Beer doesn’t work the same way as wine, i.e., “getting better with time.” Beer is better consumed fresh. You might have found a beer bottle in your basement, but you don’t remember when you bought it. If your question is, how long does beer last? So you know whether to drink it or not, this article will answer you in detail.
Not every beer bottle has an expiry date. However, unopened beers (with expiry dates) can last up to two to three years beyond their “best before” dates. The aroma and taste of beer may fade with time, but it is safe to consume beer after expiry without any health hazards.
Follow this guide to understand how long beer in different mediums last, how to store them, and tell if your beer has gone bad.
Does Beer Expire?
Beer can expire, but it is not likely to happen unless the beer has been improperly stored or the packaging has been damaged.
Most beers are designed to last for a long time, and many beers taste better after they have been aged for some time.
That being said, beer can go bad. If a beer has been stored in a warm place or subjected to extreme temperature changes, it is more likely to go bad.
The taste of the beer may also change if it has been exposed to light for an extended period.
What is the Shelf Life of Beer?
The best time to drink beer is usually on its last day at the brewery. This is because brewers understand how they want their beers to taste. Thus, fresh beer will have a beautiful aroma, delicious taste, and bright look. However, many factors contribute to the shelf life of beer.
Stronger beers, similar to imperial stouts, have prolonged shelf life. As a result, many of them become more flavourful over time. Also, wild and sour beers have unique flavors if kept for a long time before consumption—beers like these blossom with time due to the amalgamation of bacteria and yeast.
With time, the flavor components modify as oxygen interacts with the ingredients of malt and yeast. The process generally enhances the sweetness of the beer and minimizes its bitterness.
However, the shelf life of most beers depends on their packaging medium.
Bottled Beer
Unopened beer bottles can last as long as six months in a cool and dark place (such as a refrigerator).
However, beer can get bad in a hot environment as quickly as three months and lose its flavor. Therefore, it is possible to prevent skunky flavors from developing in bottled beers by keeping them away from sunlight.
Beers are vulnerable to even the slightest light. The hop ingredients are photosensitive and can be lightstruck once exposed. So, they develop a skunky flavor this way.
Kegged Beer
It is imperative to store kegged beer in a cold environment. If you ever come across a bar keeping kegs in warm places, be ready to have odd flavored beer or two.
Usually, unpasteurized kegs can go bad in just 45–60 days. However, pasteurized beer kegs can last for about three to four months.
If you purchase a commercial keg for events, it will be bad after 24–36 hours as soon as you open it. This is because the air (oxygen) interacts with the beer, making it stale and flat.
Canned Beer
Canned beer is at the highest level of protection from light and oxygen. The beer can is designed so that the beer and the cover have minimal space between them and, thus, lesser chances of oxygen interacting with the beer. Besides, it can also reduce light exposure to beer. Similar to bottled beers, canned beers should be consumed within six months if kept cold and three months in case of warm storage.
Crowler or Growler
Almost all pubs and bars fill their growlers and crowlers and let people enjoy the fresh beer from the taps. Such beers must be consumed fresh. Because beer readily reacts with oxygen, it must be consumed immediately if a filling machine is not used. If not, it will lose its original flavor and become stale. For this reason, a beer growler should be emptied within 36 hours of filling.
How Long Does Unopened Beer Last?
The shelf life of unopened beer will depend on a few factors, including the type of beer, the alcohol content, and the packaging. Most unopened beers will last for several months to a year or more when stored properly.
Beers with higher alcohol content and those that are stored in kegs tend to have a longer shelf life than beers with lower alcohol content and those that are stored in bottles or cans.
At room temperature, beer generally lasts about 5 to 9 months beyond the expiration date listed on the label.
And darker bottles tend to last longer than lighter or greener bottles due to the less light coming into the beer with the darker bottle. All of these factors matter. And important considerations to take into account.
How Long Does Beer Last In The Fridge?
Most beers will last for several months to a year or more when stored in the fridge. The exact length of time that beer will last in the fridge will depend on the beer type and how it has been stored.
It is generally best to store beer in the back of the fridge, where it will be less likely to be exposed to light and temperature changes. If you are unsure whether a beer has gone bad, you can check for any signs of spoilage, such as a sour or off smell or a taste that is not as it should be.
How Long Does Beer Last in a Growler?
Again, the shelf life of beer in a growler will depend on a few factors, including the type of beer, the temperature at which it is stored, and how it is sealed.
Most beers will last a few days to a week when stored in a growler. Some beers, such as certain types of lagers and pilsners, may last longer, while others, such as certain types of stouts and porters, may have a shorter shelf life.
Does Canned Beer Expire?
Canned beer can expire, but it is not likely to happen unless the cans have been improperly stored or the packaging has been damaged.
Most beer cans are designed to last long, and many beers taste better after they have been aged for some time.
That being said, canned beer can go bad. If a can of beer has been stored in a warm place or subjected to extreme temperature changes, it is more likely to go bad.
The taste of the beer may also change if it has been exposed to light for an extended period.
What Are the Signs That Beer Has Gone Bad?
Here are some common signs that your older beer is a little delicate.
1. Does it Smell?
This might be easy to identify as the skunky smell isn’t exactly inviting. So, a skunky beer won’t be a “very” good beer. The word “skunked” refers to a bad beer. A beer (in colored glass) becomes skunky as soon as it is exposed to UV rays.
Beers like Heineken are available in colored bottles and become skunky, but people enjoy them regardless.
2. Does it Taste Stale?
Your beer won’t have dealings with oxygen till you open it. The earliest encounter of oxygen with beer is known as oxidation which brings a cardboard-like stale taste to the beer.
This is why the “Natty light” you drink at pubs is tasteless than any other beer. A keg filled with beer for more than two or three days will be more oxidized than others.
.3. Is it Popcorn Like Tasting?
Your beer must taste like an ordinary beer unless you choose to drink funky craft beer tasting like popcorn. Beer fermentation triggers the production of “diacetyl,” a compound with a buttery taste.
Too much diacetyl can be harmful to your lungs. Fortunately, no flavoring goes to that extreme in beers, and nobody wants their beer to have an excess amount of diacetyl.
4. Does it have a Sewage or Cabbage-like Flavor?
Even though there are a lot of beer flavors available, you can spot if your beer flavor differs from what you expected. Many flavors that can tell if a beer is bad are sewage, cooked cabbage, sulfur, or just an odd sour taste.
Is It Safe to Drink Expired Beer?
It is generally not recommended to consume expired beer. The expiration date on a beer should not be taken as an absolute, yet it is still worth taking notice of.
Whether you would want to drink expired beer is another story. Expired beer can taste flat or stale and may contain harmful bacteria that could cause illness.
If you are unsure whether a beer has expired, it is best to check for any signs of spoilage, such as a sour or off smell or a taste that is not as it should be. If you notice any of these signs for the sake of a few bucks to buy yourself a new beer – you would be better off throwing it out.
Why take the risk? The key is not to let your beer go off. And to help you, here are key tips to help you make your beer last as long as it can – as temperature, how and where you store it matters.
How to Store Beer to Make it Last Longer
Here are the top storage tips you can do to make your beer last longer.
1. Store in a cool dark place
Where beer is stored, and its environment are the key factors that decide the shelf life of beer. Ideally, keeping beer in a cool and dark place would be best. The ideal temperature for storing beer is between 45°F and 55°F.
2. Keep your Beer in an upright position
The best place to store beer is in bigger containers such as kegs. You are keeping it away from other food items to prevent contamination. Moreover, placing kegs vertically instead of on the sides would be best.
In addition, if you are storing beer in the basement, keep the container in a vertical direction, with no movement.
Keeping the beer in a vertical position can help reduce the light it is exposed to can help prevent the beer from being exposed to air, and prevent the beer from being subjected to extreme temperature changes. All of which can help beer stay fresher for longer.
Correct Temperature
Heat and light can readily spoil the beer. Thus refrigerating it is the best bet instead of keeping it at room temperature. The cold environment will suppress aging, and darkness will help prevent deterioration from UV rays.
Generally, the best temperature to store most beers is around 45-55°F (7-13°C).
This temperature range is cool enough to help prevent the beer from going bad but not so cold that it can cause the beer to become too sluggish or lose flavor.
Some beers, such as certain types of lagers and pilsners, may be stored at a slightly lower temperature, around 35-45°F (2-7°C).
Beers stored at a lower temperature may take longer to mature, but they may also have a longer shelf life.
On the other hand, some beers, such as certain types of stouts and porters, may be best stored at a slightly higher temperature, around 55-65°F (13-18°C). Beers stored at a higher temperature may mature more quickly but also have a shorter shelf life.
Closing Note
Let’s state the obvious, drinking fresh beer is better than waiting for it. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to finish your 24-pack in a week.
Most beers will last for several months to a year or more when stored correctly, but it can vary. To keep your beer fresh for as long as possible, store it in a cool, dark place and avoid exposing it to light or significant temperature changes.
As a rule of thumb, the key takeaway to note before you throw your beer out on suspicion that it has gone bad, check for any signs of spoilage, like a weird smell or taste.
If you notice anything off, it’s best to toss it.
As the saying goes – “if in dought, throw it out.”
Cheers,
