adsorbent is 0.1 g/ml.


Consequently, it has been confirmed that there is a great deal of adsorption of the components in the malt alcohol beverage by SP207, SP825, XAD2, or XAD7.



FIG. 15 shows variations in the concentrations of iso-α acid in the malt alcohol beverages when a variety of synthetic adsbrbents were added. Here, measurement was also made where DEAE was used in place of the synthetic adsorbent (Comparative Example 13).


Consequently, it has been confirmed that there is little adsorption of iso-α acid in the malt alcohol beverage when XAD4 or HP1MG is used.


The contents of polyphenols in the low-inalt beers or beers to which various synthetic adsorbents were added are shown in FIG. 18C with respect to Examples 49-58 and the control (Comparative Example 11) and FIG. 19C with respect to Examples 59-68 and the control (Comparative Example 12). The contents of polyphenols were also measured where PVPP(F) (Example 69), PVPP(RS) (Example 70), DEAE (Comparative Example 13) and SiO2 (Comparative Example 14). In the figure “( )” indicates the amount of addition for a synthetic adsorbent (g/ml).


Consequently, it has been confirmed that the power of adsorption of polyphenols by a synthetic adsorbent exhibits similar trends in the low-malt beer and the beer and that there is a great deal of adsorption of polyphenols in the malt alcohol beverage when HP1MG, HP20, SP825, SP207, XAD2, or XAD7 is used. In the cases of SiO2 and DEAE, the adsorption of polyphenols was hardly observed.


Examples 71-88 and Comparative Examples 15-20

After the synthetic adsorbents were heated in sterilized water at 60° C. for 1 hour, they were filtered through a glass filter. These adsorbents were respectively added to the malt alcohol beverages (633 ml), and the space was filled with foam by knocking to remove as much oxygen as possible from the space, after which tapping was done. After they were shaken at room temperature for 2 hours, they were stored at 37° C. for 1 week and analytical and sensory evaluations were carried out. The sensory evaluation was carried out according to the profile method: the trained panel evaluated stale odor, paper odor, oxidation odor and the overall degree of aging in a sensory manner, and the data was provided for statistical analysis.


First, among the synthetic adsorbents (HP1MG, XAD4 and XAD7), HP1MG was added to the malt alcohol beverage to provide the final concentrations of 0.1 g/100 ml, 0.2 g/100 ml, and 0.4 g/100 ml; XAD4 was added to the malt alcohol beverage to provide the final concentrations of 0.2 g/100 ml and 0.4 g/100 ml; and XAD7 was added to the malt alcohol beverage to provide the final concentrations of 0.1 g/100 ml, 0.2 g/100 ml, and 0.4 g/100 ml. After storing at 37° C. room temperature for 1 week, the sensory evaluation was carried out. Results are shown in Tables 4-6 (Examples 71-78 and Comparative Examples 15-17). In the tables the inside the bracket indicates the concentration of adsorbent (g/100 ml): the results are expressed in terms of a value of from 0 to 4 and the greater value represents a higher degree of stale flavor. The values were validated by examination using the Friedman calibration; in the tables “*” indicates p<0.05 and “**” indicates p<0.01.

TABLE 4ExampleExampleExampleComparative717273Example 15HP1MGHP1MGHP1MGcontrol(0.1)(0.2)(0.4)stale2.42.51.6*1.9odorpaper2.12.11.1*1.4odoroxidation1.41.41.21.1odoroverall2.42.41.52.0degree ofaging













TABLE 5











Comparative





Example 16
Example 74
Example 75



control
XAD4 (0.2)
XAD4 (0.4)





















stale
2.5
2.1
2.2



odor



paper
2.1
1.6
1.5



odor



oxidation
1.5
1.4
1.4



odor



overall
2.6
2.1
2.1



degree of



aging






















TABLE 6












Example
Example
Example



Comparative
76
77
78



Example 17
XAD7
XAD7
XAD7



control
(0.1)
(0.2)
(0.4)




















stale
2.4
1.6*
1.9
1.9


odor


paper
2.4
1.3**
1.6*
1.4


odor


oxidation
0.9
0.6
0.9
0.8


odor


overall
2.4
1.6*
1.7*
1.7*


degree of


aging









Consequently, it has become apparent that when 0.2 g/100 ml of HP1MG is used, the paper odor and the stale odor are significantly lower than the control. It has also been confirmed that when XAD7 is used, the stale odor, the paper odor, and the overall degree of aging are all significantly lower than the control.


Next, one week after the addition of various synthetic adsorbents, the sensory evaluation was carried out with the panel number of 8 (HP1MG, SP825, and SP207) or with the panel number of 10 (XAD2, XAD4, and XAD7). Results are shown in Tables 7 and 8 (Examples 79-84 and Comparative Examples 18-19).

TABLE 7ComparativeExampleExampleExampleExample 18798081ControlHP1MGSP825SP207stale2.41.92.32.3odorpaper2.61.3**1.4*1.1*odoroxidation1.71.41.91.9odoroverall2.91.9**2.3*2.1**degree ofaging













TABLE 8









Comparative
Example
Example
Example



Example 19
82
83
84



control
XAD2
XAD4
XAD7



















stale
2.9
2.2**
2.5
2.0**


odor


paper
2.7
1.5**
1.8**
1.5**


odor


oxidation
2.1
1.4**
1.8
1.5**


odor


overall
2.9
2.1**
2.5
1.9**


degree of


aging









Consequently, it has been confirmed that when any of HP1MG, SP825, and SP207 is used, the paper odor and the overall degree of aging are significantly lower than the control. It has also been confirmed that when either XAD2 or XAD7 is used, the stale odor, the paper odor and the overall degree of aging are all significantly lowered as compared to the control and that when XAD4 is used, the paper odor is also lowered as compared to the control.


Furthermore, after the synthetic adsorbents were added following the aforementioned method, the space was filled with foam by knocking and tapping was done. Subsequently, the adsorbents were removed from the malt alcohol beverages by shaking for 2 hours and they were then stored at 37° C. for 1 week to conduct the sensory evaluation. Results are shown in Table 9 (Examples 85-88 and Comparative Example 20).

TABLE 9ExampleExampleExampleExampleComparative85868788Example 20HP1MGHP1MGXAD4XAD7control(0.2)(0.4)(0.2)(0.2)stale2.51.61.81.91.9odorpaper2.31.1**1.2**1.61.2**odoroxidation1.61.11.21.21.2odoroverall2.51.4**1.7*1.81.7*degree ofaging


Consequently, it has been confirmed that when HP1MG or XAD7 is used, the paper odor and the overall degree of aging are significantly lower than the control.


The results of the sensory evaluations as described above indicate that the stale flavor, especially stale odor and paper odor, has been reduced by addition of the synthetic adsorbents. Particularly, the paper odor showed noted reduction and thus the effects of adsorbent were recognized.


Examples 89-136 and Comparative Examples 21-31

To the low-malt beer or beer (each 20 liter) there were added a filtration aid (diatomaceous earth) which is used in ordinary production processes and a 2 g/l equivalent (as wet weight) of a synthetic adsorbent (HP1MG, XAD-4, or XAD-7), after which filtration was conducted. As for HP1MG, addition at a level of 4 g/l equivalent was also conducted. Thus, a preparation to which 4 g/l of HP1MG (as wet weight) had been added was made (indicated as “HP1MGX2” in the table). The filtered low-malt beer solutions were stored at 37° C. for 1 week or stored at 30° C. for 1 month, and then they were analyzed for bitterness unit (BU), the content of total polyphenol, calorimetric analysis value, HPLC peak, the content of trans-2-nonenal, and sensory evaluation.


The results of the sensory evaluation that was conducted on the low-malt beers before storage are shown in Table 10 (Examples 89-92 and Comparative 21), and the results of the sensory evaluation that was conducted on the beers before storage are shown in table 11 (Examples 93-96 and Comparative 22).

TABLE 10Exam-Exam-ComparativeExampleExampleplepleExample 2189909192controlHP1MGX1HP1MGX2XAD4XAD7flavor1001029710298pointtaste10094949497pointbody10010010010099pointafter10010010499103tastepointbitterness100103103101101pointoverall1001009999100















TABLE 11











Comparative
Example
Example
Example
Example



Example 22
93
94
95
96



control
HP1MG
HP20
XAD4
XAD7





















flavor
100
100
100
94
102


point


taste
100
98
100
106
96


point


body
100
108
100
104
106


point


after
100
98
102
102
98


taste


point


bitterness
100
100
102
98
102


point


overall
100
100
101
100
101









The results of the sensory evaluation conducted on the low-malt beers after storage at 37° C. for 1 week are shown in Table 12 (Examples 97-100 and Comparative 23); the results after storage at 30° C. for 1 month are shown in Table 13 (Examples 101-104 and Comparative 24). The results of the sensory evaluation conducted on the beers after storage at 37° C. for 1 week are shown in Table 14 (Examples 105-108 and Comparative 25); the results after storage at 30° C. for 1 month are shown in Table 15 (Examples 109-112 and Comparative 26). The values were validated by examination using the Friedman calibration: in the tables “*” indicates p<0.05 and “**” indicates p<0.01.

TABLE 12Exam-Exam-ComparativeExampleExampleplepleExample 23979899100controlHP1MGX1HP1MGX2XAD4XAD7stale2.62.21.9**2.0*2.2odorpaper2.51.5*1.5**2.01.7odoroxidation1.51.21.01.11.1odoroverall2.82.21.8**2.1*2.2degree ofaging















TABLE 13














Exam-
Exam-



Comparative
Example
Example
ple
ple



Example 24
101
102
103
104



control
HP1MGX1
HP1MGX2
XAD4
XAD7





















stale
2.3
1.8*
1.9
1.9*
2.3


odor


paper
2.2
1.4
1.4
1.7
1.6


odor


oxidation
1.6
1.4
1.6
1.4
1.6


odor


overall
2.3
1.8
2.0
1.9
2.4


degree of


aging






















TABLE 14











Comparative
Example
Example
Example
Example



Example 25
105
106
107
108



control
HP1MG
HP20
XAD4
XAD7





















stale
1.7
1.4
1.2*
1.4
1.6


odor


paper
1.8
1.2
1.2
1.5
1.3


odor


oxidation
1.1
0.9
0.9
1.2
1.0


odor


overall
1.9
1.4
1.2*
1.7
1.6


degree of


aging






















TABLE 15











Comparative
Example
Example
Example
Example



Example 26
109
110
111
112



control
HP1MG
HP20
XAD4
XAD7





















stale
2.3
1.8
1.9
2.2
1.9


odor


paper
2.1
1.6*
1.4
2.1
1.6*


odor


oxidation
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.6
1.4


odor


overall
2.2
1.8
1.9
2.3
1.8


degree of


aging









Consequently, while there were some noted differences in flavor, taste or the like either between the control and the low-malt beer or between the control and the beer, they were not significant; and flavors inferior to that in the control were not noted. However, after storage at 37° C. for 1 week, in both low-malt beer and beer there were noted significant reductions in the stale flavor, especially stale odor and paper odor, as compared to the control even when any of the adsorbent was added. Furthermore, after storage at 30° C. for 1 month, reductions in the stale odor and the paper odor were significantly noted in the low-malt beers. On the other hand, reductions in the stale odor and the paper odor were noted in the beers, although the adsorption effects of the stale flavor by HP1MG and HP20 were remarkable.


The results on the bitterness unit (expressed as BU), the content of total polyphenol, and calorimetric analysis value for the low-malt beers are shown in Table 16 (Examples 113-116 and Comparative Example 26); the results on the aforementioned items for the beers are shown in Table 17 (Examples 117-120 and Comparative 27).

TABLE 16Exam-Exam-ComparativeExampleExampleplepleExample 26113114115116controlHP1MGX1HP1MGX2XAD4XAD7BU24.520.116.423.316.4total1229696116104poly-phenol(mg/L)chroma-9.99.28.89.68.7ticity(EBC°)















TABLE 17











Comparative
Example
Example
Example
Example



Example 27
117
118
119
120



control
HP1MGX1
HP20
XAD4
XAD7





















BU
21.9
21.0
15.4
18.0
14.8


total
182
173
169
149
162


poly-


phenol


(mg/L)


chroma-
8.2
7.4
7.7
8.1
7.3


ticity


(EBC°)









Consequently, portions of iso-α acid, total polyphenol and the chromaticity were adsorbed by the adsorbents in either of the low-malt beer and the beer. The amount of adsorption by XAD4 tended to be smaller than those by the other adsorbents.



FIGS. 20-21 show the sum of peak areas as detected by HPLC. It has been confirmed that in either of the low-malt beer and the beer, HPLC peaks with high hydrophobicity are susceptible to adsorption by the adsorbents. While the amounts of adsorption by XAD4 tended to be smaller than those by the other adsorbents in the low-malt beer, there was no such tendency observed in the beer.


The contents of trans-2-nonenal contained in the low-malt beers after storage are shown in Table 18 (Examples 121-124 and Comparative Example 28); the contents of trans-2-nonenal increased during storage are shown in Table 19 (Examples 125-128 and Comparative Example 29). The contents of trans-2-nonenal contained in the beers after storage are shown in Table 20 (Examples 129-132 and Comparative Example 30); the contents of trans-2-nonenal increased during storage are shown in Table 21 (Examples 133-136 and Comparative Example 31). In the tables, “30° Clm” indicates the cases where storage at 30° C. for 1 month was effected and “37° Clw” indicates the cases where storage at 37° C. for 1 week was effected.

TABLE 18Exam-Exam-ComparativeExampleExampleplepleExample 28121122123124controlHP1MGX1HP1MGX2XAD4XAD7 0° C.0.100.070.070.090.0837° C.1 w0.290.240.140.240.1830° C.1 m0.330.20.160.330.18















TABLE 19














Exam-
Exam-



Comparative
Example
Example
ple
ple



Example 29
125
126
127
128



control
HP1MGX1
HP1MGX2
XAD4
XAD7





















37° C.1 w
0.19
0.17
0.07
0.15
0.10


30° C.1 m
0.23
0.13
0.09
0.24
0.10






















TABLE 20











Comparative
Example
Example
Example
Example



Example 30
129
130
131
132



control
HP1MG
HP20
XAD4
XAD7





















0° C.
0.08
0.11
0.07
0.12
0.08


37° C.1 w
0.17
0.14
0.1
0.15
0.1


30° C.1 m
0.18
0.14
0.12
0.16
0.1






















TABLE 21











Comparative
Example
Example
Example
Example



Example 31
133
134
135
136



control
HP1MG
HP20
XAD4
XAD7





















37° C.1 w
0.09
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.02


30° C.1 m
0.1
0.03
0.05
0.04
0.02









Consequently, trans-2-nonenal was adsorbed by the adsorbent and the content of trans-2-nonenal decreased in either of the low-malt beer and the beer even after storage, except for the case where the low-malt beer was stored with the use of XAD4 at 30° C. for 1 month. It was likely that storage in the presence of the adsorbent suppresses an increase in trans-2-nonenal. It was thus thought that elimination of precursors of trans-2-nonenal by the adsorbent was also occurring.


Examples 137-171 and Comparative Examples 32-40

After HP1MG, a synthetic adsorbent, was heated in sterilized water at 60° C. for 1 hour, it was filtered through a glass filter. This was added to the malt alcohol beverage (or beer), 633 ml, at concentrations of 0.2 g/100 ml, 1.0 g/100 ml, and 5.0 g/100 ml, respectively; and the space was filled with foam by knocking to remove as much oxygen as possible from the space, after which tapping was done. After they were shaken at room temperature for 2 hours, they were stored at 37° C. for 1 week and the sensory evaluations were carried out. The sensory evaluation was carried out according to the profile method: the trained panel evaluated color, flavor, taste, after taste, body and bitterness in a sensory manner and the data was provided for statistical analysis. Simultaneously, measurement of bitterness unit (BU) was also carried out. Results are shown in Table 22 (Examples 137-139 and Comparative Example 32).

TABLE 22ComparativeExampleExampleExampleExample 32137138139control0.2 g/100 ml1.0 g/100 ml5.0 g/100 mlcolor1001009579flavor1001029063taste1001007565after1001039772tastebody100906962bitterness100987767BU0244886adsorption(%)


To the malt alcohol beverage (low-malt beer or beer) there was added the synthetic adsorbent, HP1MG, XAD4 or XAD7, at 2 g/l as wet weight. After storing at 30° C. for 1 month or at 37° C. for 1 week, the contents of 2-Me-propanal, 2-Me-butanal, 3-Me-butanal, and phenylacetaldehyde contained the malt alcohol beverage were determined. As for HP1MG, a preparation to which 4 g/l of HP1MG (as wet weight) had been added was made (indicated as “HP1MGX2” in the table).


The contents of 2-Me-propanal contained in the low-malt beers after storage are shown in Table 23 (Example 140-143 and Comparative Example 33), the contents of 2-Me-butanal in Table 24 (Example 144-147 and Comparative Example 34), the contents of 3-Me-butanal in Table 25 (Example 148-151 and Comparative Example 35), and the contents of phenylacetaldehyde in Table 26 (Example 152-155 and Comparative Example 36). The contents of 2-Me-propanal contained in the beers after storage are shown in Table 27 (Example 156-159 Comparative Example 37), the contents of 2-Me-butanal in Table 28 (Example 160-163 and Comparative Example 38), the contents of 3-Me-butanal in Table 29 (Example 164-167 and Comparative Example 39), and the contents of phenylacetaldehyde in Table 30 (Example 168-171 and Comparative Example 40). In the tables, “30° Clm” indicates the cases where storage was effected at 30° C. for 1 month and “37° Clw” indicates the cases where storage was effected at 37° C. for 1 week. The numerals in the tables are expressed as relative values when the control was taken as 100.

TABLE 23Exam-Exam-ComparativeExampleExampleplepleExample 33140141142143controlHP1MGX1HP1MGX2XAD4XAD7 0° C.1007663807237° C.1 w1008987948330° C.1 m10088848981















TABLE 24














Exam-
Exam-



Comparative
Example
Example
ple
ple



Example 34
144
145
146
147



control
HP1MGX1
HP1MGX2
XAD4
XAD7





















 0° C.
100
68
58
84
68


37° C.1 w
100
73
60
83
67


30° C.1 m
100
84
71
85
63






















TABLE 25















Exam-



Comparative
Example
Example
Example
ple



Example 35
148
149
150
151



control
HP1MG
HP1MGX2
XAD4
XAD7





















 0° C.
100
71
67
76
73


37° C.1 w
100
83
78
86
82


30° C.1 m
100
88
79
83
76






















TABLE 26















Exam-



Comparative
Example
Example
Example
ple



Example 36
152
153
154
155



control
HP1MG
HP1MGX2
XAD4
XAD7





















 0° C.
100
115
84
107
108


37° C.1 w
100
98
106
86
96


30° C.1 m
100
101
101
89
89






















TABLE 27














Exam-
Exam-



Comparative
Example
Example
ple
ple



Example 37
156
157
158
159



control
HP1MGX1
MP1MGX2
XAD4
XAD7





















 0° C.
100
78
58
75
64


37° C.1 w
100
98
93
103
94


30° C.1 m
100
92
82
88
82






















TABLE 28














Exam-
Exam-



Comparative
Example
Example
ple
ple



Example 38
160
161
162
163



control
HP1MGX1
HP1MGX2
XAD4
XAD7





















 0° C.
100
89
82
91
85


37° C.1 w
100
90
85
97
85


30° C.1 m
100
92
88
90
88






















TABLE 29











Com-







parative



Example
Example
Example
Example
Example



39
164
165
166
167



control
HP1MG
HP1MGX2
XAD4
XAD7





















 0° C.
100
80
73
77
72


37° C.1 w
100
98
72
78
72


30° C.1 m
100
91
86
85
87






















TABLE 30











Com-







parative



Example
Example
Example
Example
Example



40
168
169
170
171



control
HP1MG
HP1MGX2
XAD4
XAD7





















 0° C.
100
93
73
84
74


37° C.1 w
100
88
78
88
81


30° C.1 m
100
84
75
84
81









Consequently, 2-Me-propanal, 2-Me-butanal and 3-Me-butanal were all adsorbed by any of the synthetic adsorbents, and their contents in the malt alcohol beverages decreased. However, no clear adsorption for penylacetaldehyde was noted when HPlMG was used in the low-malt beer, but the tendency of adsorption was observed with the use of XAD4 and XAD7. On the other hand, phenylacetaldehyde showed sufficient adsorption in the beer and its content decreased after adsorption.


Industrial Applicability


As described above, the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to this invention allows for providing a method of producing a malt alcohol beverage such that by removing through adsorption tough flavor components with the aid of an adsorbent during the production process of the malt alcohol beverage, the aging of flavor after production can be suppressed and the flavor immediately after production can be maintained.

Claims
  • 1-6. (canceled)
  • 7. A method of producing a malt alcohol beverage, comprising: removing through adsorption at least a part of rough flavor components from malt, a malt alcohol beverage intermediate product, or the malt alcohol beverage with the aid of a synthetic adsorbent.
  • 8. The method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to claim 7, wherein the rough flavor component is a causative substance for stale flavor or a precursor thereof.
  • 9. The method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to claims 7 or 8, wherein the rough flavor component is a carbonyl compound or a Maillard compound.
  • 10. The method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to claims 7 or 8, wherein the rough flavor component is an organic acid.
  • 11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: mixing a raw material containing malt with water, thereby obtaining a mixture; saccharifying the malt by warming the mixture, thereby obtaining saccharified malt; collecting wort from the saccharified malt; fermenting the wort by addition of yeast thereto, thereby obtaining the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product; storing the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product; and filtering the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product to produce the malt alcohol beverage.
  • 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said rough flavor components are removed before the filtration of the malt alcohol beverage intermediate product.
  • 13. The method according to claim 7, wherein said adsorbent reduces a stale flavor of said malt alcohol beverage.
  • 14. The method according to claim 7, wherein the adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of SA10A, SA11A, SA12A, NSA100, SA20A, SA21A, PA308, PA312, PA312, PA316, PA408, PA412, PA418, HPA25, HPA75, WA10, WA20, WA21J, WA30, IRA400C1, IRA402BLC1, IRA410C1, IRA96SB, IRA67, and IRAXE583.
  • 15. The method according to claim 7, wherein said synthetic adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of an aromatic group containing adsorbent, a substituted aromatic group containing adsorbent, and an acrylic group containing adsorbent.
  • 16. The method according to claim 7, wherein said synthetic adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of HP20, HP21, SP825, SP850, SP70, SP700, XAD2, XAD4, SP207, HP1MG, HP2MG, and XAD7.
  • 17. The method according to claim 7, wherein the rough flavor component is propanal, hexanal, hexenal, pentanal, furfural, trans-2-nonenal, phenylacetaldehyde or a mixture thereof.
  • 18. The method according to claim 7, wherein the rough flavor component is 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, an Amadori substance, a precursor of an Amadori substance or a mixture thereof.
  • 19. The method according to claim 7, wherein the rough flavor component is selected from the group consisting of glucose-glycine, glucose-alanine, glucose-leucine, glucose-isoleucine, fructose-proline, fructose-glutamic acid, fructose-serine, fructose-threonine and mixtures thereof.
  • 20. The method according to claim 7, wherein the rough flavor component is a heterocyclic compound having a pyrazine ring, pyrrole ring, or imidazole ring.
  • 21. The method according to claim 7, wherein the rough flavor component is a product of the decomposition of an unsaturated fatty acid.
  • 22. The method according to claim 7, wherein an unsaturated fatty acid is removed.
  • 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said unsaturated fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of pyroglutamic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, isocitric acid and mixtures thereof.
  • 24. The method according to claim 7, wherein a decrease in a degree of bitterness of the malt alcohol beverage after the adsorption is 0-50%.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
P2000-210478 Jul 2000 JP national
Divisions (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 10070814 Mar 2002 US
Child 11487984 Jul 2006 US