The Oxford Companion to Beer Definition of pentanedione, (2024)

The Oxford Companion to Beer definition of

pentanedione,

Pentanedione, properly called 2,3-pentanedione, is a vicinal diketone (VDK) normally produced by yeast during fermentation. It gives a honey-like flavor in beer and is considered an off-flavor for most beer styles. Pentanedione has a flavor threshold some 10-fold higher than the related buttery-tasting VDK diacetyl, but brewers usually seek to eliminate both from finished beer. Pentanedione is formed in fermenting beer by a spontaneous oxidative decarboxylation of alpha acetohydroxybutyrate, a precursor of the amino acid isoleucine. The pentanedione is reassimilated and removed by active yeast given prolonged contact.

To reduce the effect of 2,3-pentanedione on the overall flavor profile of the finished beer, many brewers employ either a “VDK rest” or kräusening when primary fermentation is complete, especially when fermenting lagers. The former method involves allowing the temperature in the fermenter to slightly rise over a specified period of time, usually from 1 to 3 days. The warmer temperatures raise the metabolic activity of the yeast, speeding the reabsorption of the offending compounds. The latter involves adding a small amount of freshly fermenting wort to beer that has finished its primary fermentation. The active yeast then performs the necessary VDK removal. Lagering, the storage of beer at cold temperatures for long periods, can eventually remove VDKs, but this can take months, and most brewers will use the methods above. 2,3-Pentanedione can be a useful marker for infections within a brewery. Brewery labs can perform gas chromatography tests to determine the ratio of diacetyl to pentanedione in beer. As many spoilage bacteria tend to produce diacetyl but not pentanedione, the presence of a vastly greater proportion of diacetyl than pentanedione is usually symptomatic of a contamination problem.

<p>Bibliography</p>

Bamforth, Charles, and M. Kanauchi. Enzymology of vicinal diketone reduction in brewers yeast. Journal of the Institute of Brewing 110 (2004): 83–93.

Goldammer, Ted. The brewer’s handbook: The complete book to brewing beer, 2nd ed. Clacton on Sea, UK: Apex Publishers, 2008.

Zviely, Michael. Molecule of the month: 2,3-pentanedione. Perfume & Flavorist July (2009): 20–22.

Damien Malfara

The Oxford Companion to Beer Definition of pentanedione, (2024)

FAQs

What is 2 3 pentanedione in beer? ›

Pentanedione, properly called 2,3-pentanedione, is a vicinal diketone (VDK) normally produced by yeast during fermentation. It gives a honey-like flavor in beer and is considered an off-flavor for most beer styles.

What is the oldest reference to beer? ›

The first solid proof of beer production comes from the period of the Sumerians around 4,000 BCE. During an archeological excavation in Mesopotamia, a tablet was discovered that showed villagers drinking a beverage from a bowl with straws. Archeologists also found an ode to Ninkasi, the patron goddess of brewing.

What was the word for beer in the Middle Ages? ›

28th, 1998) In medieval England, ale was an alcoholic drink made from grain, water, and fermented with yeast. The difference between medieval ale and beer was that beer also used hops as an ingredient. Virtually everyone drank ale.

What is the word for the study of beer? ›

Zymology, also known as zymurgy, is an applied science that studies the biochemical process of fermentation and its practical uses. Common topics include the selection of fermenting yeast and bacteria species and their use in brewing, wine making, fermenting milk, and the making of other fermented foods.

What does 2,3-pentanedione mean? ›

Pentane-2,3-dione is an alpha-diketone that is pentane substituted at the 2- and 3-positions by oxo groups. It has a role as a flavouring agent. It is an alpha-diketone and a methyl ketone. It derives from a hydride of a pentane.

Why is it called 3.2 beer? ›

Low-point beer, which is often known in the United States as "three-two beer" or "3 point 2 brew", is beer that contains 3.2% alcohol by weight (equivalent to about 4% ABV).

What is the best beer in the world? ›

Russian River Supplication Beer is considered the best beer in the world by connoisseurs. It is a delicate blend of Belgian bitter and sour ales with fruity aromas of raisins, currants, and cherries. The flavor has been described as both tart and sweet, with a slight oakiness that gives way to a dry finish.

What is the oldest beer still sold in the world? ›

Weihenstephan Brewery (Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan) in Germany is the world's oldest brewery. It has been producing beer since 1040, but a taste of the storied brew is probably closer than you think.

What country drinks the most beer? ›

For the 20th year in a row, China was the largest beer-consuming country in the world, drinking just over 42 million kiloliters (11.1 billion gallons) of the stuff in 2022 — accounting for approximately 22 percent of the world's market share.

What is the Viking name for beer? ›

This says (in Old Norse): “öl heitir með mönnum, en með Ásum bjórr,” that is, “'ale' it is called among men, and among the gods 'beer'.”

What is it called when you drink beer from a tube? ›

A beer bong is a device composed of a funnel attached to a tube used to facilitate the rapid consumption of beer. The use of a beer bong is also known as funneling.

What did they call drunk in medieval times? ›

Way back when English was Old English, between AD 600 and 1100, you were either “drunken” or “fordrunken” (very drunk) after a night of carousing. Even today, “drunken” will do for describing how you may be spending New Year's Eve. But you might also be “blinkered,” “oiled” or “l*t.”

What is a beer lover called? ›

Beerologist, libationist, beer devotee, wert guru, beer maven, beer expert, hophead, pisspot, a tippler, a grog artist, a boozer, a beer buff, a slops surveyor, an ale addict, a hops handler, a quaffer, and the chairman of the brewed.

What is the slang word for beer? ›

ale. brew. swipes (British, slang) wallop (British, slang) hop juice.

What is it called when you drink a lot of beer? ›

‌Potomania, also called "beer potomania" or "beer drinker's hyponatremia," can happen when you drink alcohol excessively in the form of beer and don't eat a proper diet. The word "potomania" comes from “poto,” which means “to drink,” and “mania,” which means “too much.”

Is 2,3-pentanedione toxic? ›

Published toxico- logical studies indicate that 2,3-pentanedione exposure can cause damage similar to that caused by diacetyl in laboratory studies. Therefore, NIOSH recommends keeping occupational exposure to 2,3-pentanedione below a level comparable to the level recommended for diacetyl.

Why is diacetyl bad in beer? ›

Diacetyl is one of those compounds some people really like in small doses because it adds to the complexity of some beer (and wine) styles. Most brewers see it as a defect because of its association with beer spoilage organisms as well as its satiating effect on the consumer.

What does 2,3-pentanedione smell like? ›

Physical Properties

Yellow to green-yellow liquid with a buttery odor.

What is the best CO2 level for beer? ›

If CO2 is applied source to the keg, recommended pressure will be between 12-14 lbs. to maintain typical ale and lager type beers' carbonation. A beer carbonated with 2.6 v/v and its temperature in the keg is 38°F requires a regulator setting of 14 lbs. The more carbonation, the higher the pressure.

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