Distinguishing Belgian beers with optical spectroscopy

Optical methods combined with multivariate data analysis proved effective in classifying beers according to their main distinguishing attributes, such as the alcohol content, the type of beer, and its country of origin. This suggests that optics offers a straightforward method for monitoring beer quality indicators during production, as well as for authentication in food fraud prevention. Following up on these findings, we are currently working on implementing a prototype for on-line analysis, capable also of monitoring nutraceutical indicators such as carbohydrates and vitamins during production.