Why beer tastes "Skunky"

We've all had one or two bottles of a beer that tasted off. I know I have… most are imports, many have that odd "twang" of a slight sour taste or smell. Mostly imports in green bottles or clear bottles.

This is caused by blue wavelength and UV light, which causes a photochemical reaction with the isomerized hop compounds.

Brown bottles filter out this light, green and clear do not. Further, even being stored under fluorescent lights in a store can cause this reaction.

This is why you need to avoid beer in those bottles, if buying a green bottle import beer, hunt for the beer in cans.

This is also why I ferment my beers in dark closets…. Light it'll kill it!