Anyone know anything about beer going skunked if you buy it cold then let it go warm...?!
then put it back in the fridge!? So many people think this but I've never had a problem with it and I could never taste the difference!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
The others are absolutely correct: this is one of the most prolific myths about beer, and the term "skunky" is one of the most often misused beer terms!.
To elaborate, when exposed to UV light, hop oils begin to break down and isomerize, creating iso-alpha acids (the original alpha acids are what lends beer its bitterness!.) One of the resluting by-products of this chemical reaction is Methyl Mercaptan, which produces a sour aroma similar to a skunk!. People refer to skunky beer because this chemical is one of many chemicals contained in a skunk's defense mechanism!.!.!. the spray!.
Cans and kegs offer 100% protection from UV rays!.
Brown glass offers roughly 95% protection - so it is rare that brown bottled beer will become skunked!.
Green and clear glass offer less than 5% protection, which is why Heineken out of the bottle always tastes skunky, as does Corona until you add a lime (which is nothing more than a marketing ploy to cover up the off flavors in the beer)!.
As stated above, extreme temperature changes will damage your beer, but not a typical warm to cold to warm scenario!. Keep in mind that beer is often shipped warm, then stored cold, then delivered warm, then chilled, etc!. EXTREME changes will alter the chemical makeup, causing a wet-cardbord aroma/flavor known as oxidation!. It, like skunkiness, is not harmful, but quite unpleasant!.
Hope this helps!.
Cheers!Www@FoodAQ@Com
To elaborate, when exposed to UV light, hop oils begin to break down and isomerize, creating iso-alpha acids (the original alpha acids are what lends beer its bitterness!.) One of the resluting by-products of this chemical reaction is Methyl Mercaptan, which produces a sour aroma similar to a skunk!. People refer to skunky beer because this chemical is one of many chemicals contained in a skunk's defense mechanism!.!.!. the spray!.
Cans and kegs offer 100% protection from UV rays!.
Brown glass offers roughly 95% protection - so it is rare that brown bottled beer will become skunked!.
Green and clear glass offer less than 5% protection, which is why Heineken out of the bottle always tastes skunky, as does Corona until you add a lime (which is nothing more than a marketing ploy to cover up the off flavors in the beer)!.
As stated above, extreme temperature changes will damage your beer, but not a typical warm to cold to warm scenario!. Keep in mind that beer is often shipped warm, then stored cold, then delivered warm, then chilled, etc!. EXTREME changes will alter the chemical makeup, causing a wet-cardbord aroma/flavor known as oxidation!. It, like skunkiness, is not harmful, but quite unpleasant!.
Hope this helps!.
Cheers!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Beer gets "skunked" from light exposure, not temperature fluctuations!. You'll be fine, this is one of the most prolific beer myths I know of!.
To ruin a beer through temperature would require rapid and extreme changes, like freezing to boiling!. Even then you're not going to be dealing with a "skunked" flavor but rather just a mess of a beer!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
To ruin a beer through temperature would require rapid and extreme changes, like freezing to boiling!. Even then you're not going to be dealing with a "skunked" flavor but rather just a mess of a beer!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
It shouldn't be a problem with canned or dark bottled beer!. Light colored bottles like miller will get skunky fast if exposed to sunlight, that's been my experience anyway!. I brew my own now!.Www@FoodAQ@Com