Exam Focus
- Explain phenols as a sensory evaluation topic within Specific beer flavor compounds.
- Differentiate spicy, peppery, clove-like, smoky, medicinal, plastic, and barnyard phenolic expressions by source family and style context.
- Separate yeast-derived, water- or sanitizer-related, malt-derived, and wild-microbial possibilities before judging a phenol desirable or faulty.
Core knowledge
- 4-vinyl guaiacol gives clove or spice and is expected in many weissbier and some Belgian profiles.
- Chlorophenols can taste medicinal, plasticlike, adhesive-bandage-like, or smoky and often point to chlorine or chloramine contact.
- Phenolic character can come from POF+ yeast, wild microbes, smoked malt, spices, or water-treatment problems.
Study application
Use descriptor and style context to separate intentional yeast phenol from sanitation or water-related faults.
Key Terms
- 4-vinyl guaiacol
- 4-vinyl guaiacol gives clove or spice and is expected in many weissbier and some Belgian profiles.
- Chlorophenols
- Chlorophenols can taste medicinal, plasticlike, adhesive-bandage-like, or smoky and often point to chlorine or chloramine contact.
- Phenolic character
- Phenolic character can come from POF+ yeast, wild microbes, smoked malt, spices, or water-treatment problems.