Nov 30, 2010

Beer terms-Lightstruck

Lightstruck
"Beer damaged by exposure to light. Also known as corona."
Lightstruck, or "skunked", beer has been exposed to ultraviolet and visible light. The light causes riboflavin to react with and break down isohumulones, a molecule that contributes to the bitterness of the beer and is derived from the hops. The resulting molecule is very similar chemically and in odour to the musk-borne mercaptans that are a skunk's natural defences.
In some cases, a hop extract that does not have isohumulones is used to bitter the beer so it cannot be "lightstruck". Bottles with dark brown glass give some protection to the beer, but green and colourless glass offer virtually no protection at all. So the darker your beer bottle, the longer it will last and you won't get that skunked aroma hopfully.

1 comment:

  1. Isn't there beer meant to be brewed in sunlight? I believe dogfish head brewery does a couple of those. Oh and the opening sentence is awesome.

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