Kristina Mastanjević

From malt to wheat beer: A comprehensive multi- toxin screening, transfer assessment and its influence on basic fermentation parameters

The aim was to determine the mycotoxin transfer rate into beer during a semi-industrial production process and the effect of fungicide treatment in the field on mycotoxins concentrations in beer. To ensure the usual practical agronomical conditions, sample A was treated with fungicide Prosaro® 250, and sample B was infected with Fusarium culmorum spores, in order to obtain infected malt. Malt was produced using standard procedure and beer was produced in a semi-industrial unit. During fermentation measurement of sugars (maltotriose and maltose), glycerol and ethanol content was performed on a daily basis. Multiple toxins were determined in malt and beer. Deoxynivalenol (DON), its modified plant metabolite DON-3-glucoside (DON-glucoside), brevianamide F, tryptophol, linamarin, lotaustralin, culmorin (CUL), 15-hydroxy-CUL and 5-hydroyx-CUL were detected in all samples. Results indicate that F. culmorum infection did not influence the fermentation process or the alcohol concentration.

A survey of total β-glucan content in Croatian barley varieties

Although β-glucans in cereals are desirable as healthy diet components, high levels of β-glucans in malting barley are unacceptable because they can cause unsatisfactory degradation of cell walls during malting. The aim of this study was to investigate the β-glucan content in twelve Croatian and two German barley varieties at three representative locations in Eastern Croatia over three consecutive seasons (2012–2014). Total β-glucan content in barley samples was determined using enzymatic method. Most of the investigated barley varieties had total β-glucan content lower or significantly lower than 4%. Furthermore, a distinct and clear genotype influence was noticed. No significant difference was found between years, but between locations Osijek and Tovarnik.

Malting quality indicators of Croatian dual- purpose barley varieties

Malting barley varieties usually demand higher expences than feed varieties, at least as far as management practice is concerned. For this reason, many growers in Croatia search for a quality replacement of malting varieties. Croatian market allows dual-purpose varieties, but strict quality parameters have to be met in order for a variety to be recognized as a malting/feed variety. The aim of this research was to preliminary assess the malting quality of several malting, feed and multipurpose (dual or combined) malting/feed barley varieties. 11 barley varieties were grown in Osijek area during 2011: seven malting/feed (M/F), two malting (M) and two feed barley varieties (F). The suitability for the beer production was assessed according to the malting quality indicators, determined by using standard methods of analytica EBC (European Brewing Convention). As expected, both malting varieties (Vanessa and Tiffany) demonstrated the best malting quality parameters. Most of the combined malting/feed varieties were within recommended values, except Maxim, Lukas and Gazda, which showed the lowest results in friability. Considering that the results were collected and evaluated over a period of one year, this study was taken as a good pointer to future, longer lasting investigations.