Beer Photodegradation in Commercial Bottles: Simultaneous Evaluation by Consumer Sensory Panels and Optical Detection

Roman Králik; Petr Gabriel; Martin Dušek; Jaromír Antoch

Authors

Roman Králik Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics, Charles University, Sokolovská 83, 186 75 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Petr Gabriel Laboratory of General Physics Education, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 3, 121 16 Prague 2, Czech Republic
Martin Dušek Research Institute of Brewing and Malting, Lípová 511/15, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Jaromír Antoch Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics, Charles University, Sokolovská 83, 186 75 Prague 8, Czech Republic

Keywords:

beer, photodegradation, light-struck flavour, riboflavin, absorbance, laic sensory panel, triangle sensory test, HPLC analysis, functional data, regression

Abstract

The impact of light on beer degradation is a well-established phenomenon, leading to development of undesirable flavours or, in severe cases, complete spoilage. This study investigates the extent to which photodegradation is perceptible to beer consumers. Beer samples in commercial bottles were subjected to controlled light exposure to induce defined levels of degradation. The degree of light damage was monitored using both an optical method of tracking changes in absorbance and riboflavin content via HPLC and a sensory evaluation by a lay consumer sensory panel. The findings from the sensory panel were statistically compared with the optical measurement results, highlighting correlations between the sensory perception and quantifiable optical changes.

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