How to Identify Off Flavors in Beer

Published on Monday, March 22, 2010, by CHOW Video Team / Edit Post

How to Identify Off Flavors in Beer

Just like wine, beer can go bad (and not just from sitting in the sun too long). When you’re paying a premium for a good microbrew, it’s important to know when your beer tastes right, and when you need to ask for another. Sam Merritt, founder of Civilization of Beer, identifies a few of the most common off-flavors.

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POST A COMMENT |5 Comments

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  • Lol. Chow sensors is... fresh... it, because it reads "fresh" followed by "it" as fre + swear word meaning fecal matter.

  • test:

    is fresh it

  • er "is fre" should read: "is fresh it".
    MT!

    I'll proof read next time.

  • I'm surprised he didn't cover the taste of "skunked" beer. Basically, ultraviolet lite reacts with the beer to create that skunky (the chemical composition of which IS actually very much like the chemical responsible for the aroma of a skunk spray) flavour Heineken is so famous for. That's because green bottles (or clear ones for that matter) don't filter out ultraviolet light as brown bottles...+READ

    I'm surprised he didn't cover the taste of "skunked" beer. Basically, ultraviolet lite reacts with the beer to create that skunky (the chemical composition of which IS actually very much like the chemical responsible for the aroma of a skunk spray) flavour Heineken is so famous for. That's because green bottles (or clear ones for that matter) don't filter out ultraviolet light as brown bottles do. Of course, if the beer is fresh it won't matter about the colour of the bottle, however if it's been sitting in direct light for a while then you should be weary.

    If you're unsure about what skunking tastes like, just grab a Heineken; it's actually just beer gone bad. I guess some people like that though, although if you ask me they just don't know any bettery.-COLLAPSE

  • When you order a beer that is a high dollar beer, and you have been told by a very informed person that the beer would be extraemly great with your choice of seafood. The choice for deseart was a diferant beer we were very pleased with. I have done hours of research to find that they take as much time and thought in to making and bottling these suppring beers. I fully recomend anyone give them a...+READ

    When you order a beer that is a high dollar beer, and you have been told by a very informed person that the beer would be extraemly great with your choice of seafood. The choice for deseart was a diferant beer we were very pleased with. I have done hours of research to find that they take as much time and thought in to making and bottling these suppring beers. I fully recomend anyone give them a try. Look up beer and food pairings. Enjoy. the maddog & mtnmovr.-COLLAPSE