Suntory Identifies Harsh Substance in Beer

17/06/05 Japanese based beverage manufacturer Suntory has revealed that it has identified a substance that causes harshness in the taste of beer. determining the substance's chemical structure. The substance is beta glycoside of hordatine, a substance found in malt, with a completely new chemical structure. The company believes that this discovery will open up new doors by enabling quantitative analysis of beer components and ultimately leading to an improvement in the taste of beer.

The news follows Suntory’s announcement that it will be launching release a new beer-like sparkling alcoholic beverage brewed from corn at the end of July. The "Kire-Aji Nama" beverage for the so-called third-beer brand category features a pure and sharp taste and is the first carbohydrate-free drink of its kind, the company said.