AN IMMUNOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF BEER FOAM

Abstract

Beer foam produced in a continuous foaming tower in volumes representative of commercial dispense, was analysed by immunoelectrophoretic and immunoblotting techniques to identify antigens involved in foam structural stability. In crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), only one antigen precipitated from foam in the homologous foam antiserum. This antigen was shown to be of malt origin by rocket-line immunoelectrophoresis and was also present in 11 commercial beers (5 bitters, 4 lagers and 2 stouts). However, the foam preparation separated into more than 20 polypeptides by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Immunoblotting showed that at least 12 of these reacted with foam antiserum and that they originated from either malt or yeast. Similar polypeptides were also identified in the antigen precipitated in CIE, suggesting that these polypeptides were probably present in the foam as a complex. It is concluded that the stability of foam reflected molecular interactions between these polypeptides (and possibly other components such as carbohydrates) in the liquid film of the bubble structure.