MBAA Home

Malting Performance of a Millet Variety (Pennisetum maiwa) Grown at the Same Site During Different Growing Seasons

MBAA TQ doi:10.1094/TQ-47-1-0107-01  |  VIEW ARTICLE

Cletus U. Aloh (1) and Reginald C. Agu (2). 1. Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria. 2. The Scotch Whisky Research Institute, Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AP, Scotland.

Abstract
The malting performance of a millet variety (Pennisetum maiwa) grown at the same site under similar conditions (similar fertilizer applications and nitrogen contents) during two seasons was studied. Although the millet samples were grown during different seasons, when the harvested samples were malted for 6 days both samples followed similar patterns of proteolysis and modification, producing similar levels of diastatic enzyme activity (measured as diastatic power). When the malted millet samples were mashed using the standard mashing method at 65�C, hot water extract recovery was suboptimal, but the release of total soluble nitrogen and free amino nitrogen (FAN) was adequate. However, when the malted millet samples were mashed using the decantation mashing method developed for extracting malt from cereals with a high gelatinization temperature (e.g., sorghum or maize), extract recovery, soluble nitrogen production, and FAN release were adequate for both millet samples. These results showed that millet malt can be extracted in a manner similar to sorghum, which is a well-established cereal used in brewing continental-type lager beers and ales. Millet, therefore, could fulfill a role similar to sorghum as a raw material for brewing. Most important, the marginal differences found in the parameters analyzed for malt produced from the same millet variety grown under similar conditions during different growing seasons suggest that the physiology of P. maiwa is reasonably consistent, which might lead to millet producing malt of consistent quality and character. Verification of this will require more investigation.

Keywords: growing seasons, malting, millet 

S�ntesis
Se estudi� el desempe�o de una variedad de mijo (Pennisetum maiwa; ceburro, trigo candeal) cultivado bajo las mismas condiciones (contenido de nitr�geno y aplicaci�n de fertilizador) en un mismo sitio durante dos estaciones de crecimiento diferentes. A pesar que las muestras crecieron en estaciones distintas, al maltear las dos muestras durante seis d�as se obtuvieron similares patrones de proteolisis y de modificaci�n, alcanzando niveles similares de actividad diast�tica (medido como poder diast�tico). Al macerar las muestras malteadas usando el m�todo est�ndar a 65�C, la recuperaci�n de extracto fue menos que �ptimo, pero la liberaci�n de nitr�geno libre de amino (FAN) y de nitr�geno soluble total fue adecuada. Sin embargo, al maltear estas muestras de mijo malteado usando el m�todo de maceraci�n por decantaci�n (desarrollado para la extracci�n de cereales con una alta temperatura de gelatinizaci�n, tales como ma�z o sorgo) se consigui� una recuperaci�n adecuada de extracto, nitr�geno soluble, y FAN, para ambas muestras. Esto demuestra que malta de mijo puede ser procesada de manera similar al sorgo que es un cereal bien establecido en la elaboraci�n de cervezas lager y �ales� del tipo continental, por lo que mijo puede tener un rol similar al sorgo como materia prima para cerveza. Es importante notar que las muy peque�as diferencias notadas en los par�metros de la misma variedad de mijo cultivada bajo condiciones similares en diferentes estaciones de crecimiento sugieren que la fisiolog�a de mijo es razonablemente consistente, lo que supondr�a la producci�n de una malta de calidad y caracter�sticas constantes. Esto requerir� de m�s estudios para su verificaci�n.

Palabras claves: estaciones, malteado, mijo

HOME | CONTACT | JOIN/RENEW | ADVERTISE | STORE

© Copyright Master Brewers Association of Americas