It is produced along with 4-ethylphenol (4-EP) in wine and beer by the spoilage yeast Brettanomyces.[3] When it is produced by the yeast to concentrations greater than the sensory threshold of >600 μg/L, it can contribute bacon, spice, clove, or smoky aromas to the wine. On their own these characters can be quite attractive in a wine, however as the compound usually occurs with 4-EP whose aromas can be more aggressive, the presence of the compound often signifies a wine fault. The ratio in which 4-EP and 4-EG are present can greatly affect the organoleptic properties of the wine.
Bio-oil
4-Ethylguaiacol can also be produced by pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. It is produced from the lignin, along with many of the other phenolic compounds present in bio-oil. In particular, 4-ethylguaiacol is derived from guaiacyl in the lignin.[4]
^ abCaboni, Pierluigi; Sarais, Giorgia; Cabras, Marco; Angioni, Alberto (2007). "Determination of 4-Ethylphenol and 4-Ethylguaiacol in Wines by LC-MS-MS and HPLC-DAD-Fluorescence". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55 (18): 7288–93. doi:10.1021/jf071156m. PMID17676867.