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Certified Cicerone® · Keeping and Serving Beer

Protect Beer From Light

Syllabus Path

Light can quickly create skunky aroma in susceptible beer, especially in clear or green glass.

  1. I. Keeping and Serving Beer
  2. C. Beer storage
  3. 4. Protect beer from light

Exam Focus

  • Identify skunky/lightstruck flavor risk.
  • Rank package protection: cans and covered cases best, brown glass better than green or clear.
  • Recognize light exposure can damage beer within minutes.

What to know

Light can quickly create skunky aroma in susceptible beer, especially in clear or green glass.

Syllabus detail

  • Lightstruck or skunky flavor can be caused by sunlight, fluorescent light, and most LED lights within minutes.
  • Brown glass offers better protection than green glass; clear glass offers no protection.
  • Cans, ceramic bottles, and closed case boxes provide maximum light protection.

Study task

Be ready to explain protect beer from light in the context of beer storage and apply it to a realistic Certified Cicerone® service, tasting, brewing, style, or pairing scenario.

Key Terms

Protect beer from
Identify skunky/lightstruck flavor risk.

References

1 available