How Long Can Beer Sit Out?

Temperature does affect beer. However, it is not temperature cycling that destroys beer, but exposure to warm temperatures. Beer is best preserved when kept cold kind of like milk. A gallon of 2% will last a lot longer in your fridge than on your kitchen counter.

Much the same way, keeping beer refrigerated will keep its flavor as the brewer intended for much longer. Keeping beer at room temperature can drop a beer’s shelf life from nearly six months to only a few weeks, and exposing the same beer to very warm temperatures can affect its flavor in a matter of a couple of days.

The good news? It can never make you sick. It just might not taste very good. Hop flavors and aromas will be diminished, first. Malt flavors that used to remind you of chocolate and caramel will begin to meld into a generic sickly “sweet” flavor, and in some beers reminders of wet cardboard and paper can develop.

How long can beer be unrefrigerated?

Beer Storage by Container – Aside from factors like temperature and the type of beer, it’s crucial to know how to store beer based on its container to ensure the beer remains fresh. A general rule is that the best-before date on any type of beer is an accurate guide. It doesn’t mean that the beer will immediately expire by that date but, instead, that the beer will decline in quality only after the listed date — assuming you store it correctly.

Kegs: The clock starts on kegs as soon as they get filled and sealed. Even an untapped keg is best to use sooner rather than later, so first-in, first-out is a good rule of thumb if you plan to store multiple kegs. Make sure to keep kegs in a cool, dry space and away from other foods. It’s essential to avoid freezing the kegs, since freezing the beer will likely alter its taste. Avoid moving them around too much, because that can increase the amount of foam that will spurt out when you tap the keg. Bottles and cans: Store packaged beer in a cool, dry place that isn’t freezing. For optimal shelf life of bottled beer, store beer at a temperature between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit and, if it’s a bottle, make sure it’s upright. You can prolong the shelf life of beer in cans and bottles if you keep them just above room temperature and just below freezing, but if there’s no way to establish that, storing unopened cans and bottles in the fridge or at room temperature is acceptable. Growlers: Keeping growlers upright and in cool, dark spaces is, once again, the best way to go. The airtight lid will ensure the beer remains fresh for several days, and can remain fresh even longer if the bar that filled the growler did so with carbon dioxide. Once opened, the beer will stay fresh for up to 36 hours,

These guidelines are more appropriate for draft and packaged beers. Homebrews and microbrews will likely have a shorter lifespan, even with adequate storage. The lifespan of open beer, regardless of its container, will be notably shorter thanks to the external factors it will come into contact with, like air, light and potentially bacteria as well.

Leaving unopened beer at room temperature will ensure it’s at its best for four to six months on average. After that, the quality will begin to degrade. For refrigerated beers, stored unopened, you have six to eight months of peak taste to take advantage of before the quality begins to slowly decrease.

It’s also crucial to maintain the temperature at which you bought the beer. For example, if you bought a six-pack straight out of a refrigerated case, you should put it in your refrigerator when you get home. The flavor of beer can change based on the glass in which you drink it.

Is it okay to leave beer unrefrigerated?

Does Beer Go Bad? Everything You Need to Know About Proper Storage and Beer Expiration Dates May 03, 2018 Whether you’re planning a Corona -soaked backyard barbecue or want to keep your favorite craft beer from local microbreweries fresh, understanding how to store beer is the first step to enjoying it.

1. After all, there’s nothing worse than being disappointed by a skunked beer when your taste buds were craving a refreshing pale ale,
2. The short answer is that yes, beer does go bad, but it can last a long time under proper storage conditions,
3. Some beer styles last longer than others, and most have a shelf life well beyond the best-by date chosen by brewers,

So yeah, it’s complicated. To answer all your questions, we’ve put together this ultimate guide to keeping your good beer from turning into a bad beer, Read in full for a complete understanding of all the factors that affect beer shelf life, or skip to your most burning question first.

Like any food, beer is an organic substance, meaning it’s made from plant materials that will eventually succumb to decay, just as all living things do. Brewers do their best to make beer last as long as possible, but nothing can resist the onslaught of bacteria and chemical reactions as time passes.

There are three major ways that old beer can meet its demise (flavor-wise, anyway): light exposure, oxygen exposure and bacteria exposure. It turns out that ultraviolet light is just as bad for beer as it is for your skin. When UV light penetrates beer bottles, it, the plant material responsible for your favorite beer’s complex better flavors.

1. This chemical reaction breaks down important flavor compounds until the look — and smell — exactly like the chemicals in skunk spray.
2. That’s why ” lightstruck ” bottled beer turns into unappetizing skunky beer.
3. Brewers seek to minimize the damage by shipping beer in darker bottles,
4. If you’re a fan of hops-laden IPAs, look for brown glass or canned beer for a longer shelf life,

that eventually alters the flavor and aroma of your beer. As oxygen interacts with the chemical compounds in the beer, it breaks them down, which results in different flavors. One of the most common results of oxidation is, Other compounds cause other flavors, which can include everything from a cardboard flavor to notes of must or aged sherry.

Because oxidation is caused by air leakage, bottled beers may be slightly more susceptible to this issue than cans, which have a tighter seal. As a general rule, it’s best to store beers upright for an extended period, as this minimizes the amount of beer in contact with the air (as opposed to placing them on their sides, which maximizes air exposure.

Eventually, all things must decay, and the cause is microbial action. Living bacteria think your beer is tasty, too, and they’ll eat away at it over time. This is relatively rare when it comes to commercially sold beer, because brewers do everything possible to minimize contamination.

The alcohol content of beer also acts as a natural preservative, because microbes can’t survive in liquids with a high alcohol content, Refrigeration also helps slow the life cycle of microorganisms, including the natural yeasts you’ll find in bottle-conditioned ales, Just about every commercially produced beer is tagged with an expiration date,

Also known as the sell-by date or the best-before date, these are meant as guidelines rather than holy law about when to throw out your beer. Because no beer lasts forever, and brewers want to protect their reputations by keeping customers satisfied, they put a date on beer to let grocery and liquor stores know when to pull a product that may no longer be at its best quality,

1. This is not to say that expired beer is going to kill you or even that it is guaranteed to taste bad.
2. On the contrary, properly stored beer can last for months beyond the suggested sell-by date,
3. You can definitely buy a beer near or even past its expiration date, but be aware that it will have a shorter shelf life and should therefore be consumed relatively soon.

Most beers last on the package. When stored at room temperature, you can expect beer to last for six to nine months beyond the use-by date, Refrigeration increases this time period to up to two years. Sell-by dates are usually just a guess, because many factors influence how long a beer will last.

Distance: How far the beer travels within its distribution range affects its aging. Long road trips mean your beer is older by the time it gets to you, and this increases the possibility that the beer was agitated, left in the heat or sun, etc. In general, a local beer is a fresh beer. Popularity: How fast is the turnover where you bought it? If your favorite imperial stout is hard to keep in stock because it’s selling like hotcakes, you can be sure it hasn’t sat around for too long before you snag it. Rare items collecting dust may be much older. Packaging: Because cans blot out direct sunlight and seal out oxygen and potential contaminants, they’re better at keeping beer fresh for longer periods. If you don’t like cans, brown glass bottles act like sunglasses to keep UV rays at bay and prevent skunking; green bottles are also somewhat effective. Clear bottles offer the least resistance to ultraviolet light, Temperature: How does the seller store the beer before you buy it? Keeping it out of direct light is critical, and refrigeration will prevent aging and allow the beer to taste better for longer. You can also take a look to see if bottles and cans are stored upright, which will minimize oxidation more efficiently than ones stored on their sides.

Eventually, all beer goes bad. That’s the sad truth about life. On the bright side, keeping beer in the fridge is a good way to help it last as long as possible. This is because a dark area in a cool place is the best place to store a beer to avoid the things that make it go bad.

Your refrigerator is both cool and dark, as long as the door isn’t opened too often. As mentioned above, refrigeration slows down natural aging processes and allows a beer to taste fine up for a good two years after its expiration date, — those bottles sealed with a cork held in place by a wire cage — are a bit of a different case and require special care when refrigerating.

Corks are typically reserved for Belgian beers, but you may see them on other wheat beers from microbreweries that like to create a vintage beer look. In general, a cork creates a very tight seal, because it expands to completely fill the neck of the bottle.

• Many home brewers feel that corking is a better option than capping when it comes to long-term storage.
• The extreme cold inside your standard kitchen refrigerator — typically 38 degrees Fahrenheit — also creates very dry conditions, and this can cause the cork to shrink slightly.
• If this happens, the seal will be broken and air and bacteria can creep in, advancing the aging process and leading to an altered flavor profile.

You can prevent this from happening to your corked beers by storing them in a instead. Like a fine wine, a corked beer does best at temperatures around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which is cool enough to slow the aging process but warm enough to maintain reasonable humidity for the cork.

• Unlike wine, however, it’s best to store a corked beer upright to avoid too-rapid oxidation, which can cause a major change to the chemical balance of the beer and lead to off-flavors.
• This depends on several factors.
• First, your beer bottle or can would have to survive the freezing without exploding.

Liquid expands slightly when it’s frozen, but it’s the carbonation that’s the real problem, as the water pushes the carbon dioxide bubbles outward. This creates extra pressure that will eventually leave a mess of frozen beer and broken glass in its wake.

Even if you catch your mistake before the beer freezes completely, it may still be ruined. If enough pressure built up to loosen the cap on bottled beer, air leaks would lead to a disappointingly flat beer when you open it. Freezing would also be disastrous for a bottle-conditioned beer with live yeast, as the cold would kill the yeast and put a halt to its continued flavor development.

On the other hand,, A German eisbock is made by freezing beer on purpose and skimming off the ice to leave behind a beer with higher alcohol content, (The science here is that the water freezes long before alcohol, so removing ice doesn’t remove any alcohol when done early in the process.) You can try this yourself, but be aware that this is likely to,

Lots of non-beer snobs also enjoy beer slushies, too, but in general it’s best to rely on the fridge instead of the freezer when you need a cold beer fast. Yes. Though many beer drinkers blame warm temperatures for “skunking,” this particular type of bad flavor is actually caused by exposure to direct sunlight,

UV rays break down the essential oils in hops extracts into different chemical compounds, one of which is an exact match for skunk spray. Brown bottles can add a layer of protection — and certainly do more to help than clear glass containers — but the best way to prevent a skunky flavor and aroma is to store your alcoholic beverages in a dark place,

• This is particularly important when it comes to hoppy beers that are more likely to develop a skunky taste than lighter beers like a Bud or Coors Light.
• On the bright side, if you want to drink beer in the sun, go ahead and enjoy.
• It’s unlikely that a short period in the sun will do any harm, even if you prefer summery light beers in clear bottles.

As you can see, a great beer is affected by all sorts of elements, including temperature, sunlight, the storage container and more. To help everything from a Bud Light to a barleywine taste its best, follow these basic beer storage tips:

Refrigerate. Keep your beer in a refrigerator to slow the aging process and block out UV light. The ideal temperature for beer storage is about 50 to 55 degrees, though you can go colder with capped bottles and cans. will let you control the temperature to keep it at the perfect level for both storage and serving. Find a Dark Place, A good beer cooler will offer UV protection, but if you choose to keep your beer at room temperature, choose a cool room with minimal temperature changes. The ideal spot will be a dark one, where no direct sunlight can shine on your beer and start the skunking process. Your basement may be a good choice. Store Beer Upright. Avoid unnecessary oxidation by keeping bottles and cans in an upright position in your fridge or on the shelf. This keeps only the smallest surface area of the beer in contact with the air to slow the aging process, whereas keeping a beer on its side maximizes the amount of surface area for oxidation.

With a little extra care in storing your beer, you can help it last as long as possible and enjoy peak flavor from your favorite brews. : Does Beer Go Bad? Everything You Need to Know About Proper Storage and Beer Expiration Dates

Can you drink beer after it goes bad?

Can you drink expired beer? – You can drink expired beer without worry about food safety, but it’s best to dump that bottle or can if your first few sips reveal the off-flavors of expired beer. Craft beer is made with agricultural products and living organisms — namely hops, malt, and yeast — so they naturally degrade with time.

Does Heineken need to be refrigerated?

The best way to store your Heineken® beer is in a cool, dry place out of direct light and heat. Of course, if you’re ready to enjoy it straight away, chill it in the fridge until it’s cooled to around 45°F.

Can you take beer out of fridge and put it back?

You can’t take beer out of the fridge after it’s been cold!!! Has anyone ever told you “once a beer has been cold, you can’t let it warm up.”? While I’m all for treating beer with respect, I just want to help anyone out who has been chastised for doing this.

1. Truth is, it’s not really a big deal (unless your are going to cellar your beer).
2. Hoppy Beer is more sensitive to temperature swings but 1-2 times of cold back to room temperature won’t effect flavor if you are are going to consume the beer in the next 30-45 days.
3. Most hoppy beers should be consumed within 30-45 days after purchase anyway, because who knows how long it’s been sitting at the store? Yes, beer does like to be stored cold and it will last longer if it is stored at a steady cool temperature throughout its life.

But buying it at the store refrigerated and then storing outside the fridge until you need it is not really going to harm the beer. In fact, I’d guess that almost 90% of the craft beer you drink was stored at room temperature at the brewery, shipped to the distributor, stored in their warehouse (at whatever temperature that happens to be) and then transported to the store in a side loader truck (at whatever temperature it is outside) then brought into the store or restaurant and stored in a back room or basement THEN and only THEN it may finally get refrigerated for the first time in its life! It’s at this point that people tend to get all worked up if you take the refrigerated beer and let it warm back up.

Yes, a 30º temperature swing in 5 mins will definitely effect the beer’s long term stability, and yes, beer prefers to be refrigerated and should be if you can.But, this isn’t just my opinion, here are a sources to back me up:

Now, when it comes to that beer getting warm in my glass, that is a totally different story! I DO NOT like drinking a warm beer. Luckily, Cheers All has you covered there too! Check out our that will protect your beer from the AND temperature! All I’m suggesting is, don’t stress too much about this.

I was recently camping and heard a couple arguing over this next door and you would have thought that the beer had to be poured out based on how upset this guy was! This could have been a case of just simmering tension and the beer was the last straw but, his reaction was a bit too dramatic given the slight transgression.

I’d argue it was more about him not wanting to wait for his beer too cool back down to drink in which case, I’m 100% with him I like a nice cool beer on a warm day! What do you think? Do you disagree? Let me know by commenting below. : You can’t take beer out of the fridge after it’s been cold!!!

Can you drink opened beer left out overnight?

Conclusion – Beer, in most cases, doesn’t go bad if left out open overnight. You can consume an opened can of beer the next morning, but it won’t taste as good as a freshly opened bottle. Keep your drink refrigerated and away from direct sunlight to help maintain its aroma, flavor, and appearance. I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.

What happens when a beer is skunked?

Skunked beer occurs when a light source penetrates the glass container of beer over a long period of time. By containers, we mean glass bottles. And by skunky beer, we mean that the taste itself will be vaguely reminiscent of the smell of a skunk’s spray.

Can old beer upset your stomach?

Expired Pasteurised Beer Is Not Toxic – At the very most, you’ll experience a mild upset stomach after consuming pasteurised beer that’s expired. Many commercial canned and bottled beers are pasteurized the same way as any other product. The cans and bottles are run through a hot water spray that’s around 140 degrees to kill any bacteria and stop any yeast still in the beer from growing.

Can you drink week old beer?

Can Beer Go Bad? Beer is a popular alcoholic beverage, but not everyone knows whether it does expire or how long does beer last. Those are pretty important facts about beer and if you sometimes store beer for an extended period of time, it’s good to know whether drinking it is safe. This article will give you all the information about beer you need. (credit: ) Basically, the answer to this question depends on the kind of beer. Normal beers (with pretty low alcohol content), as long as the bottle or can is unopened, can last at least half a year. And when I write “can last”, I mean they’ll taste fine after opening, provided they were stored properly.

Some vintage beers (ales, lambics or stouts) have high alcohol content and they are made to last a few years. In fact, producers of those beers often recommend that they should be stored for at least a year or two before opening. That should allow the beer to age and get its distinguished taste. Once the beer is opened, it should be drunk within a day or two.

After that time, in most cases it’ll be fine, but its taste will be far from what you’ve expected (it’ll be flat). That means that there’s no sense in storing beer after opening – after two days it’ll taste stale and you’ll probably discard it either way. Image used under Creative Commons from Few things about storing beer. First thing you should remember is that beer doesn’t like light. Exposure to light makes beer become skunky (you probably know that skunky taste, that’s why it’s often called “skunked beer”).

• To reduce the influence of light, beer is often sold in dark bottles, which eliminate some of the light (dark brown bottles protect beer better than green bottles).
• Nevertheless, if your beer is in a bottle, you should store it in a place where sunshine can’t reach it.
• If it’s in a can or a keg, it’s safe from light.

Another thing to remember – keep beer in a cool place, like in the pantry. Once it’s opened and you want to store it for a short period of time, put it into the fridge. Answering the question whether beer does expire or not is quite difficult. Every beer has an expiration date, or a “Best By” date, etc.

In most cases that doesn’t mean that after that date beer will be spoiled (meaning consuming it will make you sick), but it’s an indication of how long the beer should be of best quality. After that time its quality might drop and it’ll simply be flat. There is one exception from this rule – unpasteurised beer.

Some companies choose to not pasteurize their beer (some people state that beer simply tastes better that way) and those beers usually expire within a couple of weeks. If your beer isn’t pasteurized and it’s after the expiration date, it might still be good, but in many cases it’ll be simply spoiled. (credit: ) Spotting a spoiled beer is pretty easy. You just need to examine its looks, smell and taste. If there is a major change in color or beer’s odor, or it tastes horribly (don’t confuse horribly with flat or skunky) discard it. If not, feel free to drink it, if it satisfies your taste buds.

1. If it was stored for a very long time, it might not taste that good and you’ll probably throw it away either way.
2. Summary As you can see, the answer to the main question is affirmative, beer can go bad.
3. If it’s a pasteurized beer, it happens extremely rarely, but it might happen.
4. Storing beer for an extended period of time, however, isn’t beneficial to the beer and if it’s a standard lager, it’s better to consume it before the “Use By” date.

: Can Beer Go Bad?

Does beer need to be refrigerated?

Refrigerated storage is best for all beers at all times. Required for draft beer and many craft beers. Non-refrigerated storage accelerates aging and development of off flavors. In a study conducted by one of the large breweries on flavor loss in bottled and canned products resulted in the 3-30-300 Rule.

How do you know when beer goes bad?

The Bottom Line – If your beer’s appearance, taste or smell has changed, your beer has definitely gone bad. Regardless of whether your beer is pasteurised or unpasteurised, drinking bad beer is never recommended because it will taste terrible. No one wants to waste beer.