With the sale of alcoholic beverages mainly beer outlawed in some countries or out-rightly banned, there is bound to be slow sales for the brewing companies and also the bar owners.The old stocks might and will definitely move slower than pre-coronavirus period and this poses a risk as to the storage and consumption of the said drinks unless you are sue about their state or ability/inability to expire or go bad.
Whether you’re planning a Corona-soaked ( corona the beer not the virus) 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.
After all, there’s nothing worse than being disappointed by a skunked beer when your taste buds were craving a refreshing pale ale.
The short answer is that yes, beer does go bad, but it can last a long time under proper storage conditions. 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.
How Does Beer Go Bad?
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.
- Light Exposure
- Oxygen Exposure
- Bacteria Exposure
When Does Beer Go Bad? Understanding Use-By Dates
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.
The Average Shelf Life of Beer
Most beers last beyond the printed expiration date 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. Here are some things to consider about your beer and its journey from brewery to your glass.
- 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.
Putting It All Together: Best Practices for Storing Beer
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. A dedicated beer fridge 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.
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