Rapid Gas Chromatographic Method for Analysis of Dimethyl Sulfide in Beer. D. W. Hysert, N. M. Morrison, and A. M. Jamieson, Molson Breweries of Canada Ltd., Montreal, Quebec H2L 2R5. J. Am. Soc. Brew. Chem. 37:0030, 1979.

A simple, rapid, and reliable method for determining beer dimethyl sulfide (DMS) concentration involves direct headspace analysis of bottled or canned beer using an Altech clamping platform piercer and a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame photometric detector. The detector is calibrated by standard addition of DMS to beer in the presence of ethyl methyl sulfide as internal standard. A short (18-in.) glass column of acetone-washed Porapak QS and column temperature programming from 150 to 200° C permit a single analysis to be completed in less than 5 min. Method reliability, reproducibility, and facility are discussed, and the method is compared with other techniques. The results of a survey of DMS concentrations in bottled beers from several countries are presented, and analytic data are correlated with flavor data.

Keywords: Analysis, Beer, Dimethyl sulfide, Gas chromatography, Method