Unskunkable Beer

[Leigh]

Found this article while searching for something else...the Germans have found by removing riboflavin (or Vitamin B2) you remove the skunkability of beer...I wonder how long before this is available for us homebrewers?

http://www.popsci.com.au/scitech/article/2...r-lasting-brews

Edit: Fxied for ackurassy

 

[Adamt]

Using isohop extract (i.e. TED) = no skunk. Would be good though for beers with real hops though!

 

[OzMick]

No, isohop is still susceptible to being lightstruck. You're thinking of tetrahop I believe.

 

[Adamt]

Yes, yes I am!

 

[jonocarroll]

Unless I'm mistaken, the process of isohumulone + riboflavin + light = 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol (MBT, a.k.a. skunk) has been known for a while.

The article you linked actually says

The development in question is a polymer that extracts riboflavin

which, while a decent discovery, isn't quite what you said.

Removing any of the above parts of the equation stops skunking. Remove light (brown bottles) or remove riboflavin (as per the article) or remove isohumulone (tetrahop or otherwise) - same effect. I think I'd prefer to keep the vitamin in the beer, personally.

 

[bum]

Thank you, Media Watch.