Yes you can!
While beers are produced with expiry dates, you don’t always have to adhere to these.
If you look on the back of a beer, wine or cider bottle, you’ll likely see a ‘best before’ date. This is different to a ‘use by’ date you’ll usually see on fresh foods like meat and dairy products.
Here’s the difference: ‘use by’ is pretty much a rule. After the stated date, degradation happens quickly, and bacterial build-up means the taste, consistency and safety of the food/drink is compromised. You’re in danger of getting ill if you go past a ‘use by date’, so be wary of the risks.
‘Best before’ is more of a guideline on quality, rather than safety. It means the item in question will start to lose its quality after the stated date. You can still eat or drink it after this, but it just won’t be as good. It’s usually found on products that don’t need putting in the fridge or freezer, and there’s a big variety in the date ranges between different foods.
You won’t see these on spirits, though, as neat liquor lasts practically forever.
How long doesbeer last for?
So, beer. How long does it last? Its ‘best before’ quality changes over quite long time spans, and it differs depending on the beer type.
A typical lager will be drinkable 6 – 24 months after its best before date, if it’s been kept in the fridge. That timeframe tops out at 9 months if it hasn’t been refrigerated, though.
Some beers, like people, can actually improve with age. In the same way that wine and whiskey are matured over long timespans, the richer and higher ABV varieties of beer such as porters and stouts can certainly get better with age. This happens best if they’re kept in cool, dark storage conditions like a basem*nt or cellar.
IPAs, on the other hand, don’t fit into this category – especially the hoppy ones. They gradually lose their flavour and aroma over time and are best drunk sooner rather than later.
The difference in the above is caused by the organisms that are used in the brewing process. When yeasts are used to produce flavours in speciality beers like lambics and saisons, they change the flavour over time, living in the beer for years, consuming sugar and oxygen to ferment its ingredients.
How to store beer so it doesn't go bad
So, you’ve bought some tasty new beers. A crisp lager or tangy IPA, maybe. You’re looking forward to drinking them, but it’s Monday evening and you’re being good. What to do with them?
The first thing to note is that if they were refrigerated when you bought them, keep it that way, and put them in your fridge as soon as you get home. Otherwise, the changes in temperature could have an adverse effect on the flavour. And if they’re in bottles, make sure you store them upright. If you don’t need to refrigerate them straight away, make sure you keep them in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight where they won’t be disturbed.
How can you tell if a beer has gone bad?
Well, it should be fairly obvious from the bad aroma, but also, if it’s missing the usual ‘pssst’ sound and foaming at the top when you open it, it could well have turned. You could also look at the bottom of the bottle for excessive sediment which could contribute to a poor taste.
FAQs
Yes you can! While beers are produced with expiry dates, you don't always have to adhere to these.
Is 7 year old beer still good? ›
At room temperature, beer lasts about 5 to 9 months beyond the expiration date listed on the label. In a refrigerator, beer can last up to an additional two or three years. This applies to bottled beer, cans, growlers, you name it.
Can you drink beer with expired date? ›
This depends on what you mean by "expire." The "best by" or expiration date on most beers indicate a timeframe when it will taste its best. Beer will still be safe to drink even after these dates, but it might not taste as good as it would closer to when it was packaged.
Is expired beer unsafe to drink? ›
The short answer: Yes, you can safely drink beer past its drink-by date. Beer doesn't expire in the same way milk does, in the sense that old beer won't make you sick. Even if it's an 80-year-old can of PBR, the worst that'll happen is the beer will taste bad. Still, its flavor can taper off and turn tremendously.
How to know if beer has gone bad? ›
The beer tastes sweet and bready
Malty beers like pilsners and stouts will often develop sweet, bready and toffee-esque notes over time, indicating that they may be past their prime.
Can you drink beer 7 months out of date? ›
A typical lager will be drinkable 6 – 24 months after its best before date, if it's been kept in the fridge. That timeframe tops out at 9 months if it hasn't been refrigerated, though. Some beers, like people, can actually improve with age.
Does beer expire if not refrigerated? ›
If you have no way of measuring the temperature, though, you can keep your unopened beer in the fridge, where it will remain its best quality for up to eight months. You can also keep your unopened cans or bottles at room temperature, where they will stay the best quality for up to six months.
Will out of date beer make you sick? ›
But the good news is even if you drink an old or expired beer, "the worst thing that's going to happen is that you're going to have beer that doesn't taste good," says Witte. "There's no health risk in drinking old beer."
Can expired beer hurt your stomach? ›
Beer that goes bad — or flat — won't make you sick but may upset your stomach. You should throw out beer if there's no carbonation or white foam (head) after you pour it. You may also notice a change in taste or sediment at the bottom of the bottle.
Does expired beer lose its potency? ›
As a beer ages, will its potency wane too? In a word, no. The alcohol content of beer (and wine, for that matter) is determined during the fermentation process and will not change over time. During fermentation, yeast converts sugar (or any carbohydrate source) into carbon dioxide and ethanol alcohol.
Interesting uses for old expired beers
- USE AS A HAIR CONDITIONER.
- USE AS A REFRESHING FOOT SOAK.
- MAKE BEER BREAD.
- FERTILISE YOUR LAWNS.
- USE AS A MARINADE FOR MEAT.
Canned beer tends to have a longer shelf life than bottled beer due to better protection from sunlight, which can degrade the flavor over time. Bottles also have a seal that can wear down over time, allowing air to get in. A good rule of thumb is to consume your craft beer within six months of purchasing it.
How to tell if beer is skunked? ›
What It Smells Like. Our taste buds are very perceptive to sulfur compounds, so it doesn't actually take a lot of sunlight to completely ruin a beer. Skunked beer may smell like burnt rubber, a musty basem*nt or wet cardboard. And even though it smells awful, it's not unsafe to drink.
How long is it safe to age beer? ›
Leaving Beer to Age for Too Long
However, when aged for too long, these flavors can break down and you'll be left with a beer that tastes of ink and meat. Almost all stouts will enjoy a year or so in the cellar, however, never push beyond 2 or 3 years if you want to keep the best flavors.
Does old beer lose potency? ›
Unlike carbon dioxide, which will be lost with time, alcohol remains in the beverage and will not break down or float away. The only time you'll see alcohol naturally disappearing is in an opened beer, where the entire beer will, over time, evaporate.
Is stale beer good for anything? ›
It adds shine to furniture
The fast save: Soak a soft cloth in stale beer and use it to wipe the table, then buff with a clean, dry cloth. The drink's foam loosens dust, the color from the malt brings out wood's hue and the alcohol adds a like-new sheen.
Can 7 year olds drink beer? ›
Considering the potential harm alcohol can cause, the answer should be a simple and emphatic “no.” Any amount of alcohol is risky for an underage child. Research shows that children who drink alcohol at a young age are likely to use other substances at higher rates when they become older.
