Beer’s smell designed to attract flies

The flavours that make beer taste good to humans are thought to have evolved to attract flies to help yeast disperse into broader ecosystems. Beer yeasts produce chemicals that mimic the aroma of fruits in order to appeal to flies that can transport the yeast cells, a study carried out in Belgium found. As well as converting sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide, yeast cells also produce several aroma compounds that are key for the taste, flavour and overall quality of beer. A new collaborative study led by scientists from Flanders-based VIB life sciences research institute, Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders (NERF) and the University of Leuven, shows that the fruity volatiles produced by yeast cells are also highly appealing to fruit flies. This attraction allows some yeast cells to hitch a ride with the insects, who carry the otherwise immobile microbes to new food sources.

Knowing that esters make beer taste good, it seems that the same flavours that allow us to enjoy our beer, probably evolved to attract flies and to help yeast disperse into broader ecosystems.

Emre Yaksi, of Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders

Science beer flies