# Beer question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706 "2001-11-22T03:34:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/1 "2001-11-22T03:34:26Z")
Why is it that the vast majority of beer is bottled in dark glass bottles but Miller for instance is bottled in clear glass bottles? Does Miller go bad sooner when exposed to sunlight as compared to those bottles that are bottled in dark glass bottles? Why clear glass and not colored? ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/2 "2001-11-22T03:38:37Z")
Yes, colored glass extends the life and quality of beer. I would assume that Miller uses clear glass bottles in order to create product distinction (if that is possible for them). ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/3 "2001-11-22T03:42:23Z")
The distillation process for beer is vastly different in and among the different brews out there. A lot of Beer is brown and there-for not exactly aesthetically pleasing to look at. However, Miller Lite is yellow, kinda, kinda bright too. Not bad to look at. Thats my WAG. Maybe there is a big diff in price of the tint for the glass…?? ---
**Author:** ![jane\_says](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jane\_says](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jane_says)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/4 "2001-11-22T03:44:20Z")
My dad, a highly functioning alcoholic, raised me to appreciate fine beers and liquors. And I do. I really do. But my favorite beer of all time is **Miller High Life** , which is the Champagne of Beers. It says so right on the label. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/5 "2001-11-22T03:48:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by insider \* > **Does Miller go bad sooner…** You mean Miller beer is actually good to start off with??? wow… ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/6 "2001-11-22T04:17:59Z")
Yeah, let’s use Newcastle Brown Ale as our example of a beer in a clear bottle. Corona does as well, but again you fall into the difficulty of finding a time when it is actually good. As for Corona Light, not only is the glass clear, the beer is as well. ---
**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/7 "2001-11-22T04:27:53Z")
Light causes beer to get “skunky”. Brown bottles prevent this. Clear bottles, or worse (seems to me) green bottles are marketing gimmics. Some of these are packaged in cases that prevent light from getting in anyway, if they don’t sit on the shelf too long. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/8 "2001-11-22T05:45:36Z")
While we’re on the issue of beer packaging, a hijack: What are the considerations in deciding whether to use a paper label vs a label printed directly on the glass? I happen to think the paper labels are tackier (pun intended) than the paperless, but other than Rolling Rock, the only printed glass I’ve seen is on Red Stripe, Corona, Panama, and Sol. Is paper more expensive in third world countries, or are there recycling issues, or what? It seems like printing on the bottle would be more technically challenging, but if they can do it in Panama… ---
**Author:** ![AtomicBanana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@AtomicBanana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicBanana)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/9 "2001-11-22T07:52:45Z")
As something of an apprentice at beer appreciation, I’ve noticed that the clear bottles tend to skunk faster than the tinted ones. I’ve had quite a few cases of Corona or Sol that just didn’t quite measure up to my expectations, while the only skunky brown bottle beer I’ve had has come from packs I’ve left in the trunk of my car beneath the Texas sun all day. As far as the green bottles go, I’m not sure. The only green bottle beer I drink is Rolling Rock, and I don’t drink it too often. Out of those times, I’ve only had one skunky six-pack, however, when Rolling Rock goes skunk, it doesn’t do it halfway. It’s the only six-pack I’ve ever had to completely throw away. It still brings tears to my eyes… ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/10 "2001-11-22T10:04:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phlosphr \* > **The distillation process for beer is vastly different in and among the different brews out there.** Distillation? If you distill a beer you’ll end up with whisky. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/11 "2001-11-22T10:27:52Z")
Heck they all taste good, even the skunky ones. Yep, (slurp!), shure dew, matey. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-question/94706/12 "2001-11-23T01:13:49Z")
In short, certain UV wavelengths in sunlight react with some of the volatile hop oil components in beer, exciting parts of them which fly off and create some sorts of mercaptan compounds which are similar to what makes skunks smell. Brown bottles significantly attenuate this light, green somewhat, and clear not at all. That’s why stuff like Heineken, Grolsh, Pilsner Urquell, etc… in green bottles will frequently be skunky, while stuff like Spaten Premium, Sam Adams, etc… will be fine under the same conditions in brown bottles. Miller can get away with using clear bottles because they use some sort of chemically modified hops or hop extracts that prevent the sunlight reaction. Corona, on the other hand, expects this(I think) and encourages you to put lime wedges in there to mask the awful taste and smell!