Page 11 - Thirst Magazine Issue 1 (Feb 2017)

BOTTLE

CAN?

There is always this perception that the quality of beer in a bottle

is better than in a can. Let us briefly look at whether this is the case.

he ultimate purpose of beer LIGHT CONTAMINATION
packaging is to preserve the quality
of the beer and deliver the product CAN: Impervious to light, hence the beer is
to the consumers’ hand as fresh and unlikely to be exposed to being lightstruck
Tflavourful as when it was first taken after being packaged until the time of
out of the brewery. consumption.
Let’s look at what causes beer to turn BOTTLE: Brown bottles shield the beers
bad and how it can be prevented through from UV light better than green or clear glass
packaging. bottles, and therefore make better packaging
for preserving quality of the beer. Storage
BACTERIA AND OXYGEN CONTAMINATION away from sunlight is the key to reduce light
CAN: Any dents that are damaging enough to contamination for bottled beer.
cause contamination would have been noticed HOW ABOUT METAL FROM THE CANS?
and removed before even getting to the hands
of consumers, whether at the brewery or prior Cans used to store liquids are lacquered which
to sale. provides a barrier between the can and its
BOTTLE: Difficult to spot. Even if the contents. The chances of tasting metal in your
brewery applies measures in securing the beer is therefore extremely low.
bottle cap through air tight seals, poor
handling of the bottles during transportation CONCLUSION
can still knock the cap loose and allow Cans are normally cheaper than bottles due
bacteria and oxygen to seep in. The problem to lower handling cost and if the contents are
with this is, the contamination will not be fresh and of good quality, we would go for can
noticed until the time of consumption. than bottle anytime.

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