Use of relative risk test to evaluate the influence of the brand on beer acceptability

Abstract

The acceptance of the product is very complex and it involves not only its sensory attributes but also non-sensory characteristics, often presented in the packaging or related to concepts regarding the consumer. The relative risk test was applied in order to investigate the effect of the brand, a non-sensory characteristic, on consumers’ acceptance of beer. Eight commercial brands of Pilsen beer were evaluated by 101 consumers in two sessions of acceptance tests: the blind test and the test with brand information. As a general view, it could be concluded that three brands of beer showed a positive impact over the sensory acceptance of the product and four brands negatively impacted on consumers’ evaluation. One of the brands did not show any influence over the consumers’ response. The relative risk method was practical and useful as it was easily calculated and reproduced, and its application permitted easy interpretation of the results.

Keywords

• Sensory analysis; Non-sensory characteristics; Packaging; Relative risk