Formation and degradation of 3-deoxyglucosone as a key intermediate for ageing indicators during wort boiling

Abstract

The metabolite 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) is formed by carbohydrate caramelisation or the Maillard reaction. 3-DG is a precursor in the Strecker reaction forming beer ageing compounds, such as 2-methylbutanal or 3-methylbutanal. Although 3-DG is known as intermediate, recent studies have focused on 3-DG in beer. Foremost, the thermal load during wort boiling provides the best conditions for 3-DG formation and degradation, however, the reactivity of the dicarbonyl during the boiling process has not yet been explained. As a key intermediate, 3-deoxyglucosone could be a critical indicator for beer ageing stability. The 3-DG formation and reactivity during wort production depends on its precursor reactants (amino acids and glucose). The concentration in wort of these substances was varied using two malts with different malt modification along with two different mashing programmes. 3-Deoxyglucosone reactivity was observed by analysing dehydratisation to HMF (HPLC-UV), interconversion to 3-deoxygalactosone (3-DGal, HPLC-UV) and selected Strecker aldehydes (GC-SPME-MS). This study shows that wort boiling is the most important process in 3-DG formation as it contributes 47% of the final content compared with malting (28%) and mashing (25%). With degradation reactions, 3-DG is mainly interconverted to 3-DGal and, contrary to the literature, it could not be confirmed that enhanced 3-deoxyglucosone content affects Strecker reactions. The interconversion reaction during wort boiling determines the dicarbonyl potential of beer and influences the ageing stability. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of the Institute of Brewing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Institute of Brewing & Distilling.