Changes

Both primary and secondary metabolites play a large role in the flavor and aroma profile of wort fermented with ''Lactobacillus''. Secondary metabolites are compounds that are not directly related to the growth of an organism, but often assist with survival <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11036689 The natural functions of secondary metabolites. Demain AL, Fang A. 2000.]</ref>. These secondary metabolites are produced by the pathways mentioned above, and different strains probably regulate the enzymes involved in various pathways differently and produce different secondary metabolites <ref>Private correspondence with Richard Preiss from Dan Pixley. 12/29/2015.</ref>. Thus, different species and strains can produce a wide variety of flavors and aromas (compare this to food grade lactic acid in which none of these secondary metabolites exist). These secondary metabolite are the result of carbohydrate fermentation and amino acid metabolism <ref name="peyer_review"></ref>. Different species can have varying ranges of flavor intensities, especially citrus flavor, which one study that soured wort and then fermented with US-05 two days later (not kettle soured) reported was higher for ''L. plantarum'', ''L. alimentarius'', ''L. brevis'', and ''L. buchneri'' versus ''L. rhamnosus''. Vinuous, malty, and sour flavors were also reported to vary in intensity based on species. ''L. buchneri'' was reported in the study to be the most vinuous, followed by (in descending order of intensity) ''L. brevis'', ''L. plantarum'', and ''L. alimentarius''. The sour flavor was reported highest for ''L. plantarum'' and ''L. alimentarius'', followed by (in descending order of intensity) ''L. brevis'', ''L. buchneri'', and finally ''L. rhamnosus''. ''L. rhamnosus'' had the most raspberry flavor, while the other species had a similar level of moderate raspberry flavor. All of the species tested had similar levels of apple flavor (moderate), acetic flavor (low), butyric (very low to absent, even though the fermenting vessels were never purged of oxygen), bitter aftertaste (low), and yeasty (low) <ref name="Tenhovirta_masters" />.

Another study showed that ''L. plantarum'' produced significantly more diacetyl, acetoin (yogurt-like flavor), and acetaldehyde than ''L. reuteri'' and ''L. brevis''. These three compounds were associated with dairy-related notes of "buttery", "lactic", and "yogurt" flavors identified during sensory testing <ref name="Peyer"></ref>. Some LAB can release these compounds through the catabolism of citric acid, which is found in wort. Ester production is generally insignificant, although significant ester formation has been found during malolactic fermentation in red wines, and ethyl acetate has been found to be produced in malt based beverages <ref name="peyer_review">[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224415300625 Lactic Acid Bacteria as Sensory Biomodulators for Fermented Cereal-Based Beverages. Lorenzo C. Peyer , Emanuele Zannini , Elke K. Arendt. 2016.]</ref><ref name="Tenhovirta_masters" />. Acetaldehyde produced from ''L. plantarum'' helps to produce pyranoanthocyanins that stabilize wine's red color <ref>[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996918302084 Acetaldehyde released by Lactobacillus plantarum enhances accumulation of pyranoanthocyanins in wine during malolactic fermentation. Shaoyang Wanga, Siyu Lic, Hongfei Zhaoa, Pan Gua, Yuqi Chena, Bolin Zhanga, Baoqing Zhu. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.03.032]</ref>. Some strains may also produce fusel alcohols and other off-flavors. For example the referenced study found an accumulation of the fusel alcohol n-Porponal in the sample of ''L. reuteri'', and a small decrease of isovaleric acid coupled with a small increase of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexanoic_acid hexanoic acid] by ''L. brevis'', ''L. plantarum'', and ''L. reuteri'' (only 0.25-0.32 mg/L was found, and the flavor threshold of hexanoic acid is 5.4 mg/L <ref>[http://www.leffingwell.com/odorthre.htm Leffingwell & Associates website. Odor Thresholds. Retrieved 12/30/2015.]</ref>) <ref name="Peyer"></ref>. Heterofermentative species can also produce [[Tetrahydropyridine|tetrahydropyridines (THP)]], which is the cause of "mousy" off-flavors <ref name="Costello">[http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf020341r Mousy Off-Flavor of Wine:  Precursors and Biosynthesis of the Causative N-Heterocycles 2-Ethyltetrahydropyridine, 2-Acetyltetrahydropyridine, and 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline by Lactobacillus hilgardii DSM 20176. Peter J. Costello and Paul A. Henschke. 2002.]</ref>. Aldehydes (2-methyl-1-propanal, 2-methyl-1-butanal, 3-methyl-1-butanal) and their associated non-fusel alcohols (2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and 3-methyl-1-butanol) can be produced from amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, and valine to form fruity flavors <ref name="peyer_review"></ref>. A few species, especially most strains of ''L. fermentum'', and some strains of ''L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus'', can produce ropiness in the form of exopolysaccharides, similar to [[Pediococcus]] <ref name="peyer_review"></ref>.