Sulfate: Difference between revisions

From Brewing Forward
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
No edit summary
Line 2: Line 2:


Sulfate (SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>) is an ion naturally present in [[water]] and juice. Sulfate affects flavor, and is commonly described as accenting hop bitterness (in beer).<ref name=water>Palmer, J. and Kaminski, C. ''Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers.'' Brewers Publications, 2013.</ref>
Sulfate (SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>) is an ion naturally present in [[water]] and juice. Sulfate affects flavor, and is commonly described as accenting hop bitterness (in beer).<ref name=water>Palmer, J. and Kaminski, C. ''Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers.'' Brewers Publications, 2013.</ref>
In beer, sulfate can make the hop character more assertive, or dryer. At high levels (especially over 400ppm) it reduces the quality of the bitterness and can taste minerally, generally astringent and unpleasant.<ref name=water/> Many brewers prefer to avoid sulfate entirely (particularly in lagers) because sulfate "ruins" the soft noble hop character in these styles.


===Beer===
===Beer===
Brewers may wish to add sulfate to the brewing water, typically in the form of [[calcium sulfate]] and sometimes [[magnesium sulfate]].
In beer, sulfate can make the hop character more assertive, astringent or dryer.<ref name=water/><ref>Eumann, M. and Schildbach, S. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jib.18 "125<sup>th</sup> Anniversary Review: Water sources and treatment in brewing."] ''J. Inst. Brew.'', 2012, vol. 118, pp. 12-21.</ref> At high levels (especially over 400ppm) it reduces the quality of the bitterness and can taste minerally, generally astringent, and unpleasant. Many brewers prefer to avoid sulfate entirely (particularly in lagers) because sulfate "ruins" the soft noble hop character in these styles.


Sulfate provides a welcome anion for balancing calcium and is only restricted by its direct impact on beer flavour, which has been described as dry or astringent (16).<ref>Eumann, M. and Schildbach, S. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jib.18 "125<sup>th</sup> Anniversary Review: Water sources and treatment in brewing."] ''J. Inst. Brew.'', 2012, vol. 118, pp. 12-21.</ref>
Brewers may wish to add sulfate to the brewing water in the form of [[calcium sulfate]] or [[magnesium sulfate]], depending on whether calcium or magnesium are desired. Sulfate is also a product of the [[sulfite|metabisulfite salts]] used for [[low oxygen brewing]].


===Wine===
===Wine===

Revision as of 23:51, 12 July 2020

This page is in progress
Please check back later for additional changes

Sulfate (SO42-) is an ion naturally present in water and juice. Sulfate affects flavor, and is commonly described as accenting hop bitterness (in beer).[1]

Beer

In beer, sulfate can make the hop character more assertive, astringent or dryer.[1][2] At high levels (especially over 400ppm) it reduces the quality of the bitterness and can taste minerally, generally astringent, and unpleasant. Many brewers prefer to avoid sulfate entirely (particularly in lagers) because sulfate "ruins" the soft noble hop character in these styles.

Brewers may wish to add sulfate to the brewing water in the form of calcium sulfate or magnesium sulfate, depending on whether calcium or magnesium are desired. Sulfate is also a product of the metabisulfite salts used for low oxygen brewing.

Wine

Sulfate exists naturally in grape juice in amounts as high as 700 mg/L or more,[3][4][5] so winemakers never need to add it.

However, sulfite reacts with oxygen to form sulfate, so as a sulfited wine (or must) is exposed to oxygen, the level of sulfate will increase.

References

  1. a b Palmer, J. and Kaminski, C. Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers. Brewers Publications, 2013.
  2. Eumann, M. and Schildbach, S. "125th Anniversary Review: Water sources and treatment in brewing." J. Inst. Brew., 2012, vol. 118, pp. 12-21.
  3. Hallinan, CP, et al. "Differential utilisation of sulfur compounds for H2S liberation by nitrogen-starved wine yeasts." Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research1999. 5, pp. 82-90.
  4. Butzke, CE and Park, SK. "Impact of Fermentation Rate Changes on Potential Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations in Wine." J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2011. 21(5). pp. 519–524
  5. Huang, CW., et al. "Hydrogen sulfide and its roles in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a winemaking context." FEMS Yeast Research. Volume 17, Issue 6, September 2017