Structure, Organoleptic Properties, Quantification Methods, and Stability of Phenolic Compounds in Beer—A Review

Beer composition changes through storage, altering the quality of the product. In the past decade, many papers have been devoted to the compounds responsible for aged-beer off-flavors, mainly trans-2-nonenal, methional, and dimethyltrisulfide. Due to their huge antioxidant activity, polyphenols have often been described as key compounds for limiting beer staling. Yet phenolic structures also evolve through storage. Low-molecular-weight phenols like 4-vinylsyringol can impart off-flavors in aged beer, whilst flavonoids strongly influence astringency, haze, and color. The instability of stilbenes, prenylchalcones, and derived flavanones could also modify their health potential through storage. After reviewing the structures and properties of all phenolic compounds found in beer, this paper will try to assess the impact of their degradation through aging. Extraction procedures for their quantification and treatments for their removal are also described.