Many people all around the world love being able to unwind with a nice beer in their hands, but many people are also unaware that beer may go bad.
If you keep your beer in the fridge, you might believe it will last forever, but this is not the case.
The beer’s quality will deteriorate over time, and it will become something you would rather not drink.
Whether you prefer cooking with beer and incorporating it into your dishes, or you enjoy a recreational drink every now and then, it is always a good idea to know how long your beer will last in the fridge.
After all, no one wants to ruin a good time by drinking beer that has beyond its expiration date.
Beer’s expiration date is typically found at the bottom (for beer cans) or at the neck (for beer bottles). The beer expiration date is sometimes printed on the label.
Beer, on the other hand, has no “use-by” date, therefore it can be enjoyed months after its expiration date.
How Long Can You Keep Beer in the Fridge?
Some individuals believe that different types of beer, such as canned or bottled beer, have varied shelf lives.
The amount of time that beer can last, on the other hand, is quite universal.
When stored in the pantry, canned, bottled, and homebrew beer all have a shelf life of around nine months at best.
Having said that, no one wants lukewarm beer that has been sitting in the pantry for the greater part of a year.
As a result, most people store their beer in the fridge, which is one of the nicest things you can do for your beer.
When you put your beer in the fridge, whether it’s in cans or bottles, or if you created it yourself (provided you followed all of the stages perfectly), it can last anywhere from six months to two years.
While some beers may not survive the test of time well, putting your beer in the fridge is probably the best way to preserve it when you buy a large pack of beer and save it for later.
However, it is still crucial for you to understand what happens when your beer goes bad.
Nobody likes to open a bottle of beer, drink it, and learn it’s been rotten for a while.
As a result, it is critical that you understand what ruined beer looks, smells, and tastes like.
How Can You Tell If A Beer Has Been Spoiled?
Fortunately, it’s rather simple to determine when your beer has gone bad.
More often than not, you will be able to hear it, smell it, and, in the worst-case situation, taste it.
First and foremost, there will be no characteristic hiss of beer opening when you first open it. This should be your first clue that your beer is no longer safe to drink.
Similarly, most people anticipate a small amount of froth rising to the surface of the beer when it is opened. If there is no froth, this is another clue that your beer has beyond its expiration date and you should avoid drinking it.
If you have bottles of beer, you can quickly determine whether or not the beer has gone bad. If the bottle appears dusty, it is not necessarily due to dust on the bottle itself. You should proceed with caution when drinking the beer.
Furthermore, the label may become discolored, and there may be some seepage around the bottle’s top.
These last two indicators suggest that the beer has been in the heat for far too long and is no longer safe to consume.
The bottle is something else you should look at. If there appears to be dust gathering on the bottom, you should probably discard the entire bottle of beer at this time.
If you still feel compelled to try the beer at this point, you should be prepared for a poor experience. Most of the time, the flavor will be flat, and it will quickly turn rotten.
At this point, it is neither good nor safe to drink, and you would be better off buying a new case of beer rather than jeopardizing your health.
Is it possible to become sick from old beer?
No! Beer that has expired or gone bad cannot make anyone sick.
This is due to the fermenting and filtering processes that are used to remove harmful germs from beer. As a result, it cannot cause disease, food poisoning, or other negative effects.
The most serious side effect of stale beer is stomach distress.
What Causes Beer to Go Bad?
Beer spoilage is caused by four major factors:
- Temperature: warm temperatures cause the good beer to spoil quickly.
- Air: oxidation is another factor that contributes to beer spoilage.
- Sunlight: Beer should not be exposed to direct sunlight since it will spoil.
- Distance from the brewer: the further the beer travels from its original brewing location, the faster it will spoil.
How Do You Preserve Beer?
If you’ve bought a large case of beer but are concerned about it lasting until you finish it, there are a few things you can do to ensure that it lasts as long as possible.
As with many alcoholic beverages, you should always store it in a permanently cool location, such as the back of the refrigerator, where there are no constant, extreme temperature variations.
Beer is particularly sensitive to major temperature changes, so you should generally avoid storing it in the fridge door, where it will be exposed to both the cold of the fridge and room temperature anytime you open the fridge.
You should also make an effort to keep the beer upright whenever possible. In contrast to corked wines, which must be kept at an angle or fully horizontal, beer should be kept upright as much as possible.
This is done to reduce oxidation as much as possible while also preventing contamination from the beer’s cap. As long as your beer bottles or cans are stored upright in the fridge, you can expect them to last a long time before becoming bad.
Just remember to always check the printed date on your beer bottles, as this will also tell you whether the beer is close to spoiling or if it will be fine for a little longer.
How Long Does Unrefrigerated Beer Last?
Having said that, some people are unable or unwilling to store their beer in the refrigerator.
If this is the case, all you need to do is keep it in a cold, dark place.
You should keep it in a temperature-controlled environment, and you should aim to get beers in darker bottles if you aren’t going to keep them in the fridge.
Darker bottles filter UV light, and the sun is probably the worst thing you can do to your beer.
Sunlight, particularly direct sunlight, can start a chemical reaction within one hour. This chemical reaction frequently ruins the beer, which is something no one wants to happen.
Keeping your beer out of the fridge will drastically reduce its longevity, so consider long and hard about whether this is the wisest thing to do.
Unrefrigerated beer typically lasts between six and nine months, however, there are several circumstances in which your beer will only last four to six months at most.
Furthermore, the quality of the beer can degrade depending on how long it is exposed to the sun.
Also Read: – Are Broiler Eggs Good For Your Health Or Not? {Complete Guide}
Conclusion (How Long Does Beer Last In The Fridge)
Ultimately, refrigerating your beer is the greatest option, but there will be situations when this isn’t the best option.
Something you can do is consider alternatives to your refrigerator.
If you don’t have enough room in the fridge for the pack of beer you just bought, storing it in the basement or a cooler might be a good option.
