Scientific Publications
A listing of peer reviewed scientific publications and non-peer reviewed scientific studies that focus on subject material that is relevant to sour brewing. Some good journals to keep an eye on for new publications about sour and funky beers include Cerevisia, The Journal of the Institute of Brewing, and The International Journal of Food Microbiology.
Some of the papers are freely accessible and others require journal subscriptions for access.
Brettanomyces
Much of the scientific research done to date on Brettanomyces approaches the yeast from the view point of wine production and treating the yeast as a spoilage organism. These papers can still be useful to brewers interested in using Brett while recognizing the possible preconceptions, motivations, and biases that this viewpoint might contribute. Other groups, notably those led by a couple of Belgian researchers as well as Chad Yakobson's masters work, have studied Brett from the viewpoint of a desired component in certain beer fermentations.
Lactic Acid Bacteria
Lambic and Spontaneous Fermentation
Historical
These studies focus on historical beer analysis.
Title | Authors | Date | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Brettanomyces – hero or villain? | Ron Pattenson, Shut Up About Barclay Perkins | May 2015 | Ron's analysis of a study on Brettanomyces beers in the Journal of the Institute of Brewing, Volume 67, Issue 3, May-June 1961. |
Analysis of Beers from an 1840s’ Shipwreck | John Londesborough, Michael Dresel, Brian Gibson, Riikka Juvonen, Ulla Holopainen, Atte Mikkelson, Tuulikki Seppänen-Laakso, Kaarina Viljanen, Hannele Virtanen, Arvi Wilpola, Thomas Hofmann, and Annika Wilhelmson | Feb 2015 | Chemical analysis of historical beers found to have bacteria in them. Press conference that says 4 live species of Lactobacillus were found. Free access. |
Misc Topics
Title | Authors | Date | Note |
---|---|---|---|
The Microbiology of Malting and Brewing | Nicholas A. Bokulicha and Charles W. Bamforth | June 2013 | Free access. |
Effects of pH Adjustment and Sodium Ions on Sour Taste Intensity of Organic Acids | E.R.D. Neta, S.D. Johanningsmeier, M.A.Drake | 2009 | Free access. |
Release of hydroxycinnamic acids and formation of flavour-active volatile phenols during the beer production process | Nele Vanbeneden | 2007 | PhD thesis. Free access. Study on 4VG/4VP, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, etc. English sections available. |
Ferulic acid release and 4-vinylguaiacol formation during brewing and fermentation: indications for feruloyl esterase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. | Coghe S, Benoot K, Delvaux F, Vanderhaegen B, Delvaux FR. | 2004 | Not free access. Studied production of ferulic acid and 4VG production in barley and wheat based beers, fermented with S. cerevisiae. |
Other resources
These studies, presentations, or discussions aren't peer reviewed but they do contain useful info for brewing sour and funky beers.
Title | Authors | Date | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Measurement of Oxygen Transfer Rates for Carboy Closures and Air Locks | Gibbs | November 10, 2011 | Study performed by Better Bottle. Free access. |
How to Make Sour Ale: an inquiry | Apte | 2004 | contains Apte's charts for oxygen permeability and other notable references. Free access. |
Pickled beer: Concepts of Sour Ale | Raj Apte | 2004 | A presentation about sour beer. Free access. |
Horse of a Different Color | Nate Sampson, Michael Tonsmeire, Steve Gale, Tomme Arthur, Al Buck, Cisco ?, Sean Paxton | Round table tasting and discussion of brett primary beers. The author of the transcript is not listed. Free access. | |
Methods of Creating and Maintaining 'Wild' House Cultures | Kyle Kohlmorgan | 2013 | Presentation at NHC 2013. Notes available here. Audio available from the AHA website past presentations section (must be an AHA member for access). |
The Mystery of Lambic Beer | Jacques De Keersmaecker | 1996 | Article in Scientific American. Free access. |