Screening of Polyphenols and Antioxidative Activity in Industrial Beers

Antioxidative molecules, such as polyphenols can preserve and prolong the freshness of packaged beers. The aim of this work was to assess the content of polyphenolic compounds (by Folin-Ciocalteu and standard European Brewery Convention method) in different types of industrially produced beers (lager, pilsner, black and dark), packaged in brown glass bottles. The results of this research indicate that there are significant changes in polyphenol concentrations in correlation with beer type. Polyphenolic content was highest in dark and black beers. Antioxidative activity was also more pronounced in dark and black beers. Most prominent phenolic acid in all samples was gallic acid. Two samples of dark and three samples of black beers had >10 mg/100 mL of this polyphenol, with maximal value of 14.22 mg/100 mL in sample CK (black beer). This would indicate that black beers are richer in polyphenolic content than the light (lager and pilsner) beers and the moderate consumption of such beer could contribute to the health of consumers.