Summary
Beer contains only limited amounts of readily fermentable carbohydrates and amino acids. Beer spoilage lactic acid bacteria have to come up with metabolic strategies in order to deal with selective nutrient content. The research was performed to investigate the influence of iso‐α‐acids on the metabolism of organic acids, biogenic amines (BAs), off‐flavour compounds, carbohydrates and amino acids of Lactobacillus brevis 49. Only glyoxylic acid and ethyl formate in de man, rogosa, sharpe broth was consumed, and multiple organic acids, BAs and off‐flavour compounds were produced. By supplementing a series of concentrations of hop iso‐α‐acids, consumption of L‐malic acid, glutamic acid and arginine and generation of BAs were found benefit for bacteria to develop hop‐resistance. In the metabolism of carbohydrates, glucose was preferred over maltose and maltriose, and hops significantly inhibited the utilisation of carbohydrates. The results provide comprehensive information of metabolites of L. brevis 49 under various concentrations of hop stress.