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BITS AND BLOBS AND UFOS
A hazy problem in need of a clearer solution
Bits and Blobs

and UFOs

A HAZY PROBLEM IN NEED OF

A CLEARER SOLUTION

W R IT TEN A ND PHO T O S PR O VI DED B Y G A R Y S PEDDI NG , PH . D .

Over time many alcoholic ver the past two decades we have been later); in essence, you can be a puritan or live
beverages are likely to form a O presented with an ever-increasing with these messes! But your customer might
number of spirit samples with hauntingly not forgive you.
haze, show a light precipitate, eerie-looking sediments, precipitates, gels, The topic of precipitations and hazes (aka.
or even exhibit a potential for and globs of unidentified (and sometimes turbidity) in distilled spirits is quite complex
significant turbidity which can unidentifiable) matter. The situation is getting and has not been discussed much in the
be caused by colloidally dissolved worse as more craft products enter into the literature since a seminal series of papers
organic substances or inorganic marketplace and, furthermore, the extent of published in 1960 and 1963 (Warwicker,
matter appearing in solution is increasing to
1960; 1963 a, b). Primarily the topic has not
metal or mineral deposition. the point that sometimes the entire bottle received much attention in the public domain
Significantly, sediments and appears like a snow-globe ornament, much (journal publications), probably because most
hazes are on the rise in craft- like the beer colloidal mess shown in the figure distilleries privately cured this issue with use of
distilled spirits. Such issues cause below. A lesser cluttered example of a floc in a completely pure dilution water, free of mineral
alarm for distillers unaware as bottle of a white spirit is also shown. ions, or via chill proofing and filtration with
The urgent calls received are requests for us clearly defined specifications as to mineral
to their origins or how to prevent to indicate to the distiller (as for the brewer) how content in the filter media, these being key
or alleviate their formation. We to resolve the issue. There are two problems to processes for long(er)-term clarity/stability.
will thus discuss the origins of this, one being the time and expense needed However, hazes/turbidity include those
these unsightly issues and discuss to try and pinpoint the compositional nature formed by organic and inorganic types of
of said UFOs (Unidentified floating objects), matter. We recently uncovered some unique
colloidal stability of beverages. unless it is one of two key causes (see below). components leading to precipitates/suspended
To do this we need to dip into New causes of hazes are being discovered with solids, possibly based on plasticizers or glass
the Scotch whisky literature our application of newer technologies. The production chemistries (glass-mold release
and reach back to the 1960’s second problem is that when we tell the distiller components or oils or coatings, etc., used
for some cogent discussions, how to possibly resolve it they categorically in plastic tubing/containers). Near infrared
and even much earlier. Even state that the suggested solution is a non- microscopy is becoming a useful, though
starter (again for reasons as will be explained expensive, technique in uncovering the culprits
then we will see that there are involved in these more unusual cases and
still unknowns out there with Beer Colloidal Haze may become the tool of choice in advancing
room for speculations about our understanding in this area. Though, at
Unidentified Floating Objects
(UFOs) in different kinds of Floc Haze
distilled spirits. Let’s try to
clear the muddy waters or the
“greying” spirits — read on.

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