Most beers come in brown or green bottles, not transparent ones.
But why? Let’s uncover the science behind it.
The Mystery
Sunlight, especially
UV rays
, reacts with beer and creates an odd
skunky
smell.
Dark bottles act like sunglasses, shielding the drink.
UV Light Problem
Brown bottles:
Block almost all harmful light.
Green bottles:
Offer partial protection.
Clear bottles:
Hardly block anything!
Power of Brown & Green
During wartime glass shortages, breweries switched to green bottles.
Later, it became a marketing identity for many brands.
A Historical Twist
Clear bottles look stylish and attractive on shelves.
But to save flavor, breweries often use
special coatings or hop extracts
.
Why Some Use Clear Glass
Bottle color is more than design—it’s about taste & freshness.
Brown keeps beer safest, green works for branding, and clear is for quick sips.
The Takeaway
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