Beer................. Skunky Beer

[cichlid-dave]

What the flip? Every over the counter beer I have had recently has been skunky. I read up that if sunlight hits the beer in the bottle the sunlight breaks down the hops and causes the beer to smell like skunk. So my question is where is all the beer being stored in the sun? Or is it the store lights?

 

[348]

I try not to drink anything out of clear or green bottles. I have better luck with darker glass. Although I'm drinking out of a can right now. Lol.

 

[donner]

Any light can do it but sunlight is the worst and the glass color matters. Another reason why cans are becoming more popular for craft brewers

 

[Erick]

It's actually a reaction with the yeast and sunlight. The process byproduct makes the same chemical that the skunk makes. I never drink beers that come from green or clear bottles. Most if the time (like Corona) the skunk is the characteristic that they want.

 

[Cohiba]

What causes "skunky beer" you ask.....

Isohumulones are compounds that contribute to the bitter taste of beer and are in the class of compounds known as iso-alpha acids.


The bitterness of beer is measured according to the International Bitterness Units scale, with one IBU corresponding to one part-per-million of isohumulone. When beer is exposed to light, these compounds can decompose in a reaction catalyzed by riboflavin to generate free-radical species by the homolytic cleavage of the exocyclic carbon-carbon bond.

The cleaved acyl side-chain radical then decomposes further, expelling carbon monoxide and generating 1,1-dimethylallyl radical. This radical can finally react with sulfur-containing amino acids, such as cysteine, to create 3-methylbut-2-ene-1-thiol, a thiol which causes beer to develop a "skunky" flavor.

How to prevent "skunky beer" taste:
Dark bottles or cans
Avoid sunlight/UV light
Avoid a store cooler that has bright lights in it or allows strong light into the cooler
Buy beer in a "tall" six pack container...up to the necks
Buy beer in an enclosed case.
Buy beer in the back of the display....darker area
Buy beer with a low expiration date/look at the "born" on date.






Cohiba

 

[Cohiba]

I have to ask......what beer have you been drinking with that skunky taste??


Lately I've dropped my bourbon/whiskey/Pabst/LoneStar regulars and have been "touring" craft beer and Belgian beer. None of them have had a bad taste.....my liver doesn't know what to think about these new and improved brews I've been drinking.

Belgian beer I've been drinking....ALOT lately.

Duvel:

Craft:

Moose Drool Brown Ale.

Rogue Dead Guy Ale.....glow in the dark label.

Cohiba

 

[WideLoadTimmy]

Praise allah for skunky beer. It's time for beer brats!

 

[cichlid-dave]

Many non alcohol beers, but as a good one recently was a banana bread beer.

 

[10Seconds]

Have to agree, why drink it? Life's too short, get some fresh beer.

 

[dennishoddy]

Blue moon unfiltered wheat tastes like my dads home brew. Not quite as powerfull though.