ABSTRACT
Beer is the second most consumed beverage in the world after tea [1]. Beer production reached approximately 1.48 billion hL=year* in 2003 and keeps increasing every year. The world per capita consumption in the same year was 23.6 L, the highest consumption being recorded in the European Union (70 L) and on the American continent (66 L) [2]. The beer industry is continuously challenged to meet the high standards required for producing beer of consistent quality, with unique taste and flavor, while maintaining relatively low production costs and minimizing waste disposal. For the modern, highly demanding consumer, purity and freshness are extremely important characteristics of a good beer, and this is why the beer industry is permanently seeking new technical solutions that will enable it to deliver a product matching its customers’ expectation.
