Stink bug aroma in beer

I had Clara quite some time ago but it was on draft so I have no way of knowing the age of that beer. I do not recall picking up anything reminiscent of stink bug in those beers (and yes, I have crushed a number of stink bugs).

It is my understanding that the Clara is a mixed fermentation (i.e., brewers yeast, Brett, lactic producing bacteria). Perhaps after 6+ months of aging the Brett characteristics are prominent and this is producing the aroma/flavor of stink bug for you? The funky flavors of Orval evolve with time in the bottle due to the Brett used in brewing that beer and some folks think that 6 months in the bottle is 'best' for the expression of funk in that beer.

Cheers!

 

And neither have I; it certainly was not present in the draft glasses of Clara that I consumed.

Below is a Brett aroma wheel. Maybe you can contact them to add "stink bug" to this wheel.

 

I think Jack's essentially right here, and that the main driver is in the yeast; it can also be an issue of perception or sensory memory.

When I squash a stink bug the smell never strikes me as totally 'stinky'- it's more of an intense spicy/floral quality (coriander/lavender) with a musky tone. Those are all descriptors I've gotten in quite a few brett beers before, especially if there's also a decent hop presence. My brain's never added them up to remind me of a stink bug before, but depending on the proportions involved it seems like that's not such a crazy idea.

 

The smell from a crushed stink bug varies depending on the freshness of the stink bug. I don’t crush stink bugs, but if I did, I wouldn’t crush any over a month old since we are living in the golden age of local stink bug options.

 

Wow. How close do you have to get to a stink bug when you crush it to get all of the nuances? I'm usually about 6 feet away.

LOL!

 

Freshies are sooooo crushable!

I give 'em a good headbutt just to be sure.

 

"Stink Bug Aroma" was the name of my college-era punk band!

 

ISO Stink Bug Aroma IPA

 

Beer nerds stand in long lines for NESBAIPA.

 

Truth in advertising? Or did you shower enough to disappoint your audiences?

 

No idea why it would smell like that but I do agree with Jack's assessment. I can see why you'd find the aroma rather offending, I really dislike that smell. I usually grab them with a tissue and flush them down the toilet since I found out they can really stink up the trash.

 

Stink bugs often secrete aldehydes as a defense mechanism to avoid being eaten by predators. It sounds like as Hill Farmstead beers evolve, they have also developed this unique compound as a defense mechanism to ward off neckbeards from drinking them into extinction....

 

Stale, scorched buttered popcorn is what a crushed stink bug smells like to me. Buttered popcorn is a common descriptor for diacetyl, so maybe that is a source of the odor. I don't know the beer style for the beer in question, but I wonder if it is a style that might be prone to diacetyl.

 

I'm with you. Truth is, we have a resident stink bug that jumps onto my hand while typing or reading. Damned thing seems friendly. We call him Stinky. No shit! Nevertheless, Stink Bug Sour would be a hard sell...

 

C'mon, man, nobody asked that of The Flesh Eaters. (Well, maybe they did...).

 

@ShanePB, you might win the award for best thread of 2019 next year?

Or maybe most stinky thread?

Cheers!

 

Are you infested? My county noticed the infestation about five years ago. Last year was worse than this one, but I have flushed about 20 so far this winter.

RE:OP I have never smelled stinkbug in a beer, but Clara is one I missed. Full disclosure is now I really want to find and try it (I am a lover of really strong flavors)

 

There are a lot of stink bugs in Connecticut. I agree with you on their smell. It is like dusty coriander seed.