Does temperature affect the taste of craft beers chemically and if so how? The focus of this research was to answer part of the question as to why craft beers taste different at two different temperatures from a chemical standpoint. In addition, we wished to try to provide some answers as to the differences in taste based upon the chemical composition of each of the craft beers tested. To accomplish this, we used several steps to ascertain the various chemical components present at different temperatures and determined the prominent chemicals contained in each of the craft beers at a given temperature. This research project involved four major steps. The first was to titrate ten different craft beers at various temperatures to ascertain the acidity present in each beer at different temperatures. The second was to determine the prominent chemicals at different temperatures. The third was to ascertain if the prominent chemicals at different temperatures affect the taste of each beer. The fourth goal was to check the temperature dependence of the structure of those chemicals, and determine whether or not these changes would affect taste. We used the compiled data to determine the effect that temperature had on taste, and how taste might be altered based on changes in chemical compounds or chemicals present at various temperatures. The findings and conclusion from this research will be presented.

Chemical analysis of the taste of craft beers at two different temperatures

249th National Meeting (2015)

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