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.
As a beverage enthusiast and knowledgeable expert in the realm of alcoholic beverages, particularly beer, wine, and spirits, I have extensive experience and expertise in understanding their production, storage, and expiration processes. I have engaged in professional discussions, studies, and hands-on experiences related to the nuances of different alcoholic beverages, their aging characteristics, and optimal storage conditions.
The concepts embedded in the article relate primarily to the distinctions between "best before" and "use by" dates, the longevity of beers beyond their recommended expiration dates, the impact of storage conditions on beer quality, and indicators of beer spoilage.
The article discusses two crucial date indicators commonly found on consumables: "best before" and "use by" dates. "Use by" dates signify a strict timeline for safety, particularly in perishable goods where bacterial growth can pose health risks once the date passes. In contrast, "best before" dates are guidelines for quality, indicating that while the product might decline in taste or quality post that date, it remains safe for consumption for some time.
Regarding beer longevity, different types of beer have varying shelf lives beyond their "best before" dates. Lager, when refrigerated, maintains drinkability for 6 to 24 months beyond the best before date, while its quality diminishes faster if not refrigerated. Certain beers, notably those high in alcohol content like porters and stouts, can actually improve with age under proper storage conditions, akin to the aging process of wines and spirits. However, hoppy beers like IPAs tend to lose their flavor and aroma over time and are best consumed fresh.
The article touches on the role of brewing organisms, such as yeasts, in the aging process of specialty beers like lambics and saisons, which can change the flavor profile of the beer over extended periods.
Proper beer storage is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of refrigeration for maintaining flavor, avoiding temperature fluctuations, storing bottles upright, and protecting them from direct sunlight in a cool, dry place.
Indicators of beer spoilage are also mentioned, including off-putting aromas, lack of usual carbonation or foam upon opening, and excessive sediment in the bottle.
In summary, my expertise encompasses the intricacies of beer aging, storage, quality maintenance, and recognition of spoilage indicators, aligning closely with the concepts elucidated in the article.
