Interesting Behavior of Geranic Acid during the Beer Brewing Process: Why Could Geranic Acid Remain at a Higher Level Only in the Beer Using Sorachi Ace Hops?

Hops are among the most important ingredients in beer that contribute to beer flavor. Consequently, novel types of hops have been bred and widely used worldwide. For example, the Sorachi Ace hop imparts characteristic varietal aromas, including woody, pine-like, citrus, dill-like, and lemongrass-like aromas, to the finished beer. In our previous study, the unique volatile compound geranic acid was significantly detected only in the test beer brewed with the Sorachi Ace hop; moreover, the coexistence of geranic acid and other hop-derived flavor compounds could result in the characteristic aroma of the Sorachi Ace beers. In this study, selected hop-derived flavor compounds, including geranic acid, were compared among 17 hop varieties. The geranic acid content in the Sorachi Ace hop was the highest among the studied hops. We also investigated the behavior of geranic acid and related flavor compounds throughout the fermentation process. The content of geranic acid was higher than those of the other compounds during fermentation. Next, we compared the concentrations of these compounds in kettle-, late-, and dry-hopped beers using Sorachi Ace hop. The results revealed that geranic acid remained at higher concentrations from the worts to finished beers despite the decrease in the content of other hop-derived flavor compounds as a result of evaporation and/or other factors during brewing. Further, geranic acid could remain at high levels in the test-brewed beers with Sorachi Ace hops because of its behavior as an acid throughout the brewing process, including during wort boiling and fermentation.

Effect of "Late Harvest" of Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) on the Contents of Volatile Thiols in Furano Beauty, Furano Magical, and Cascade Varieties.

In recent years, many hop varieties with unique aromas, so-called "flavor hops", have been bred and grown. Here, we investigated the effect of late-harvested hops using three flavor hop varieties; Furano Beauty, Furano Magical, and Cascade. The sample hops were harvested at different days after flowering (DAF): DAF 45 (normal harvest), DAF 65, DAF 75, and DAF 85. We measured the volatile thiols in sample cones. The results indicated that 4-methyl-4-sulfanylpentane-2-one contents showed almost no change or a slightly decrease with a delay in harvest, whereas 3-sulfanyl-4-methylpentan-1-ol (3S4MP) content in late-harvested samples increased several fold in comparison with normal-harvested samples. Additionally, 3S4MP contents in the beers brewed with DAF 65 samples were several times higher than those using DAF 45 ones. From these results, we propose a new method to control 3S4MP content in hop cones by changing its harvest date.

Identification and Characterization of Geranic Acid as a Unique Flavor Compound of Hops ( Humulus lupulus L.) Variety Sorachi Ace.

Hops are natural ingredients used to impart bitterness and flavor to beer. Recently, new varieties of hops have attracted global research attention. The Sorachi Ace variety, in particular, interests many craft brewers. This hop imparts characteristic varietal aromas, including woody, pine-like, citrus, dill-like, and lemongrass-like, to finished beers. Here, we investigated specific flavor compounds derived from Sorachi Ace using selectable one-dimensional or two-dimensional gas chromatography-olfactometry/mass spectrometry and head space-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that a unique volatile compound, geranic acid, was present at a significant level only in the test beer brewed with the Sorachi Ace hop. Furthermore, sensory evaluation techniques revealed that geranic acid has very unique characteristics. This compound is not odor-active but functions as an enhancer for hop-derived terpenoids at subthreshold levels.