Phenols
Term from the Brauwerkstatt brewing glossary, category “Tasting and sensory”.
Explanation
Spicy aroma compounds. They are welcome as clove in hefeweizen and in Belgian beers. Medicinal or plaster-like phenols are unwanted; they usually come from chlorine in the water or from an infection.
Test your knowledge
Your beer smells of a swimming pool or sticking plaster. What is the most likely cause?
- Chlorine from tap water or cleaning agents
- Too many hops
- Too short a boil
Show answer
Correct: Chlorine from tap water or cleaning agents. Chlorine forms chlorophenols with phenols. A Campden tablet in the brewing water prevents it.