DIACETYL-A REVIEW: PART I-ANALYTICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CONSIDERATIONS: PART II-BREWING EXPERIENCE

Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione are normal products of yeast metabolism and are formed in every brewery fermentation. The desired level in the final beer depends on the particular flavour aimed for but, in all types of beer, flavour defects are caused by excessive concentrations of diacetyl and many brewers might be happy to have no diacetyl in the beer. Recent improvements in analytical techniques show that many of the problems associated with diacetyl are due to the occurrence of compounds which can give rise to diacetyl in the finished beer. These compounds include the so-called “precursor,” acetolactic acid, but possibly other compounds such as the bisulphite addition compound of diacetyl are also involved. Study of the factors affecting diacetyl formation and removal by yeast shows how the concentration of diacetyl in beer can be controlled, and the processes at present used to regulate the diacetyl concentration in beer are described. The yeast strain used, the condition of the pitching yeast, the wort composition, the detailed management of the fermentation and the treatment of the beer during packaging and storage can all affect the diacetyl content of the beer.