Mashing process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mashing and filtration step in a brewing process and to a composition useful in the mashing and filtration step of a brewing process. The mash is prepared in the presence of enzyme activities comprising a xylanase of GH family 10.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
     
     
         28 . A process for production of a mash having enhanced filterability and/or improved extract yield after filtration, which comprises; preparing a mash in the presence of enzyme activities and filtering the mash to obtain a wort, wherein the enzyme activities comprise; a xylanase of GH family 10 present in an amount of at least 15% w/w of the total xylanase and endoglucanase enzyme protein of said composition.  
     
     
         29 . The process of claim  1  wherein endoglucanase is present, said endoglucanase belonging to a GH family selected from the list consisting of; GH12, GH7 and GH5.  
     
     
         30 . The process of claim  1  wherein the endoglucanase activity belonging to GH family GH12, GH7 and/or GH5 is present in an amount of at least 40% w/w of the total xylanase and endoglucanase enzyme protein of said composition.  
     
     
         31 . The process of claim  1  wherein the xylanase of GH family 10 is present in an amount of at least 20%, preferably 25%, such as at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 60%, or even at least 70% w/w of the total xylanase and endoglucanase enzyme protein  
     
     
         32 . The process of claim  1  wherein the endoglucanase of GH Family 12, 7 and/or 5 endoglucanase is present in an amount of at least 45%, preferably 50%, such as at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 70% or even at least 80% w/w of the total xylanase and endoglucanase enzyme protein.  
     
     
         33 . The process of claim  1  wherein the xylanase is a type A xylanase.  
     
     
         34 . The process of claim  1  wherein the xylanase is a type A xylanase having a I1,3terminal/I1,3internal ratio of at least 0.25, such as at least 0.30, al least 0.40, at least 0.50, or even at least 0.60.  
     
     
         35 . The process of claim  1  wherein the xylanase has a CBM, preferably a CBM of family 1.  
     
     
         36 . The process of claim  1  wherein the xylanase is a xylanase which in the xylanase binding assay described herein has a barley soluble/insoluble fibre binding ratio of at least 0.50, preferably at least 0.60, more preferably at least 0.70, such as 0.80, 0.90, 1.00, 1.10 or even at least 1.20.  
     
     
         37 . The process of claim  1  wherein the xylanase is 
 a xylanase derived from a filamentous fungi such as from a strain of an  Aspergillus  sp., preferably from  Aspergillus aculeatus  (SEQ ID NO:8 or SEQ ID NO:9), from a strain of a  Myceliophotora  sp., preferably from a  Myceliophotora thermophilia  (SEQ ID NO:13), from a strain of a  Humicola  sp., preferably from  Humicola insolens  (SEQ ID NO:12), or from a strain of  Trichoderma  sp., preferably from  T reesei  (SEQ ID NO:17).    
     
     
         38 . The process of claim  1  wherein the xylanase is derived from a bacterium such as from a strain of a  Bacillus.    
     
     
         39 . The process of claim  1  wherein the endoglucanase is; 
 an endoglucanase derived from  Humicola  sp., such as the endoglucanase from  Humicola insolens  (SEQ ID NO:3), or the endoglucanase from  H. insolens  (SEQ ID NO:4), from  Thermoascus  sp., such as the endoglucanase derived from  Thermoascus aurantiacus  (SEQ ID NO:6) or from  Aspergillus  sp., such as the endoglucanase derived from  Aspergillus aculeatus  (SEQ ID NO:16) or from  Trichoderma  sp., such as the endoglucanase from  T. reseei  shown in SEQ ID NO:18, the endoglucanase from  T. viride  sp. shown in SEQ ID NO:19 or the endoglucanase from  T. reseei  shown in SEQ ID NO:20.    
     
     
         40 . The process of claim  1  wherein at least one additional enzyme is present, which enzyme is selected from the list comprising; arabinofuranosidase, ferulic acid esterase and xylan acetyl esterase.  
     
     
         41 . A process of reducing the viscosity of an aqueous solution comprising a starch hydrolysate, said process comprising: 
 a. testing at least one xylanolytic enzyme for its hydrolytic activity towards insoluble wheat arabinoxylan,    b. selecting a xylanolytic enzyme which cleaves next to branched residues thereby leaving terminal substituted xylose oligosaccharides.    c. adding the selected xylanolytic enzyme to the aqueous solution comprising a starch hydrolysate.    
     
     
         42 . A process of reducing the viscosity of an aqueous solution comprising a starch hydrolysate, said process comprising: 
 d. testing at least one endoglucanolytic enzyme for its hydrolytic activity towards barley beta-glucan,    e. selecting a endoglucanolytic enzyme which under the conditions: 10 microgram/ml purified enzyme and 5 mg/ml barley beta-glucan in 50 mM sodium acetate, 0.01% Triton X-100, at pH 5.5 and 50° C., within 1 hour degrades more than 70% of the barley beta-glucan to DP 6 or DP<6,    f. adding the selected endoglucanolytic enzyme to the aqueous solution comprising a starch hydrolysate.    
     
     
         43 . The process claim  15 , wherein the aqueous solution comprising a starch hydrolysate is a mash for beer making or a feed composition  
     
     
         44 . A composition comprising; 
 g. a GH10 xylanase present in an amount of at least 15% w/w of the total enzyme protein; and/or,    h. a GH12, GH7 and/or GH5 endoglucanase present in an amount of at least 20% w/w of the total enzyme protein.    
     
     
         45 . The composition according to  claim 47  wherein the xylanase is a type A xylanase, and preferably a type A xylanase having a I1,3terminal/I1,3internal ratio of at least 0.25, such as at least 0.30, al least 0.40, at least 0.50, or even at least 0.60.  
     
     
         46 . The composition according to  claim 47  wherein the xylanase is derived from a filamentous fungi such as from a strain of an  Aspergillus  sp., preferably from  Aspergillus aculeatus  (SEQ ID NO:8 or SEQ ID NO:9), from a strain of a  Myceliophotora  sp., preferably from a  Myceliophotora thermophilia  (SEQ ID NO:13), from a strain of a  Humicola  sp., preferably from  Humicola insolens  (SEQ ID NO:12).  
     
     
         47 . The composition according to the preceding claims wherein the xylanase is derived from a bacterium such as from a strain of a  Bacillus.