Heavy and light beer: a carbon isotope approach to detect C(4) carbon in beers of different origins, styles, and prices.
The carbon isotope ratios (delta(13)C) of 160 beers from around the world ranged from -27.3 to -14.9 per thousand, primarily due to variation in the percentage of C(3) or C(4) plant carbon in the final product. Thirty-one percent of beers had a carbon signature of C(3) plants (barley, rice, etc.), whereas the remaining 69% contained some C(3)-C(4) mixture (mean of mixtures, 39 +/- 11% C(4) carbon). Use of C(4) carbon (corn, cane sugar, etc.) was not confined to beers from any particular region (Pacific Rim, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, Canada, and the United States). However, the delta(13)C of European beers indicated mostly C(3) plant carbon. In contrast, U.S. and Canadian beers contained either only C(3) or C(3)-C(4) mixtures; Brazilian, Mexican, and Pacific Rim beers were mostly C(3)-C(4) mixtures. Among different lagers, U.S.-style lagers generally contained more C(4) carbon than did imported pilsners. Among different ales, those brewed by large high-production breweries contained significant proportions of C(4) carbon, while C(4) carbon was not detected in microbrewery or home-brew ales. Furthermore, inexpensive beers generally contained more C(4) carbon than expensive beers.
Brooks
J Renée
JR
Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA. Brooks.ReneeJ@epa.gov
Buchmann
Nina
N
Phillips
Sue
S
Ehleringer
Bruce
B
Evans
R David
RD
Lott
Mike
M
Martinelli
Luiz A
LA
Pockman
William T
WT
Sandquist
Darren
D
Sparks
Jed P
JP
Sperry
Lynda
L
Williams
Dave
D
Ehleringer
James R
JR
D001515:Beer / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D001938:Brazil; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005060:Europe; D005511:Food Handling; D008800:Mexico; D014481:United States
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002244:Carbon