The orcinol hydrochloric acid method for determination of pentosans in beer and wort was studied in this paper. By discussing different conditions, we established a method for determination of pentosans by the absorbance difference between 670 and 580?nm. 3.0?mL of solution mixed with orcinol hydrochloric acid forms a colored complex system, which goes in agree with Beer's law. The recovery rate by using this method was within 91.9%~106.9%. Pentosans content in beer ranged from 906?mg/L to 2?121?mg/L.