Do Not Drink Beer from a Clear or Green Bottle

People who drink Corona ought to be hung from the rafters. Not because it is an awful beer, which it is by the way, but because they are drinking beer stored in a clear bottle. Most consumers don't think more than a few seconds (if at all) about what their favorite brew is stored in when they visit a distributor, grocery, liquor store, etc, but they should.

Beer stored in clear or green bottles allow greater amounts of Ultra-Violet light. The UV rays break up some of the hop based molecules and create a skunked flavored beer. One of the best defenses is to only drink beers that have been packaged in an amber bottle. Although amber bottles do not have 100% UV protection, they have better protection from UV light than green and clear bottles.

The other key to remember is to not buy beer that has been exposed to sun light or displayed in a brightly lit cooler regardless of the bottle color. Obviously there is no way to know if the beer was exposed to sunlight prior to your arrival, but be weary of beers near doors or windows. Some brewers like Great Lakes Brewing Company and Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams) have taken further steps to protect your beer by creating bigger labels and taller six pack boxes that block more UV rays.