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Bottles and Light Exposure
Are beers that are carbonating susceptible to light exposure? If so, to what degree?
Thanks much!
-R
Yes. Protect your beer from direct UV/sunlight. Even indirect light over time will harm your beer.
it stabilizes once it's carbonated, though, doesn't it?
(or at least becomes less susceptible...)
-R
Rubberchrist wrote:
it stabilizes once it's carbonated, though, doesn't it?
(or at least becomes less susceptible...)
-R
Nope. The hop compounds that are responsible for making beer bitter are called isomerized alpha-acids. These chemicals, along with sulfur compounds found in beer, are also culpable in beer skunking. When light hits beer, it provides the energy necessary to drive a reaction that transforms the iso-alpha-acids into 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol. The "thiol" part of the name indicates that there is sulfur present. Sulfur compounds often have strong, offensive aromas. Some musteline animals, like skunks, have evolved the ability to produce this chemical, and use it for self-defense. These compounds will stay in the beer until it leaves you.
Wild
AHHHHH!
"3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol" nothing like that good old organic chemistry first thing in the morning on Monday.
Great post Wild.
Beer is always susceptible to getting light struck. I good way to teach your friends about bad beer. But Some Becks or Hieneken in green bottles and in cans. Chill them and taste them. The canned stuff will be less skunked than the bottled stuff.
Alot of people assume the off flavor is part of the "imported" style. That's BS. Its improper handling, and poor packaging choices as in green bottles.
Cans are a superior packaging material for beer. Unfortunately, most cans do not contain superior beer.
Oh...I thought Heineken came pre-skunked.........
ricka182 wrote:
Oh...I thought Heineken came pre-skunked.........
Interesting, because I was under the same notion about becks.
If you don't know what skink tastes like.. Becks is your best choice.
brewchez wrote:
Unfortunately, most cans do not contain superior beer.
Except for Oskar Bules' stuff..... mmmmmmmm delicious.
And Wild, thank you for the detailed response. I am one of those unfortunate souls who MUST have the answer to questions that occur to them.
-R
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