Preliminary characterization of an Italian craft durum wheat beer

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the production of beers brewed using raw materials of local origin. Many micro-breweries have been established in Italy, particularly in Sardinia, where some have started to use Sardinian wheat to produce a beer that has a regional connection. The most widespread wheat cultivar used in Italy has been Senatore Cappelli, which is still grown in Sardinia and in some other regions. Bread produced with this type of wheat is characterized by a high protein content and good sensory properties. Owing to its origin, this cultivar is being considered for use in beer production. In this work, a Sardinian durum wheat beer was compared with two other wheat beers brewed in Europe (Germany and the Czech Republic). Standard beer chemical analyses, along with volatile and sensorial profiles, were used to characterize the Sardinian craft durum wheat beer. Copyright (c) 2014 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling