β-GLUCAN AND β-GLUCANASE IN BREWING

Abstract

The development of endo β-glucanase during the micro-malting of barley, with and without the addition of gibberellic acid, was compared. Results indicated that the stimulative effect of gibberellic acid on the enzyme system was of only marginal practical importance. From the assessment of the enzyme activity in a number of commercial malts it would appear that the germination time used for some malts is too short to take full advantage of the critical phase of very rapid enzyme development. The viscosity-reducing power of β-glucanase was demonstrated in miniature brewery mashing experiments and details of the progressive degradation of β-glucan by the enzyme system were analysed by gel filtration methods. The β-glucan content of a number of varieties of barley was established.