I’m calling this painting Light Struck. A glass full of beer looks so amazing in direct sunlight, but unfortunately the UV light causes catastrophic changes to your beer. Have you ever opened a green, or clear glass bottle of beer that stank like a skunk? Of course, your beer is past its prime, but how did it get like that? Sunlight caused it, and don’t think that beer packaged in brown glass is immune. It’s just a little better than the complete lack of protection from green, or clear glass vessels. In just one minute of direct sunlight, in a few minutes through a window, or in a few days under a fluorescent lightbulb the flavor is changed chemically. Hop molecules called isohumulones start to break down, bonding with sulfur molecules, and creating a chemical similar to the spray from a skunk. Even one part per trillion of this chemical will ruin a beer. Germans invented the beer stein, an opaque, clay drinking vessel with a metal lid. This vessel, although originally designed to keep black-plague-carrying flies out of beer, also protects from light contamination. If you are planning on sipping your suds in a direct sun environment, a steel pint glass with a coaster on top should work as well. Maybe drinking that IPA directly from the can is a good idea. Better keep it cool too, add a koozie! Cheers to the beauty of beer!
This original oil painting, and 52 limited-edition prints are for sale at my Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.
Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #70 by Scott Clendaniel. Light-Struck. April 28, 2016. 14″x11″, oil on panel.
Real Art Is Better! 