“Skunky”. A dreaded word among beer drinkers. It's one of the worst possible scenarios, popping open a cold one, only to be assaulted by the skunkiness of a beer gone bad. But don't fret dear beer drinkers, for there are ways to prevent a beer from becoming skunked.
According to chemists at the University of North Carolina, beer becomes skunky when the hops are exposed to light. Both visible and ultraviolet. Hops are added to beer not only for flavor, but also a preservative. When struck by light the hops break down and create a final product called “skunky thiol”, which is similar to what skunks produce in their glands. Something for which humans have a very low tolerance. But how do you prevent skunkiness from happening? Here at the Beer Drinkers Guide to Colorado we offer you tips on how to stop your beer from skunking.
One of the more important aspects of skunk prevention is the color of your beer bottle. Clear and green bottles let in more light and therefore are more susceptible to skunkiness. Brown bottles let in less light, but prolonged exposure can still lead to a skunked beer.
If the beer you buy comes in a box, leave it in the box until you are ready to drink it. Also leave your beer in the cardboard six-pack until it's ready to be imbibed. You may also find that some clear or green bottled beers come in a six pack with cardboard that comes up high on the neck of the bottle - this too helps the precious liquid inside from going bad, so leave them in there.
It's best to buy beer chilled, but if you must buy it off the shelf go for one in the back because it probably has been exposed to less light. True for the coolers too - the fluorescents that the stores use can be damaging to the beer as well. Reach to the back, or don't be afraid to ask if there is some in the case in the back you can purchase.
Always remember that beer is perishable. It should be kept refrigerated. It is okay for it to come to room temperature, but not for long periods of time. Just make sure you're mindful of the amount of time out of the fridge, and of course the exposure to light. Also make sure to check for an expiration date, or a date for when it was brewed. The sooner you drink it after it was bottled, the less chance you have for a skunky beer.
Some companies have found ways around the dreaded skunk. Miller uses chemically modified hops that don't react with light. Corona advocates putting a lime in their beer, some say, to cover any possibility of skunkiness. And according to the magazine “Beer”, Beck's and other companies use clear bottles that have been treated to make the glass more UV resistant.
Never experienced a skunky beer? Or just don't believe us that light causes it to go bad? Be a scientist for a day. Buy a six-pack at the store - “Beer” magazine recommends a light lager, bottle color doesn't matter. Take it home and place one on a window sill, or somewhere in the sun for a couple days, put the rest in the fridge. When it's had it's time in the sun, bring it back down to serving temperature, and don't mix it up with the others! When it's chilled pour it and one of the others from the pack into glasses side by side. Note the differences. They shouldn't be hard to spot.
Keeping your beer at proper temperature will also help in it staying fresh longer. Most refrigerators keep between 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a little low for most beers, but works okay. If you're lucky enough to have a beer fridge you can adjust the temperature accordingly. Follow the chart below to your beer's ideal serving temperature. |
