Do you enjoy craft beer? Then you better drink it sooner rather than later if you want an optimal taste. Researchers have discovered that the beverage should be stored in a cool place and consumed as soon as possible because it loses its aroma when saved for too long.
A scientific study recently published in BrewingScience examined the unique aromas of craft beer and how they deteriorate over time. Researchers discovered that the hop odorant, which smells like blackcurrants, decreased by over one third when chilled for just three months.
A few nanograms (ng) of the chemical 4-mercapto-4-methyl pentane-2-one enhances the flavour and scent of beer when it’s added in the late stages of the brewing process. Dubbed “dry-hopping,” the method has gained in popularity in recent years.
Researchers examined the amount of odorant present in the beer at various times. For example, at the start of the study, the filtered beer contained 22 ng/kg of the compound. The unfiltered beer contained only 15 ng/kg.
Three months later after being stored at 5°C (41°F), the amount of the chemical decreased to 59 and 67 percent of the original content, respectively.
Samples that were stored at room temperature of 20°C (68°F) had even greater issues with aroma loss. Concentrations of the chemical dropped to 30 and 40 percent.
After six months of storage, concentrations sank to as low as 2 ng/kg.
“Anyone who prefers a beer with a strong hop aroma should not store craft beer for long,” said Klaas Reglitz, who studied Brewing and Beverage Technology in Weihenstephan, via Daily Mail.
“We have always had craft beers in Bavaria. They are brewed according to the German Purity Law,” added Martin Steinhaus. the principal investigator of the study. “This means that the brewer must not use anything other than malt, hops, water and yeast.”
Interested in some great Canadian craft beers? Sharp magazine recently listed some of the best new beers in the country, including Pilsner, Ace Hill; Southern Light; Hometown Brew Co.; British IPA, Strathcona Beer Company; Kalm Session Ale, Lost Craft Brewery; Working Class Hero Dark Mild, Riot Brewing Co.; and Juxtapose Wild IPA, Four Winds.
