Functional beers for an active lifestyle

Functional foods and beverages know a rapid growth in the market. Beer and sport has been linked for decades. AB-InBev, world leader in brewery, has wanted to create new beer with additional specifications that would attract consumers with an active lifestyle. In this paper, four ideas have been investigated: beer enriched in protein and silicon, isotonic non-alcoholic beers and relaxing flowery beers. For protein, several sources have been added at different concentrations and then taste, color, haze, foam and pH were assessed or measured. All protein differs in their physical and visual impacts. Among all proteins tested, only a pea protein, a di- and tripeptides from casein source were evaluated as good in all those parameters. “Isotonic” is a claim found in Germany in non-alcoholic beers. Isotonic beverages rehydrate better and replenish the body in electrolytes and sugar. A non-alcoholic lager found in the market from AB-InBev is hypotonic. It has been experimented that in order to increase osmolality to achieve isotonicity, three solutions exist: increase sugar content, blend the beer with an hypertonic beverages or increase ABV. For EFSA health claim, it was previously thought that requirements were too difficult to achieve due to the too high percentage of energy that had to come from sugar and to the amount of sodium required that makes the beverage undrinkable. Both problems were overcome and an isotonic beer according to EFSA was created. Silicon daily consumption is important to lower risk of osteoporosis and Alzheimer. A higher consumption has been studied to increase beauty by enhancing nail, hair and skin quality. Beer has been identified has the richest source of silicon for western adult population. Laboratory research has proved that increase of malt ratio and mashing time increase silicon concentration in the wort by up to 50% and 1mg/l respectively. It was shown that, in contradiction to previous hypothesis, dry-hopping does not increase silicon content. A brew was done following a recipe with some modification. The light lager created has the highest silicon content found in commercialized beers and had an increase of 50% in silicon content. It has been measured that Maltin -malt wort based beverage- had the highest silicon content (61mg/l) among measured beverages. Combination of valerian flowers and hop cones enhance relaxation and sleep quality. Therefore adding valerian in beers would improve its already proven relaxing effects. Different recipes with flower extracts within valerian and other relaxing or tasty flowers have been created and assessed. A light lager was successfully brewed with valerian roots, yarrow and lemon balm during fermentation.