Beer Beyond Best Before: Is It Safe To Drink?

Beer typically has a 'best before' date rather than a 'use by' date, and it is generally safe to drink past this date. However, the flavour and quality may deteriorate over time, especially if the beer has not been stored properly.

Beer's expiry date is more of a guideline than a rule

Beer is a delicate beverage, and its expiration date is a delicate topic. While beer does expire, it doesn't go bad in the same way that food does. It won't make you sick, but it can lose its robust flavours and its quality will deteriorate over time. So, the expiry date on beer is more of a guideline than a hard-and-fast rule.

The fermentation process used in brewing, as well as the low pH level and alcohol content of beer, make it an unfriendly environment for microorganisms. This means that even if a beer sits on the shelf for years, as long as it's sealed, it's unlikely to make you ill. However, the taste of beer can change over time, and what was once refreshing might become less so.

The main factors that contribute to beer expiration are oxygen, heat, and light. Oxygen interacts with the compounds from malt, yeast, and hops, causing oxidation and a disappointing papery taste. Heat speeds up oxidation, so it's best to store beer in a refrigerator. Light, specifically ultraviolet (UV) light, can cause a photochemical reaction with hop compounds, resulting in a distinctive skunky smell and taste.

Different types of beer have different shelf lives. High-alcohol, malt-forward beers like barley wines and imperial stouts are sometimes brewed with aging in mind and can improve with age. On the other hand, IPAs, especially hoppy ones, gradually lose their flavour and aroma and are best drunk fresh.

To summarise, while beer does have an expiration date, it's not a strict rule. Drinking beer past its prime won't harm your health, but it might not taste as good as it once did.

Beer won't make you sick, but it can taste bad

It's happened to the best of us. You find a can of beer at the back of the fridge or in the depths of your cupboard, and you wonder: "Can I still drink this?"

The short answer is yes, you can. Beer typically doesn't "expire" in the same way that perishable foods do. Its alcohol and pH levels, as well as the fermentation process, make it difficult for bacteria to grow, so it's unlikely to make you sick.

However, that doesn't mean it will taste good. Beer can go bad in several ways, and its flavour can deteriorate over time, especially if exposed to oxygen, heat, or light.

How to Tell If Beer Has Gone Bad

There are a few telltale signs that your beer has gone bad:

• Loss of carbonation: If your beer is flat or overly fizzy, it's likely gone bad.
• Off-flavours and aromas: A skunky, sulfuric, cardboard-like, stale, sour, vinegary, metallic, musty, or mouldy taste or smell can indicate that your beer has gone bad.
• Appearance: Beer can become cloudy or develop unexpected sediment, darken in colour, or have unusual colours like a murky brown in a light beer.
• Lack of foam: Fresh beer typically has a good head when poured, so if your beer has little to no foam, it may be stale.

How to Store Beer to Prevent It From Going Bad

To keep your beer tasting fresh, follow these storage tips:

• Keep it in a cool, dark place, preferably a refrigerator.
• If storing at room temperature, make sure it's away from direct sunlight.
• Store bottles upright to minimize the surface area exposed to air inside the bottle and allow sediment to settle at the bottom.
• Drink it fresh and as close to its "born on" date as possible.

So, if you're wondering whether you can drink that old beer you found, the answer is probably yes, it won't hurt you. But it might not taste great, either.

Store beer in a cool, dark place

Beer is sensitive to oxygen, heat, and light. Oxygen interacts with the compounds from malt, yeast, and hops, causing oxidation and a papery taste. Heat speeds up oxidation, and major changes in temperature can cause an off-taste. UV light can cause a skunky taste. Therefore, it is important to store beer in a cool, dark place.

If you are storing beer in the refrigerator, it is already in a cool, dark place. If you are storing beer at room temperature, make sure it is not in direct sunlight. A basement or cellar is ideal, as these rooms tend to be cooler and darker than other rooms in the house.

If you are storing beer in a bottle, make sure to store it upright. This will limit the beer's exposure to oxygen.

If you are storing beer in a keg, it is best to finish it within a day, as the pumps used to push the beer out also push oxygen in, which will affect the taste.

Some beers improve with age. Richer and higher ABV beers, such as porters and stouts, can improve with age if they are kept in cool, dark storage.

Beer can be drunk months after its 'best before' date

Beer can be drunk months after its best-before date. In fact, unless the beer has gone bad, it won't make you sick or hurt you in any way. The fermentation process used in brewing beer, as well as its low pH level and alcohol content, make it difficult for microorganisms to grow.

However, it's important to note that the taste of beer can change over time. Beer can go bad in several ways, including oxidation, which can result in a cardboard-like or stale taste and a reduced aroma. Beer in clear or green bottles can also become "skunky" when exposed to UV light, developing a distinctive sulfur-like smell and taste. Microbial contamination can also occur, leading to sour, musty, or metallic flavours, as well as cloudiness or unexpected sediment in the beer.

To prevent beer from going bad, it's important to store it properly. Beer should be kept in a cool, dark place, preferably in the refrigerator. If storing at room temperature, ensure that it is kept out of direct sunlight. It's also best to store beer bottles upright to minimize the surface area exposed to air inside the bottle, which can help reduce oxidation.

While drinking expired beer is generally safe, it's important to use your senses to check for any signs of spoilage before consuming it. Look for changes in appearance, such as excessive sediment or cloudiness in the beer. Smell the beer for any off-aromas, such as a skunky or sulfuric smell, or a faint or faded aroma. Finally, take a small sip to taste for any off-flavours, such as skunky, sour, metallic, or musty notes. If the beer tastes unpleasant or has an unappealing aroma, it's best to discard it.

Commercial beers are well-pasteurised and filtered

Today, pasteurisation is used to prevent food spoilage and is especially important for mass distribution and consumption. In Pasteur's time, it was probably a very good idea to sterilise every product meant for long-term storage. However, times have changed, and technology has improved. There is now very little chance that an unpasteurised beer will spoil before it reaches the consumer.

Most breweries pasteurise their beer, but a number of breweries prefer not to. Many microbrewers choose not to filter the beer, and some prefer to pasteurise. Beer is pasteurised to keep it microbiologically stable. Pasteurisation can also positively influence the oxidative stability of non-filtered beer.

Commercial canned and bottled beers are typically pasteurised. The cans and bottles are run through a hot water spray that's around 140 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any bacteria and stop any yeast still in the beer from growing.

Frequently asked questions