This is part 2 in The Beer Off-Flavor Series by Drew Beechum.

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Chlorophenol is a common off-flavor that I’ve tasted time and time again in homebrew from new brewers. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest off-flavors to avoid once it’s understood!

With chlorophenol, prevention is the name of the game because once this compound hits your beer, there’s nothing else you can do but re-brew.

Key Indicators

The following characteristics are common when chlorophenol is detected in beer:

Causes & Prevention

Chlorine/Chloramine

Plastic adhesive bandage (Band-Aid) Mouthwash (Listerine) Medicinal Sweetness (think spicy cookies with an edge)

Most municipal water systems add chlorine or chloramine (a stabilized …