Tetrahydropyridine: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:off flavors]]
[[Category:off flavors]]
Tetrahydropyridine (THP) and related compounds are formed by microbes, and these compounds give an off flavor that tastes grainy like Cheerios® or Cap'n Crunch® cereal, or sometimes "mousy" like animal urine. However, a significant number of people cannot taste these compounds.
Tetrahydropyridine (THP) and related compounds can give an "off flavor" that tastes grainy like Cheerios® or Cap'n Crunch® cereal, or at high levels sometimes "mousy" (like rodent urine).<ref>[https://www.lambic.info/Tetrahydropyridines Tetrahydropyridines.] Lambic.info website. Accessed May 2020.</ref> However, not everyone can taste these compounds, and some people may enjoy a low amount of THP flavor.<ref>[https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/thp-tetrahydropyridines.661096/ THP (Tetrahydropyridines).] HomebrewTalk website. 2019. Accessed 2020.</ref>


THP is only produced by "wild" microbes like ''[[Brettanomyces]]'' and lactic acid bacteria such as ''[[Lactobacillus]]''. It mainly occurs when packaging, when production is stimulated in the presence of oxygen +/- fermentable sugar. Therefore THP is a significant concern in [[sour beer]] production, since these microbes are commonplace.
THP is produced by "wild" microbes like ''[[Brettanomyces]]'', [[lactic acid bacteria]] such as ''[[Lactobacillus]]'', and [[acetic acid bacteria]].<ref>[http://www.milkthefunk.com/wiki/Tetrahydropyridine Tetrahydropyridine.] Milk the Funk website. Accessed May 2020.</ref> THP is a significant concern in [[sour beer]], where these microbes are commonplace, but it may also occur in other beverages such as [[wine]], [[cider]], or [[mead]], if wild microbes are present. It most often forms around the time of packaging, when THP production is stimulated by the presence of oxygen +/- fermentable sugar.<ref>Tyers B. [https://www.goodbeerhunting.com/blog/2018/12/18/cereal-killer-why-thp-is-bad-for-beer-and-what-you-can-do-about-it Cereal killer — why thp is bad for beer and what you can do about it.] Good Beer Hunting website. 2018. Accessed 2020.</ref>


The best strategies to avoid the production of THP are:
Best strategies to avoid THP:
# Avoid excessive oxygen exposure prior to packaging and during packaging. (For beer, see [[low oxygen brewing]] cold-side methods)
* Minimize oxygen exposure prior to packaging and during packaging. (For beer, see [[low oxygen brewing]] cold-side methods)
# Add yeast from an [[acid shock starter]] at the time of packaging.
* For fruit beers/wines: add yeast from an [[acid tolerance starter]] when you add the fruit.
# In wine, proper usage of [[sulfite]] should control the wild microbes.
* For carbonated beverages: Naturally carbonate rather than force carbonate, and add yeast from an [[acid tolerance starter]] at the time of packaging.
# [[Passivation]] of all stainless steel that comes into contact with the wort, beer, wine, etc. would theoretically be helpful, along with the use of RO water in brewing. These measures help limit iron, which is required for THP production.
* [[Passivation|Passivate]] all stainless steel parts that come into contact with the wort, beer, wine, etc., and use [[water|RO water]] in brewing and reconstituting [[wine kits]]. [[Iron]] is required for THP production, therefore removing sources of iron will reduce or prevent its formation.<ref>Snowdon EM, Bowyer MC, Grbin PR, Bowyer PK. [https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf0528613 Mousy off-flavor:  a review.] ''J Agric Food Chem.'' 2006;54(18):6465–6474.</ref>
* In wine, proper usage of [[sulfite]] inhibits the wild microbes that produce THP.




If THP forms, it typically ages out over a period of months, but it may take longer.
If THP forms, it typically ages out over a period of months, but it may take longer.


See [http://www.milkthefunk.com/wiki/Tetrahydropyridine THP on the Milk the Funk wiki] for more information.
==See also==
Visit the [http://www.milkthefunk.com/wiki/Tetrahydropyridine Milk the Funk wiki] for more information about THP.
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 13:27, 15 March 2022

Tetrahydropyridine (THP) and related compounds can give an "off flavor" that tastes grainy like Cheerios® or Cap'n Crunch® cereal, or at high levels sometimes "mousy" (like rodent urine).[1] However, not everyone can taste these compounds, and some people may enjoy a low amount of THP flavor.[2]

THP is produced by "wild" microbes like Brettanomyces, lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus, and acetic acid bacteria.[3] THP is a significant concern in sour beer, where these microbes are commonplace, but it may also occur in other beverages such as wine, cider, or mead, if wild microbes are present. It most often forms around the time of packaging, when THP production is stimulated by the presence of oxygen +/- fermentable sugar.[4]

Best strategies to avoid THP:

  • Minimize oxygen exposure prior to packaging and during packaging. (For beer, see low oxygen brewing cold-side methods)
  • For fruit beers/wines: add yeast from an acid tolerance starter when you add the fruit.
  • For carbonated beverages: Naturally carbonate rather than force carbonate, and add yeast from an acid tolerance starter at the time of packaging.
  • Passivate all stainless steel parts that come into contact with the wort, beer, wine, etc., and use RO water in brewing and reconstituting wine kits. Iron is required for THP production, therefore removing sources of iron will reduce or prevent its formation.[5]
  • In wine, proper usage of sulfite inhibits the wild microbes that produce THP.


If THP forms, it typically ages out over a period of months, but it may take longer.

See also[edit]

Visit the Milk the Funk wiki for more information about THP.

References[edit]

  1. Tetrahydropyridines. Lambic.info website. Accessed May 2020.
  2. THP (Tetrahydropyridines). HomebrewTalk website. 2019. Accessed 2020.
  3. Tetrahydropyridine. Milk the Funk website. Accessed May 2020.
  4. Tyers B. Cereal killer — why thp is bad for beer and what you can do about it. Good Beer Hunting website. 2018. Accessed 2020.
  5. Snowdon EM, Bowyer MC, Grbin PR, Bowyer PK. Mousy off-flavor:  a review. J Agric Food Chem. 2006;54(18):6465–6474.