In this third course of the Beer Quality Series on beer freshness, led by distinguished professor Charles Bamforth, Ph.D, you will learn about beer flavor preconceptions, expectations, and causes of flavor instability. You'll also learn about the science of flavor change and the study and process impacts of flavor stability. In addition, you will review light instability and how it can lead to skunking.
Beer Quality: Freshness
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Beer Quality: Freshness
This course is part of Beer Quality Specialization
Instructor: Charles Bamforth
Included with 
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level
Recommended experience
7 hours to complete
3 weeks at 2 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
Discover the science behind beer freshness, how to measure and assess freshness, and how to achieve ideal freshness in beer.
Details to know
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Assessments
9 assignments
Taught in English
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This course is part of the Beer Quality Specialization
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There are 4 modules in this course
In this first module, we examine the importance of flavor stability. We do this, in part by reviewing a study asking consumers if they can differentiate between fresh and stale beer and if it matters to them. We'll review how imported and domestic beer flavor is perceived by consumers, discuss the importance of delivering a consistent flavor, and understand how chemical changes affect beer flavor. We'll also go into how flavor changes are assessed.
What's included
5 videos4 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt
In this module, we look at various chemical processes that change flavor. We'll also review how carbonyl compounds interact with proteins to change flavor and discuss strategies for minimizing flavor change.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment
In this module, we'll focus on using senses to assess flavor and typical methods of reporting flavor. We'll also review some of the tools that can be used to measure flavor instability and continue our discussion of the processes in beer production that can affect flavor.
What's included
4 videos3 readings3 assignments
In this module, we'll discuss how to prioritize when improving the shelf life of your beer and consider the susceptibility of beer to light.
What's included
2 videos2 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt
Instructor
Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Chemistry
Coursera Instructor Network
Queen Mary University of London
University of Alberta
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