Furfuryl ethyl ether formation during beer aging: pathway and kinetics of synthesis

摘要

The formation mechanism and kinetics of the beer staling compound 2-furfuryl ethyl ether were studied. In beer, the major precursors of furfuryl ethyl ether are furfuryl alcohol and ethanol. The origin of furfuryl alcohol in the brewing process was further investigated. Furfuryl alcohol is partly formed by reduction of furfural by yeast during fermentation. For most beers however, the largest fraction of furfuryl alcohol is synthesized together with furfural in Maillard reactions during the thermal stages of wort and malt production. Furthermore, it became clear that furfuryl ethyl ether is a typical staling compound of many specialty beers.