I just LOVE using corny kegs for my beer. My first batch must be evaporating because I can't believe I am drinking it that fast! ;-) I wanted to know if my beer is in danger of getting "skunky" from getting warm. I have had it in a bucket of cold water (sometimes I'll throw in some ice) on the back porch and the nights have been pretty cool 30-45f and the days have been warmer (especially the week after Thanksgiving) 50-60 f. I would hope the cold water would provide some thermal mass that will carry the temp through the day and then cool down again at night. How wide a range of temps are needed to make a beer "skunky" Any ideas on how to prevent it? I do not have an extra fridge to keep it cool 24/7. Frankly I enjoy beer at 45-50 f. I don't know if this is common or not.
Corny Kegs again!
Dec 04, 2006
1 Replies
NOPE! "Skunk" comes from certain wavelengths of light interacting with hop compounds. Since a corny isn't transparent, there's no light interaction, so no skunking.
Details: The wavelengths in question are found in sunlight and in florescent lights, but NOT incancescent lights. Also, brown glass will block them but green and clear glass will NOT. That's why a lot of imports (green) are skunked (and some people seem to think, incorrectly, that is a normal flavor of import beer).
There's no flavor impact from normal "room" temperature fluctuations. However, don't store your beer in a 100F garage all summer! It will "age" faster at higher temperatures.
Derric
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