Why Beer comes in Brown or Green Bottles? How does bottle color impact it

These colours play a crucial role in preserving the taste and freshness of beer by protecting it from sunlight., and are not just for marketing purposes.

As per a media report, beer has been packaged in glass bottles since the 19th century due to its ability to preserve freshness. However, brewers quickly discovered that plain glass bottles were not ideal for storing beer. Sunlight exposure caused the beer in clear bottles to lose its flavor and develop an unpleasant odor.

This phenomenon is called called "lightstruck." It takes place when ultraviolet (UV) rays pass through the glass and interact with the beer's compounds, especially hops. Hops contain isohumulones, which, when exposed to UV light, produce foul-smelling substances.

As per the report, brown bottles are most effective at shielding beer from UV rays as it prevents the chemical reactions that spoil its flavour.

They protect the frail compounds of beer by blocking the light and making sure its taste remains refined.

To combat the harmful effects of light on beer, breweries widely used brown bottles. Even today, they remain the most popular choice in the beer industry.

A dearth of brown glass during World War II led breweries to adopt green bottles. They, however, provide less UV protection than brown ones, which makes beer stored in green bottles more prone to lightstruck effects. In spite of this, many breweries use green bottles for tradition and branding.

Transparent bottles provide no UV protection but let the consumers see the beer inside it. The beer stored in such plain bottles makes beer vulnerable to damage from light.

To mitigate this, some manufacturers apply UV protective coatings to transparent bottles, balancing risk with protection.

Nowadays, cans are popular as they provide 100 percent protection and make sure beer stays fresh and unaffected by sunlight.