Why Are Some Beer Bottles Green & Others Brown?

Beer from a green bottle is amber.

Nearly all beer comes in one of three ways: from kegs, in cans, or in bottles. Bottles for beer are green, brown or clear. With the exception of several well-marketed brands, most beers today are in green or brown bottles.

Light and Its Adverse Effect on Beer

Light has a deleterious effect on beer. Interaction with light will produce an off-taste and an odor often described as "skunky."

Utility of Brown Beer Bottles

Brown is the preferred color for beer bottles it can block much of the intensity of light. Beer in brown bottles will last longer in a palatable condition than beer in other types of bottles. This has been known by brewers since early in the 20th century, as evidenced by a 1911 Schlitz ad touting "the brown beer bottle" because "Dark glass gives protection against light."

Perceived Quality of Beer in Green Bottles

After the World War II, it became preferable--for cost and availability reasons--for some European brewers to use green bottles instead of brown. With the decline in quality of American beers that began with Prohibition, imported European beers appeared to stand out. Their green bottles had a perceived image of quality, and green bottles were used as a marketing tool. Heineken is the best example of this.

References

• "Broken Secrets"; Why Beer Bottles are Green, Brown or Clear; Chad Upton; March 23, 2010
• Realbeer.com; Beer myths and facts; May 17, 2001
• "Eden Organic"; Light Absorption by Various Beer Bottle Glass; Bradley E. Sturgeon, PhD; April 2nd, 2008
• The Pittsburg Press; page 11; Nov. 2, 1911

Resources

• "Broken Secrets"; Why Beer Bottles are Green, Brown or Clear; Chad Upton; March 23, 2010
• Realbeer.com; Beer myths and facts; May 17, 2001
• "Eden Organic"; Light Absorption by Various Beer Bottle Glass; April 2, 2008
• The Pittsburg Press; page 11; Nov. 2, 1911