This question & answer was written by the boys of the 4th IH classes of the Scientific High School Ignazio Vian of Anguillara Sabazia (Rome) for Evidence Network Academy.
The beer bottles are brown to protect the content from UV rays, which can alter hops and cause the “skunking” phenomenon, giving beer an unpleasant smell. In the past, transparent or green bottles were used, but in the 1930s brown glass became the standard for its ability to block the light. During the Second World War, the lack of brown glass led some breweries to use green bottles, still widespread today for marketing reasons.
Light hops. Some manufacturers use light -resistant hop extracts to prevent alterations. The color of the bottle affects the perception of quality by consumers, which often associate brown glass with a better beer. In addition to brown glass, dairy products also completely protect against light, resulting light and ecological. The use of brown glass is therefore a combination of science, tradition and commercial strategy to preserve the quality of the beer.
