How Long Does Beer Last: Many people think that unopened beer stays quality until they open it. But it is not correct. If you would like to keep your favorite beer in your backyard party and think about how to store beer without getting skunked. For all these problems, we have provided a solution in this article. And also if you have bought too much beer, if you are thinking about its shelf life and all, look into this article.
Here, In this short guide, we will break down all the questions that you need to know like how to store beer properly, how long does beer last, tips to store it, spoilage, and many more are discussed.
- How Long Does Unopened/Opened Beer Last in the Fridge?
- What is the Best Way to Store Beer Bottles?
- Store Beer in the Pantry
- Store Beer in the Fridge
- Store Beer in the Freezer
- Store Beer in a Cellar
- Can Expired Beer Make You Sick?
- Tips To Know If Beer Has Gone Bad
- Unknown Facts About Beer
- Can You Freeze Beer?
- Does beer expire and go bad?
- Is beer still good after 5 years?
- Can you drink beer one year expired?
How Long Does Unopened/Opened Beer Last in the Fridge?
Even though beers might not last forever, they will have a longer shelf life than many other items. Regular beers mostly retain their quality for 6 months if it is at room temperature, if you store them in the fridge they can last up to one year and longer too based on their alcohol content. The high the alcohol the longer it lasts. Once after opening the beer it will have a short life span even if it is stored in the fridge.
And some vintage beers and craft beers are meant for aging, you cannot drink them fresh as you will not get the full flavor. Dont think all beers will have the same shelf life, unpasteurized beers will only last for a few weeks at room temperature or in the pantry.
Type | Pantry | Fridge |
Bottled Beer(Unopened) | 6 to 8 months | 1 year |
Canned Beer(Unopened) | 6 to 8 months | 1 year |
Homemade Beer(Unopened) | 6 to 8 months | 1 year |
Opened Beer | Not Recommended | 1 day |
Vintage Beer | 5 to 10 years | Not Recommended |
Unpasteurized Beer | A few weeks | Not Recommended |
What is the Best Way to Store Beer Bottles?
Here we are going to provide you with the best ways to store beer bottles. The best proper place to store beer is a dark and cold area. It would be a pantry, fridge, freezer, and cellar all these are the best options. Look into the storage ways below.
Store Beer in the Pantry
Storing beer in the pantry is the best option as it keeps your beer away from UV rays. Because light is one of the primary beer enemies, and beer will get a different taste if it is kept in direct sunlight.
Store Beer in the Fridge
Like most other drinks, keeping beer in the fridge is the best option you have especially if you live in a warm region. And also keeping beer in the fridge will slow down the aging process, again it will be away from sunlight too. Always keep the temperature in the fridge between 35 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
Store Beer in the Freezer
Storing beer in the freezer is not convenient to store for too long, but you can quickly cool it when needing it for a party. If you store the beer in the freezer for too long, the beer will expand and that may cause it to break the bottle. Even though if you freeze and thaw the freezer it may affect its flavor.
Store Beer in a Cellar
This is another excellent option to store beer in a cellar especially if you live in a warmer climate. And storing in the cellar will slow down the aging process but won’t stop it entirely.
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Can Expired Beer Make You Sick?
No, expired beer cannot make you sick. Once the beer passed its best-by date, flavor and quality may affect the beer negatively. But there will not be any bacteria. Drinking expired beer may not affect your health but you will have a bad taste. Since beer is fermented with low pH that contains alcohol, it is an excellent protection against harmful pathogens.
And always be careful when having an expired unpasteurized beer, it is always better to throw instead of drinking it as it may have a risk drinking it.
Tips To Know If Beer Has Gone Bad
As we mentioned above, that beer will not spoil and become unsafe for consumption, but it doesn’t mean the beer will be indefinite, you will see the clear signs when it goes bad. Look into some of the signs that beer has gone bad.
- Always check the bottle, if it looks damaged like leaking or rusty, just throw it away as it is not best to drink.
- And another sign is if the bottle is okay when you are opening it you will not get the ‘psssst’ sound. At that time discard it as the beer has been rotten.
- If the beer gets expired, the color will be darker, like purple or brownish color at that time just toss it off.
- If the beer smells like a skunk it will be quite disgusting to drink, but it is not dangerous to drink.
- If everything is okay but you are storing it for a long time, first take a sip to taste, if it tastes sour, discard it.
Unknown Facts About Beer
Here we are going to provide son fun and unknown facts about beer that you all should know.
- Humans all over the world consume 50 billion gallons of beer each year.
- The word beer comes from the Latin word, “bibere”, meaning “to drink”.
- First, beer was introduced by the Sumerians around 4000 BCE.
Can You Freeze Beer?
No, You cannot store beer in the freezer, for long as the beer can or bottle explodes at low temperatures. At freezing temperatures, water will push the carbon dioxide bubbles. And another problem with freezing at low temperatures is it kills the yeast and stops additional flavor development.
FAQs on How Long Does Beer Last in the Fridge
1. Does beer expire and go bad?
Yes, beer expires and goes bad. But it dont actually mean that it is unsafe to drink, but it just starts to taste flat or unappealing.
2. Is beer still good after 5 years?
No, Beer lasts about 5 to 9 months beyond the expiration date that was given on the bottle’s best-by date at room temperature. In the refrigerator, it can last upto 3 years.
3. Can you drink beer one year expired?
Yes, you can drink beer 6-24 months after its best-before date, if you keep it in the fridge. Some beer actually improves with age.
Key Takeaways
Beer is always great when it is fresh. If you stick to the guidelines above, you can enjoy the fridge full of tasty, fresh beer. By storing correctly, it will last for a long. Still, if you have doubts or suggestions to give, you can give and ask us in the comment section below. For more interesting articles, you can check out the canfoodgobad.com website.