Freshness and Packaging

Many people have asked me variations of the following three questions. While reasonable minds may differ, here are my thoughts:

What is the best packaging for beer?

As of today, we have four main choices: Glass Bottles; Plastic Bottles; Aluminum Cans; and now Aluminum Bottles. You will note there is no mention of Keg or Cask. This is deliberate as I don't consider either of these very portable and thus outside the scope of this weeks coulumn.

Beer is light sensitive. The Ultra Violet (UV) light that we need sunglasses and sunscreen to block out affects our beer as well. UV light damages beer. The ideal packaging for beer will admit as little light as possible. This makes aluminum cans and bottles the ideal container for UV protection. Alas, while the number of brands is growing, the number of quality beers in aluminum cans and bottles is somewhat limited. As I write this, only a few craft beers are available. Brown bottles come next in terms of protection, then green and lastly with no protection clear bottles. I believe plastic bottles permit light transmission in a manner and degree similar to glass, so again, brown, green and clear in that order. I usually avoid green and clear bottles whenever possible. Personally, the "skunk risk factor" is way out of proportion to the price of the beer. If you must buy such packaging try to buy something that is fully encased in cardboard. The less exposure to light the better. When you have no choice consider the following precautions:

When buying clear bottle beers such as Corona, Tecate, Sol or Newcastle get the twelve pack or buy a case that is fully boxed. Same goes for beer in green bottles like Heineken or Rolling Rock. You should also note that many of these beers are also available in cans. Consider buying the cans and drinking from a glass or plastic tumbler.

When buying beer from a lighted refrigerator case, take your pack from the back of the case. Flourescent lights will also harm a beer. Again, less light exposure equals better tasting beer.

When buying beer that is on the un-refrigerated shelves always go for the sixer in the back and out of the direct light.


How do I insure that I am getting the freshest beer posssible?

Firstly, there are never any guarantees but always check the freshness date.

As you know beer is a food product made of four common ingredients (Water, Malts/Grains, Hops and Yeast). Like any food product it is sensitive to the conditions under which it is stored and the length of time it is stored before consumption. One hears tales from people that have completed a brewery tour about that beer they served at the end of the tour and how it was the freshest, cleanest, tastiest & etc. Like most breads (that incidently share three ingredients with beer) freshness counts. That "Born on Date" that a major St Louis based brewer touts, is for real. While some artisanal beers, and many of those with higher Alcohol By Volume, benefit from aging, most beer is best consumed within a few weeks or months of bottling/canning. WARNING: When you see a beer on markdown check the freshness date before putting it in the cart! I have been burned. That great bargain became the first of several drain pours.

Temperature affects the freshness and taste of beer. Exposure to heat will accelerate the breakdown of beer, will lead to loss of freshness faster and may result in a stale or skunky beer. Practically speaking it is difficult to avoid beer that has been exposed to excessive heat. Unless we buy it at the source we don't know where the beer has been. To reduce the risks of heat damage, buy from local craft brewers as the beer will have spent less time in transit. Also consider buying from the cold case if possible. This will increase the chances of a fresh brew reaching your palate while still at its peak of freshness.

What type of container keeps beer colder longest??

Aluminum cans and bottles chill faster than glass or plastic. Consequently, they also warm up a bit faster. This is not a signifigant factor if you enjoy your beer from a glass as the brewer intends it. It is also more convenient to transport, store and recycle aluminum. Glass will keep you beer cooler longer, and feels better in the hand, on the lips and on the tongue than aluminum. But, again if you drink from a glass so you can smell and taste the brew as intended by the brewer, this is not a big plus. Glass also breaks and transmits light.

Hope you found this discussion helpful. Until next time, remember to think global and drink local.