Page 12 - Food&Beverages Beer

Water Characteristics Troubleshooting your Brews

Ingredient Analysis – Hops Contamination

Water makes up approximately 90% of beer ingredients. So it is of these minerals should be added or removed before the Hops provide the bitterness in beer. They originate from classes of compounds, including organonitrogen, synthetic
easy to understand why regional influence can have an effect process begins. A good place to start on the determination of compounds, such as isohumulones, which are part of a class of pyrethroids, organochlorines, organophosphorus, and
on beers. Regions where rain falls in rivers, lakes, streams and mineral concentration are free reports from local municipalities. compounds referred to as iso-alpha acids. Iso-α-acids, α-acids carbamates, were analyzed in hops. Samples were prepared by
ultimately reservoirs with impermeable hard rock will likely If the quality of water is not suitable, then some filtration may and β-Acids were discussed in more detail under the section of the QuEChERS method before introduction into a GCMS-TQ8040
produce soft water with low dissolved salts. On the other end of be required. Hard water has high concentrations of calcium and “Top Beer Analyses – Hop Degradation Analysis – Alpha Acids,” triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Shown are two examples
the spectrum are areas with permeable rock such as limestone magnesium carbonates. Other carbonate ions that affect beer page 11. of pesticides at a 1 ppb level. The pesticides include the toxic
(calcium carbonate) and gypsum (calcium sulfate), which will flavor are sodium, chloride, and sulfate. These can all be Organic compound contaminates such as pesticides are a major herbicide Terbuthylazine and the insecticide Lindane, a known
accumulate many minerals on to the way to the reservoir. analyzed by ion chromatography. concern due to their potential for causing health-related carcinogen and neurotoxin.
Examples of regions known for specific beers include pales ales The analysis of fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), nitrite illnesses. In a recent communication*, 34 pesticides from five
of Burton, England, where water has higher levels of gypsum; (NO2), nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4), and sulfate (SO4) can be
porters, associated with another part of England, more performed according to USEPA method 300.1*. Shown below is
specifically London; hard water stouts such as Guinness contain the analysis of carbonates and phosphate (PO4)*. Analysis of Terbuthylazine Lindane
(x100) (x100)
vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B and probiotics, and ammonia (NH4) can be found in the same application note*. 8.0 1.75
are identified with Dublin, Ireland; and pilsners, a blond lager Also, note that calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium 7.0 1 ppb 1.50 1 ppb
connected with soft water from the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, can be analyzed by AA, ICP, and ICP-MS as discussed in the 6.0
1.25
Czech Republic. section “Troubling Shooting your Beers – Inorganic Water 5.0 1.00
Since water for different cities or municipalities has different Contamination,” page 16. 4.0 0.75
characteristics, it is up to the brewmaster to determine if some 3.0 0.50
2.0
0.25
1.0
uS/cm Max Intensity : 36,918 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 9.0 9.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 9.0 9.1
Detector A F Time 15.292 Inten. -0.125
35 Overlaid MRM chromatograms for two pesticides at 1-ppb in hops by GCMS-TQ8040 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer
30
25
As 193nm
20 0.250
CI
15 0.200
NO2
10 0.150 4 ppb Spike
Br NO3 SO4
5 PO4 0.100
0
0.050
0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 15.0 17.5 20.0 22.5 25.0 27.5 30.0 32.5 min Sample
0.000
Ion chromatography analysis of drinking water according to USEPA 300.1*
0.0 2.5
Analysis of hops at 4 ppb arsenic (As) by AA-7000 Shimadzu GCMS-TQ8040 Triple Quadrupole Gas Chromatograph
Mass Spectrometer
mV Max Intensity : 179,524
175 Time 23.498 Inten. 181.516
150
125 Phosphate Before hops can be used they should be checked for inorganic and organic contaminates. The inorganic contaminates can come
100 from the plants absorbing heavy metals, such as Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb), from the soils. Shown here
75 Bicarbonate
50 is an example of arsenic analysis at four parts per billion in hops# measured by an AA-7000 atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
25
0
-25
-50
-75
0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 15.0 17.5 20.0 22.5 25.0
Ion chromatography analysis of phosphate and bicarbonates*

*Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, SSI-LC-06-2015: “Ion Chromatography Guide”
* Pittcon 2015 Presentation: “Screening Medical Marijuana for Pesticides by GC-MS/MS” where hops were used in place of marijuana.
Ion Chromatography System # Shimadzu Scientific Instruments Application News No. AA-004: “Analysis of “The Big Four” Heavy Metals in Hops by Electrothermal Atomization and Cold Vapor

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