The bitterness of beer is measured according to the International Bitterness Units scale, with one IBU corresponding to one part-per-million of isohumulone. When beer is exposed to light, these compounds can decompose in a reaction catalyzed by riboflavin to generate free-radical species by the homolytic cleavage of the exocyclic carbon-carbon bond. The cleaved acyl side-chain radical then decomposes further, expelling carbon monoxide and generating 1,1-dimethylallyl radical. This radical can finally react with sulfur-containing amino acids, such as cysteine, to create 3-methylbut-2-ene-1-thiol, a thiol which causes beer to develop a "skunky" flavor.[2]
Formation
Isohumulones are generated by the isomerization of humulone.[1][3][4]
Isomerization of humulone to cis- and trans-isohumulone
^Blanco, Carlos A.; Rojas, Antonio; Caballero, Pedro A.; Ronda, Felicidad; Gomez, Manuel; Caballero, Isabel (2006). "A better control of beer properties by predicting acidity of hop iso-α-acids". Trends in Food Science & Technology. 17 (7): 373. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2005.11.012.
^Esslinger, H. M. and Narziss, L. 2003. “Beer.” in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2009 doi:10.1002/14356007.a03_421
