How much light to skunk a beer?

[DEWSBREW]

I live in Fl. and I use Tervis Tumblers, not the clear ones but the ones that are different colors and don't have any issues , they dont sweat (condensate) with my beers outside. They can keep a beer cold for a good amount of time in the Fl outdoors. They have a lifetime warranty. Just google tervis tumblers-- and they also sell colored lids to keep it semi spill proof. just sayin

 

[olllllo]

I can confirm less than a minute with a delicate pilsner (Urquell from the keg) with an AZ sun.

Ultraviolet Index Forecast for PHOENIX, AZ
Date Valid
(at Solar Noon)
UV Index Color Level
6/29/2011 Extreme index of 12
6/28/2011 Extreme index of 12


UV Index Scale
Low 0-2
Moderate 3-5
High 6-7
Very High 8-10
Extreme 11+



UV Index Category Sunburn Time
over 9 extreme less than 15 minutes
7-9 high about 20 minutes
4-7 medium about 30 minutes
0-4 low more than 1 hour

 

[realjd]

Interesting. This is probably why beers start to taste funny if I'm too slow to drink them when I'm in my pool. I just assumed they were getting too warm. And my pool is screened in which helps (no need for sunscreen in the pool even in the Florida sun), but it must be enough to skunk the beer!

Do I need to worry about this before fermentation? I do my boils out on the screened pool deck with a turkey fryer.

 

[Brew_4iT]

disclaimer - after reading thread cerevisiae heliophobia might ensue

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

I poured a pint of my pale ale this weekend while sitting on the back patio tending the bbq. At this point in the day the patio was in direct sunlight and my beer was in a clear glass tumbler.

By 1/3rd of the way through the glass I started to think "this ale tastes a little like...a lager?"

By 2/3rds of the way through the glass I was certain I had brewed a Heineken clone instead of an American Pale, and had not realized it until then.

By the last few sips, it was straight skunk ass.

All in about 10 minutes.

 

[TheBrewinator]

I had the same experience last time I brewed. Had got the boil rolling, went and poured another IPA. Was playing bags in my back yard with the guys I was brewing with, nice sunny day. About half way through the pint glass (10 mins or so) I thought damn, this is skunky. Was pretty rough on the last couple drinks.

 

[Retail1]

As a retailer what measures should I take to avoid skunking?

 

[Alex4mula]

Could people be confusing skunking with oxidizing? Open beer will mix quickly with O2. I guess I drink mine too fast as I have never experienced that.

 

[hoffmeister]

As a retailer what measures should I take to avoid skunking?

Keep your bottled beer away from direct sunlight, if at all possible. The darker bottles and higher six pack holders from some breweries will help, but sunlight and heat are your main enemies here.

 

[IslandLizard]

I've had glasses with Pale Ale or IPA squonk within 30-60 seconds when outside in direct sunlight. Even Porters got noticeably squonky within a minute (or 2).

 

[IslandLizard]

As a retailer what measures should I take to avoid skunking?

Keep them away from light, especially sunlight and fluorescent light.

Even fluorescent lights inside display cases contain enough UV to squonk beer in brown bottles over time, more so the closer they are, like the ones on the top shelf. It may take a few weeks, but once it becomes noticeable the beer is basically ruined.

Now (some) macro breweries use hop oils that have been tweaked, and won't squonk, even in clear bottles. Examples are some Miller varieties and Corona.