Production of a novel proanthocyanidin-free barley line with high quality

A proanthocyanidin-free (ant-free) barley with improved quality, Mokkei 92-130, was bred from the cross between Ant 13-347, an ant-free mutant and Haruna Nijo, a Japanese malting barley variety. The malting and brewing quality of the line are described in this paper, while its agronomic performance will be summarised elsewhere. Mokkei 92-130 achieved high levels in some malting quality character including hot water extract, diastatic power and apparent attenuation limit, which were significantly low in most of the ant-free lines and varieties previously reported. Cell wall degradation was also improved. Overall malting quality was found to be satisfactory in Mokkei 92-130. Pilot-scale brewing trials showed that Mokkei 92-130 had superior colloidal stability (less haze formed) in its final beer compared with the normal counterparts. Beer brewed with ant-free barley at a pilot-scale performed as well as the standard production in sensory evaluations soon after bottling, although it was rated poorer than the control after one month storage at ambient temperature.