So, it's common knowledge green bottles allow light to pass through and skunk beers, but this recent discussion and the article that started it mentioned UV-blocking green bottles. This was the first I've heard of this. My mind was blown and I figured it could use it's own discussion. @jesskidden provided links to patents from Molson and Heineken... I have questions! Are Molson or Heineken the only ones with that kind of patent? If so, do they sell the bottles or production rights to others? What other breweries (if any) use UV-blocking green glass? Can a consumer tell the difference between a standard green glass vs UV-blocking green glass bottle [aside from seeing a "Heineken" or "Molson" label; or opening and smelling them... beer stores have to tolerate me inspecting their product for dates, but I don't think they'll let me do that. ] This sounds right up @Peter_Wolfe alley too. Thanks in advance!
I recall (and think I've probably mentioned it in previous threads on the topic) about 20 years back now seeing one of those cable "reality TV" channel documentaries on beer that seem to be backed by a particular brewer in which they discussed InBev's use (or potential use?) of a UV-blocking "film" on their green Stella Artois bottles, but was never able to find any other info on it. Possibly it could have been some variation of the UV "light protective" glass in the patents noted (so, more a kind of "coating" on the the outside of the bottle glass rather than a separate "film"?). But, from what I understand - and, as with the UV Fluorescent Light Filters that some retailers (supposedly ) use - if they only filter/block UV light, they are only going to slow down the process since there's a portion of visible light spectrum that contributes to beer becoming light-struck: The wavelength of light causing this photochemical spoilage (light-struck beer) is 550 nm and below. ---The Practical Brewer, Master Brewers' Association of the Americas 1977 UV (Ultraviolet) Light refers to the region of the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and X-rays, with a wavelength falling between 400 and 10 nanometers. ---Stanford Univ.
So, it sounds like you are telling me it's not worth getting excited over, because UV blocking green or not, the beer still gets light-struck. Correct? If that's the case, then why does green glass get so much more hate than brown [which I know also let some light through]?
It is my understanding brown glass lets through less of the harmful light than green. Yes, it's still glass, just a little more protective.
I'm not sure I understand the question. From what I can tell, the "ultraviolet-absorbing green" bottles are better than standard green glass but still not as good as the standard amber (aka "brown") glass. Or, as the Molson patent says "much more acceptable". (And, of course, we don't know if the current bottles used by Molson Coors and the other greenies are made from this or others of the patented processes). Thus "Not as good/More acceptable" = "Hate" ? I haven't had a Molson in a green (or other color) bottle in decades. About 10 years ago, I bought a large canvas tent that was used for storage at an insurance office, that was current pitched on their backtop driveway. The deal was, I had to disassemble it, too (which did help with knowing how to re-assemble it once I got it home). It was a hot day and the guy felt sorry enough for me that he brought me out an ice cold beer about half way through - a Heineken Light. Pretty darn skunky from what I remember (no idea its previous storage condition) - but it was cold.
Yeah... When first read about this I got the impression that there was a hidden hierarchy in green bottles and that maybe green glass could still be protective [like brown/amber], but clearly that idea/assumption was wrong. So, there's no need to specify "UV-blocking" green glass vs regular green glass, when both forms are worse than brown/amber glass at protecting the beer.
Well, there is if you don't want to drop dead from poisoning yourself by licking your hands after pouring your beer from one, I guess. But, again, we don't know which brewers buy green glass from bottle manufacturers using the process. I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned to any great extent in bottle makers catalogs. Well, Owens-Illinois' Beer Quick Guide does say, kinda vaguely: Could be the process doesn't work as well as the patents claim, it's too expensive for mass market beers, etc.
Yes! In fact, if they really want to get on the level, they should start releasing cans like Bitburger and Paulaner are doing!
