
How long does beer last after use by date?
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.
How long can beer sit in a brown bottle?
Brown bottle, the best glass to protect beer, will still skunk a beer in just a day or two of sunlight. Green and clear bottles only need a few minutes to spoil beer. After all of that, the simple answer is: beer should be stored for a short time in a dark, cool place.
How do you store beer until it opens up?
So, how do you store beer until some room opens up? The short answer is to keep it in a cool, dark place and don't leave it there for more than a few months. But there's more you should know. How Perishable Is Beer? Most beers are quickly perishable items.
How long should you age beer before drinking it?
There are a few exceptions like barley wine and some dopplebocks, which can be aged for years like wine. For the most part, beer should be consumed within a few weeks or months of brewing for the best quality.

Can beer be stored for a long time?
The shelf life of beer will depend on the container and location of storage. If stored properly in a refrigerated area, bottled beer will last up to six months. If stored in a warm environment, bottled beer can spoil in three months. Other containers, such as crowlers and growlers have shorter shelf lives.
Is beer still good after 2 years?
Beer typically lasts for six to nine months past the expiration date on its label. If the beer is refrigerated, it can last up to two years beyond the expiration date. It all depends on what your tolerance for those nasty flavors that come with bad beer is.
Is beer still good after 10 years?
According to the Approved Food Blog, standard strength options stay fresh for between 6 months and 2 years after brewing. Standard strength beers include pale ales, IPAs and lagers. Stronger beers, like porters or imperial stouts, can stay tasting good for between 5 and 10 years after brewing.
Is beer still good after 3 years?
Yes—but its flavor will degrade over time. Beer is a perishable product that stales when it's exposed to light, oxygen, and heat, which degrade the organic compounds that make beer smell and taste great. But even when its flavor is declining, it can be perfectly safe to drink.
Can you drink 40 year old beer?
The short answer is that yes, beer expires. But saying the beer expires is a bit misleading, it doesn't actually become unsafe to drink, it just starts to taste unappealing or flat.
How long is beer good for unopened?
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. Unopened, of course.
Can you drink 15 year old beer?
Can I Drink 15 Year Old Beer? There is no harm in trying it, but the flavor won't be good either. The flavor of pale low-alcohol beers doesn't improve with age, and a beer that had little flavour to begin with does not have a chance of improving with age.
Can you get sick from old beer?
Liquor does not expire to the point of causing sickness. It simply loses flavor — generally a year after being opened. 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.
How do I know if my beer is expired?
The beer expiry date for bottles is often written on the neck or shoulder. Many beer expiry date on the bottom is written on containers. The last resort is to search the carrier or case packaging, whether you can't find a beer expiry date written on the package or anywhere else on the bottle/can.
Does beer go bad if it freezes?
It's not going to go bad. Unlike meat, where you may be exposing it to other bacteria in the fridge … because the beer is sealed, it's safe. So thawing your beer out at room temperature in the basement or in the fridge is fine.
How long after bottling beer can I drink it?
two weeksAfter you bottle the beer, give it at least two weeks before drinking it. The yeast needs a few days to actually consume the sugar, and then a little more time is needed for the beer to absorb the carbon dioxide.
How long does it take for beer to get stale?
The beer is still drinkable and tastes about the same, but it is dead. So, in the case of pasteurized beer, it needs to be consumed within a few weeks of brewing else the flavor begins to get stale.
How long can beer be stored in the fridge?
So, how do you store beer until some room opens up? The short answer is to keep it in a cool, dark place and don't leave it there for more than a few months. But there's more you should know.
When did Anheuser Busch start pasteurizing beer?
When Anheuser Busch started pasteurizing beer in the late 19th-century it was a revolution. Previously, beer had an incredibly short shelf-life. Most breweries could transport their beer only a few miles away before it would spoil.
Why do brewers use heat?
Brewers use heat by manipulating temperatures during the brewing process to come up with the precise flavors of their beer. So, it stands to reason that a few hours in a hot, parked car can seriously mess up that balance. Beer's other enemy, light, is what leads to skunking.
What are the enemies of beer?
All beer has three main enemies: heat, light, and infection. The infection we discussed above and that is really out of our control. Heat and light, however, can be controlled. Besides encouraging bacterial groups, heat can also simply damage the flavor of the beer.
Is unpasteurized beer yeast?
Unpasteurized beer still contains yeast suspended in the beer itself. It is an important part of the flavor profile of many styles and vital, in some drinkers minds, to an enjoyable pint.
Where should beer be stored?
After all of that, the simple answer is: beer should be stored for a short time in a dark, cool place. If you have room in your fridge, that's the best spot. If you just made a beer run and bought far more than you meant to, then keep the beer in your basement or a centrally located closet.
Can bottled beer go bad?
The short answer is that yes, beer expires. But saying the beer expires is a bit misleading, it doesn’t actually become unsafe to drink, it just starts to taste unappealing or flat.
Can you drink 3 year old beer?
The simple answer is yes, the beer is still good insofar as it is safe to drink. Since most beer is either pasteurized or filtered to eliminate bacteria, it’s extremely resistant to spoiling. How the beer will taste is another matter.
Can you store beer for years?
Don’t Store Beer Too Long The higher a beer’s alcohol content, the longer it can continue to develop during aging. Simpson says most beers will develop the depth and complexity you’re looking for within three to six years.
Can old beer make you sick?
Drinking beer past the expiration date is not ideal, but in the event that you drink a “rotten beer”, just know that drinking a bad beer probably won’t make you sick and it won’t kill you. At the most, you can expect a bit of a stomach ache and a slight feeling of disappointment and disgust.
Does bottled beer go bad if not refrigerated?
The beer will be fine if you leave it at room temperature in your home. That type of extreme heat — think 80-plus degrees — will, in fact, ruin the beer. Then, when you’re ready, put the beer in the fridge, cool it back down to your ideal temperature, and enjoy. The flavors should be just fine.
Can you store beer at room temperature?
Beer is best preserved when kept cold… kind of like milk. 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.
Does bottled water go bad?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates the bottled water industry, does not require a shelf life for bottled water. Bottled water can be used indefinitely if stored properly, but we recommend no more than two years for non-carbonated water, and one year for sparkling water.
How long should beer be stored?
Drinking most beer within 3 to 6 months is ideal. Longer than that and off-flavors may start to develop. We’ll break down what you need to know about storing beer, how long it lasts, and what to look out for if you think it’s bad.
How long does bottled beer last?
Bottled Beer. Kept in a dark and cold area, like a fridge, bottled beer will last up to 6 months. Stored warm, bottled beer can spoil in as quickly as 3 months. Keeping beer bottles away from light prevents the development of skunky off-flavors. Beer is extremely sensitive to light.
Why do breweries fill growlers?
Many bars, brewpubs, and breweries fill growlers and crowlers directly from their taps so you can enjoy fresh beer from the comfort of your home. This beer is meant to be drunk fresh. Unless a specific filling machine is used, the beer is exposed to a lot of oxygen when it’s filled.
Why do sour beers evolve?
Sour and wild beers will also develop interesting new flavors with age. These beers evolve over time because of the mix of yeast and bacterias. As beer ages, certain flavor components change and evolve with time. Oxygen reacts with compounds from the malt, yeast, and hops to accentuate certain flavors.
What is the best before date for beer?
Most beers have the best before date listed on the can, bottle, or case. Certain regions require breweries to list an expiration by law. These days, most craft breweries print an “Enjoy By” date, which should be followed if possible. This is a date that the brewers recommend their product be consumed by.
What does oxidation do to beer?
Oxidative effects on malt and hops will give a stale, cardboard-like flavor. For very hoppy beers, like IPA and American pale ale, oxidation can have a quick and obvious effect on the beer. Old hoppy beer will have lost almost all hop flavor and turn a brownish, even purple, color.
Is sour beer a sign of a bad seal?
The beer has been contaminated with a wild bacteria and should not be consumed. If the beer has lost all carbonation, this is a sign of a bad seal on the can or bottle.
When Does Beer Expire?
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. Unopened, of course.
Does Beer Have An Expiration Date?
Yes, most beer companies are kind enough to print an expiration date either on the package or the bottles themselves. Exactly how far out these dates are from bottling depends on the brewer, the bottles used, and what type of beer it is.
How Long Does It Take For Beer To Expire?
Most beer companies will mark their bottles with an expiration date anywhere from 3 months to 9 months from the day of bottling. However, the date listed and the actual point that the beer will start losing flavor are not the same. You can expect a beer to be good for at least 5 months from the date on the bottle if you store it properly.
Does Beer Go Bad In The Fridge?
Yes, both opened and unopened beer can go bad in the fridge. In a refrigerator, an unopened bottle or can of beer can last up to two or three years. However, an opened bottle or can will generally only be good for a day before the oxidation destroys all the good flavors.
Does Beer Go Bad In The Heat?
Yes, heat actually causes beer to go bad more quickly than if it's refrigerated or stored in a cool cellar. As a rule of thumb, you should approach beer storage using the 3-30-300 rule. This rule states that you can keep beer at 90°F for only 3 days before it goes bad. It will last 30 days at 72°F, which is around room temperature.
Does Canned Beer Go Bad?
Yes, canned beer goes bad, but usually more slowly than bottled beer. This is because cans don't let any light in, so the oxidation process is much slower. However, you shouldn't expect a five-year-old can of beer to taste as good as the fresh one.
Does Bottled Beer Go Bad?
Yes, bottled beer goes bad. Both dark and light bottles will go bad over time, but at different rates. Clear or lighter-colored bottles can become "skunky" due to light exposure. This is essentially what happens to all beer over time, but these bottles are particularly susceptible and will oxidize rapidly.
ABEV, CCU, and DEO are top for value, growth, and momentum, respectively
Nathan Reiff has been writing expert articles and news about financial topics such as investing and trading, cryptocurrency, ETFs, and alternative investments on Investopedia since 2016.
Best Value Beer Stocks
These are the beer stocks with the lowest 12-month trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Because profits can be returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks, a low P/E ratio shows that you’re paying less for each dollar of profit generated.
Fastest Growing Beer Stocks
These are the top beer stocks as ranked by a growth model that scores companies based on a 50/50 weighting of their most recent quarterly YOY percentage revenue growth and most recent quarterly YOY earnings-per-share (EPS) growth. Both sales and earnings are critical factors in the success of a company.
Beer Stocks with the Most Momentum
These are the beer stocks that had the highest total return over the last 12 months.
An in-depth look at the leading beer stocks in the U.S stock market this year
Nicholas has been a writer for the Motley Fool since 2015, covering companies primarily in the consumer goods and technology sectors. He is also the founder and president of Concinnus Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor based in Spokane, WA. He enjoys the outdoors up and down the West Coast with his wife and their Humane Society-rescued dog.
Investing in beer stocks
Beer is a big business, but it's not a high-growth industry. Nevertheless, a few notable names stand out as worthy of investor attention.
Making the best of a slow-growth industry
The beer industry isn't the most exciting investment theme around. But there are some standouts in the space worth paying attention to, especially for investors seeking to generate some dividend income along the way.
