Formaldehyde in Beer?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Jsteez, Jun 6, 2014.

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  1. Immortale25

    Immortale25 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,775) May 13, 2011 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    When I first smelled Drie Fonteinen Oude Gueuze, I was like "Ugh, what is this?! Formaldehyde?!" I have no idea what formaldehyde smells like. Just couldn't wrap my mind around what I was smelling.
     
    #21 Immortale25, Jun 6, 2014
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  2. markdrinksbeer

    markdrinksbeer Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2013 Massachusetts

    You never disected a worm or a frog in school and had to smell formaldehyde?
     
    #22 markdrinksbeer, Jun 6, 2014
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  3. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    I think Vietnam used to douse their beer with formaldehyde, Export 33 is it? But that 2nd hand info from guys there. Who needs hops and barley.
     
    #23 nc41, Jun 6, 2014
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  4. chinochino

    chinochino Initiate (0) Jul 29, 2013 Washington

    The same can be said for San Miguel beer during a port call in Subic Bay.
     
    #24 chinochino, Jun 6, 2014
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  5. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,292) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I had heard that, but never got a chance to confirm that. On the plus side, never picked up any in any of the Thai beers I drank in country, but that was 99 & 03...
     
    #25 russpowell, Jun 6, 2014
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  6. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    Well China thought it a good idea to enhance the flavor of toothpaste with anti Freeze, so anythings possible. Or make that a Chinese company, I'm quite sure the fallout got someone shot or imprisoned, I'm sure the government didn't condone this.
     
    #26 nc41, Jun 6, 2014
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  7. Uniobrew31

    Uniobrew31 Pooh-Bah (1,567) Jan 16, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I heard that bud used to have it but they no longer put it in their beer. I was told that this is why bud used to give me and a lot of others i know a throbbing headache.
     
    #27 Uniobrew31, Jun 6, 2014
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  8. HRamz3

    HRamz3 Initiate (0) Feb 9, 2010 Pitcairn

    After a night out in Subic, formaldehyde may not be you biggest concern....
     
    #28 HRamz3, Jun 6, 2014
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  9. chinochino

    chinochino Initiate (0) Jul 29, 2013 Washington

    Not a problem. A tetracycline chaser every 6th beer.
     
    #29 chinochino, Jun 6, 2014
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  10. ipamonster

    ipamonster Devotee (337) Jun 18, 2013 Rhode Island

    I can now tell my wife that I am not drinking too much, I am preserving myself.
     
    #30 ipamonster, Jun 6, 2014
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  11. raffels

    raffels Initiate (0) Dec 12, 2009 West Virginia

    Singha circa mid 90's- A fellow I worked with (who was in the Air National Guard) smuggled back a case of this from Thailand. If memory serves, vile would be an understatement.
     
    #31 raffels, Jun 6, 2014
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  12. Sludgeman

    Sludgeman Grand Pooh-Bah (3,356) Aug 17, 2012 District of Columbia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Did you know that the human body actually produces formaldehyde? It can be measured in your breath.

    I am not versed in this formaldehyde in beer issue, but I always like to remind folks that when we start talking about such things remember to points 1) "the dose makes the poison", so don't freak out over very small quantities of some chemicals and 2) probably most important is consider the relative risk. Don't worry so much about some inconsequential risk when there is a bigger risk staring you in the face. For example, what is the bigger risk, the alcohol or the formaldehyde? I don't know the answers but there much to consider when discussing these things.

    Sorry for geeking out.
     
    #32 Sludgeman, Jun 6, 2014
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  13. Mouserat

    Mouserat Initiate (0) Dec 12, 2013 California

    If we are talking about the formaldehyde we put in dead people I would hope not but if we are talking slang terms for PCP..... Those brews put you on another planet
     
    #33 Mouserat, Jun 6, 2014
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  14. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,292) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I just know it is a cancer causing agent & is not pleasant in beer at all once even a little warm...
     
    #34 russpowell, Jun 7, 2014
  15. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,292) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was sure it was probably once a stable since it seemed to be used extensively in Asia. None of the beers I tried including Singha seemed to have it from what I could tell. Mind you, half the time my tastebuds were wrecked by tasty, but spicy as hell Thai food...
     
    #35 russpowell, Jun 7, 2014
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  16. Jsteez

    Jsteez Savant (1,233) Apr 28, 2012 Utah

    This is exactly what am curious about. I am curious if the domestic beers in Asia have formaldehyde (even though the Chinese government claims they stopped putting it in their beers; however I don't believe them as far as I can spit, for lack of better terms), and if those same beers are being imported into the US market. This leads me to wonder if the big name brewers in the US (BMC) use formaldehyde stateside, as well as in the Asian market. Budweiser is everywhere in Asia, along with PBR (especially in N.E. China). Furthermore, I saw some Rogue Dead Guy Ale in a Qingdao, China department store last October. I wonder if they are putting formaldehyde in their beers to preserve them? Also, Sam Adams Lager was sold in South Korea at some of their convenience stores a few years ago. It was definitely made for the Asian market because the label had Japanese and Korean written on it. I wonder how they are keeping their beer fresh? So far in my many years of living in and out of Asia, I have observed that they aren't too careful with using "use by/enjoy by" dates. They have a tendency to keep things on shelves well past their prime.
     
    #36 Jsteez, Jun 7, 2014
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  17. Jsteez

    Jsteez Savant (1,233) Apr 28, 2012 Utah

    I don't want to sound bad by saying this, but through personal observation and experience I have developed a perception that the Chinese (in Northeast China, I cannot speak for all 1.3 billion people) are quite sloppy and they overlook important details in pretty much everything that would matter to a person in the West. They are not too careful with food safety, and I damn well don't think they would magically change when exporting beer or food to Western countries, IMO. They want money and they will do what they can to get it. If they know/feel they can get away with exporting beer with formaldehyde, I do believe they would not think of public health and export anyway! I base my opinions off of personal experience; I live here and witness some pretty foul and, at times, inhumane things.
     
    #37 Jsteez, Jun 7, 2014
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  18. Boca-X

    Boca-X Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2014 Missouri

    Why do you think you get sleepy after a few beers?...it's not the alcohol :wink:
     
    #38 Boca-X, Jun 7, 2014
  19. Immortale25

    Immortale25 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,775) May 13, 2011 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    No, actually
     
    #39 Immortale25, Jun 7, 2014
  20. markdrinksbeer

    markdrinksbeer Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2013 Massachusetts

    You missed out
     
    #40 markdrinksbeer, Jun 7, 2014
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