Carbonyls

carbonyls. (kar'-buh-nilz)

    A generic name for a group of volatiles that contribute to the flavor of beer. A carbonyl is a radical made up of one atom of carbon and one atom of oxygen, connected by a double bond. In beer, the important carbonyls are aldehydes, ketones, and oxidation products. These volatiles form by reactions during malting, mashing, fermentation, and aging. Boiling results in a decrease of some volatiles whereas fermentation increases the concentration of some and decreases that of others.