Desenvolvimento e caracterização de cerveja artesanal com adição de cacau

Abstract

The marked demand for differentiated beers has stimulated the search for new raw materials containing bioactive compounds, as well as to enhance sensory characteristics such as taste. A wide range of possible compounds can be added to beer at the various stages during the brewing process, to create a product with unique characteristics. This work evaluated the addition of cocoa to the production of non-pasteurized beers, and determining which production stages was most suitable. Cocoa with and without roasting was characterized by analyzing hydroalcoholic extracts (0, 4 and 70% alcohol) for phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity. Five treatments were applied: addition of 2% cocoa during roasting, substitution of hop bitterness, fermentation, maturation and to the draft beer Beers were evaluated for their physical and chemical characteristics: alcoholic content, color, bitterness, real and primitive extract, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity and sensory evaluations were conducted for consumer preference and overall acceptance. The extracts with higher alcohol content were also those with higher phenolic and flavonoids content, but did not differ significantly from the other treatments as the antioxidant capacity. Beers with 2% added cocoa showed the highest concentrations of phenolic and flavonoid content. However, the treatment with 2% substitution of the hop bitterness content had the hihest levels of flavonoids, a high phenolic content, and was the most preferred and accepted in the sensory analysis, making it the best option for cocoa addition during the beer production process.