Effect of molar mass and size of non-alcoholic beer fractions and their relevance toward palate fullness intensity

Palate fullness intensity and mouthfeel descriptors are essential sensory characteristics of non-alcoholic beers (NABs). The descriptor's perception might be influenced by the molar distribution of the non-volatile matrix in cereal-based beverages like NABs. However, only limited information is available on the molar mass of different substances in NABs. This study investigated the role of weight average molar mass (Mw) and size of NABs fractions and their relation to sensory perception. Industrialized bottom-fermented NABs (n = 28) from the German market and NABs produced by different methods were used in this study. A trained sensory panel evaluated palate fullness intensity, mouthfeel, and basic taste descriptors (as additional quality parameters). Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation was used to fractionate NABs, while Mw was determined by multi-angle light scattering and differential refractive index detectors. The NABs were fractionated into three groups containing different substances: proteins, proteins-polyphenol complexes (P-PC) and low molar mass (non-)starch polysaccharides (LN-SP), and high molar mass (non-)starch polysaccharides (HN-SP). The Mw range of proteins was 18.3-41 kDa, P-PC and LN-SP 43-122.6 kDa, and HN-SP 0.40-2.18 center dot 10(3) kDa. Harmony, defined as the sweet and sour ratio, influenced the palate fullness intensity perception. In the harmonic samples (sour/sweet sensory balanced), the size of HN-SP (> 25 nm) showed a positive correlation to palate fullness intensity. The results suggest the importance of dextrins, arabinoxylan, and ss-glucan in modulating the sensory characteristics of harmonic bottom-fermented NABs.

Automated summary

This study investigated the role of weight average molar mass and size of different substances in non-alcoholic beers and their relation to sensory perception. The results suggest that high molar mass polysaccharides and protein-polyphenol complexes are associated with the balanced sensory characteristics.