Blue Bottles

JesterMage · May 4, 2021

Has anyone ever used blue bottles? I assume they are better than clear glass. Are they better than green but not as good as brown?

I see some 16 oz. cobalt blue, swing tops that I would like to use for special brewings but don't want to waste my money if they are not good for keeping the skunk out of the beer.

Snuffy · May 4, 2021

JesterMage said:
Has anyone ever used blue bottles? I assume they are better than clear glass. Are they better than green but not as good as brown?

I see some 16 oz. cobalt blue, swing tops that I would like to use for special brewings but don't want to waste my money if they are not good for keeping the skunk out of the beer.

I don't like blue bottles because they are not easy to see thru so they are harder to judge when filling and avoiding bottle sludge during the pour. Probably work great for something sensitive to light. I have 6 of them in 1/2 liter swing tops. Always the last ones I fill and the first ones I send beer out in. If they don't make it back I'm not gonna miss em.

hotbeer · May 4, 2021

Certainly most every skunky tasting beer I've had was in a green bottle and some clear. But that was commercial beer and I can't attest for the storage conditions before I bought it.

I do know that any bottled beer in my possession only sees light for very brief times until it's on the counter to be opened.

So if you don't store your beer in light or out in the sun, I wouldn't think it'd be much of a problem no matter what color the bottle is.

Golddiggie · May 4, 2021

The blue bottles cost more (or did when I bought them years back) due to using cobalt in the glass. I have a case of them currently and hold onto them due to the higher cost. I'll use them from time to time when taking brew that's not already set for transport someplace (where it needs to happen on the quick).

As far as being good for blocking light... IIRC they block the light waves that you want to block as well as the good brown bottles. I've never had any issue. Then again, as already mentioned, they typically stay in the dark if filled unless being poured from.

MaxStout · May 4, 2021

The light wavelengths that skunk beer tend to be on the blue-violet-ultraviolet part of the spectrum, so blue bottles may not offer much protection. No idea how they would compare to green. But if you store them in boxes that keep out the light, it shouldn't matter.

JesterMage · May 4, 2021

Perfect. They should be good for gifts. As for price, I am not to worried. I will fill them and give them to one of my boys. He will bring them back so I will give him more.