Did You ever ask why beer is packaged in different colored bottles-some green, some brown, some clear?
Did you ever ask which is best?
The truth is that beer has been packaged for over a hundred years in both brown and clear and in green since the end of World War II, when the shortage of brown glass in Europe forced brewers to use that color. The truth is that cans are the best for beer since light (one of beer's worst enemies) cannot penetrate them. If you must have glass, brown is best. Brown bottles do the best at blocking out direct and ultraviolet light (yes, that is ultraviolet light coming from almost all the cold box cooler bulbs) which can skunk beer in clear and green bottles in a matter of minutes. The term skunky comes from the fact that beer exposed to light will actually almost take on the odor of a skunk. The reason is that sunlight or ultraviolet light breaks down the alpha acids in hops that react with sulphur to create a chemical nearly identical to the chemical in a skunk's spray. Green bottles are more of a status symbol and clear bottles show off the color and clarity of the beer, but this is for more of a marketing decision than a practical one. Beers using very little hops are less susceptible to the problem which is why some of those beers can get away with clear or green. If you prefer clear or green glass, make sure the outer package or box covers the entire bottles to protect them from the light.
My suggestion is to drink cans or draft as these packages don't allow in any light until ready for consumption.
Cheers!
Brent, General Sales Manager
