Does Beer Go Bad? How to Tell if It’s Still Good

You may think that beer that’s been in the back of your fridge for 6 months isn’t worth touching, but we’re here to tell you that there’s hope! While beer does have an expiration date, it’s more of a quality marker than a food safety measure. In this article, we explain whether or not beer expires, how to tell if your beer’s gone bad, beer’s average shelf life, and more!

Can you drink expired beer?

Brewer Paul Segura says that beer can expire, but that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe to drink. Beer’s expiration date is more about the quality of the beer, as most beer is best consumed fresh. Time and exposure to light and heat oxidize it and decrease its quality. You can drink it, but it probably won’t taste very good.

Section 1 of 8:

Does beer expire?

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Beer has an expiration date, but it’s a quality notifier, not a food safety measure. Beer doesn’t expire the same way food does. While beer does have an expiration date, it doesn’t mean that it’ll be unsafe to consume by that listed date. As beer ages, the flavor continues to worsen, no matter the type of container. So, even though you won’t get sick when you drink beer that’s 2-3 years past the expiration date, your taste buds may get upset.^{[1]
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- Drinking beer that’s been left out in the sun or in a hot car won’t get you sick, but it won’t taste the best, either.
- Unopened, unrefrigerated beer will typically see a decrease in quality 4-6 months past its expiration date, depending on the type of beer.^{[2]
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  Paul Segura
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  Expert Interview}
- Open beer that’s left at room temperature will see a quick decrease in quality, with carbonation and taste lessening over the course of hours.

Section 2 of 8:

How to Tell If Your Beer’s Gone Bad

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While some beers may be brewed to be on the stinkier side, a skunky smell usually isn’t a good sign. When your beer is exposed to enough UV light, it can cause a skunky smell, especially in glass bottles that don’t block out the rays. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as some people prefer skunky-tasting beers, but it is a sign that your beer’s been exposed to too much UV light.^{[3]
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Most beers are carbonated, unless they’re intentionally made to be flat and smooth. But, over time, that carbonation lessens and leaves you with a flat, poor-quality beer, even if it was made to be extremely carbonated, like Bud Light, Coors Light, or Sam Adams Light. If you take a sip of your beer and you notice that it’s flat and doesn’t have sharp carbonation, it’s likely gone bad.^{[4]
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If your beer is exposed to oxygen early, it will oxidize and create a stale, cardboard-like taste. This can happen in a number of ways, whether it be a keg that’s tapped for too long or a bottle that wasn’t resealed properly.^{[5]
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It tastes like popcorn. A buttery taste in your beer is usually the result of diacetyl, a compound that’s produced in most beer fermentations. While it’s normal for diacetyl to form in beer, too much of it can cause that buttery taste, which can be a sign that it’s going bad.^{[6]
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- Exposure to too much diacetyl is dangerous for your lungs. The amount of diacetyl in beer isn’t lethal, but you still don’t want to be exposed to too much.
Beer comes in all types of flavors, but a cabbage or sewage taste is not usually one of them. If you take a sip of your beer and get a nasty sewage, cabbage, sulfur, or unusually sour taste, chances are it’s gone bad.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 8:

The Average Shelf Life of Beer

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The shelf life of beer varies based on the type of beer. If beer remains unopened and refrigerated, some can last for up to two years past the expiration date. But, this depends on the type of beer it is.^{[8]
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Paul Segura
Brewer

Expert Interview} For example, pilsners, lagers, and wheat beers tend to drop off in quality after 3 months, while IPAs tend to vary depending on how many adjuncts (unmalted grains like barley or wheat) they have. A 12% ABV stout tends to taste better than a blueberry pie milkshake IPA after a year in a cellar, so when it comes to adjuncts, they’re better fresh. Other average shelf lives include:^{[9]
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- Stouts and Porters: These maintain flavors for about 2 years, but lose their foam stability over time.
- Barleywines and Tripels: These tend to produce new flavors as they age, and are good for about 1-6 years.
- Lambics, Gueuzes, and Saisons: These aged beers can be good for decades, with some still maintaining a strong flavor after 20 years.
- Kegged Beer: Typically has a shelf life of two months if kept cold.^{[10]
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Section 4 of 8:

What affects the shelf life of beer?

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Beer is sensitive to UV radiation from the sun, so it’s best to keep it out of the light. Even less than an hour of sun exposure can cause a chemical reaction called “light strike” that produces 3-methyl crotyl mercaptan, which exudes a skunky flavor. Many beer manufacturers combat this issue by tinting their bottles in colors that better absorb UV light, like brown.^{[11]
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No matter how well beer is sealed, there’s always a little bit of oxygen in the container. Over time, this causes the beer to oxidize and become stale, which impacts the flavor profile and quality. Light styles, like pilsners, are more prone to quick oxidation, which can take a malty flavor and turn it acidic with a cardboard-like aftertaste.^{[12]
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When beer is exposed to heat, it’s more likely to become stale. Do you ever notice that when you leave a beer in the sun, it loses its carbonation and flavor fairly quickly? You can thank the heat for that. This is why beers are best stored at refrigerated temperatures, as they help maintain the beer’s flavor profile.^{[13]
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As time goes on, beer begins to naturally age and lose some of its flavor. Depending on the beer, the time differs.^{[14]
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Paul Segura
Brewer

Expert Interview} For example, hoppy beers tend to lose their flavor after 3-6 months, while bottle-conditioned (basically re-fermentation) beers with an ABV of 9% or higher are typically fine for over a year. Some of the compounds that break down over time can provide a flavor that some beer enthusiasts are quite fond of, making some aged beers extremely popular.^{[15]
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Section 5 of 8:

Does beer last longer in glass bottles or cans?

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Beer typically lasts longer in cans than bottles. Beer contains plenty of compounds that break down during storage, reducing the content of tasty flavors and replacing them with unappetizing ones.^{[16]
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American Chemical Society
Scientific society for those involved with chemistry and publisher of several leading peer-reviewed scientific journals

Go to source} Because of this, beer generally lasts longer in modern cans than it does in glass bottles, as the glass bottles contain more oxygen in the neck, leading to a quicker break down of compounds.
- Older beer cans tend to store worse than glass bottles, as they corrode over time and can leave bits of rust behind in the beer.

Section 6 of 8:

Packaged-On Date vs. Best Before Date

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The package date is when the beer was packaged; the best-before date is when it’s at peak freshness. A case of beer typically contains one date, either the packaged-on date or the best-before date. The packaged-on date (also known as “closed dating”) tells you when the beer was put into the can or bottle and packaged to sell. The best before date (also known as “open dating”) is a date that helps determine how long an item is at its best quality before it starts to decline.^{[17]
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Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA
Food safety information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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- It’s generally best practice to follow the packaged on date for freshness.

Section 7 of 8:

How to Keep Beer From Going Bad

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Store it in a cold, dark place. Because heat and light play a big factor in the shelf life of beer, it’s best to keep your beer in a cold, dark place away from light. The type of beer determines the right storage temperature. Strong beers, like barleywines, dark ales, and triples, do best at 55-60℉ (12.7-15.5℃), standard ales, like IPAs, bitters, and stouts, are best at 50-55℉ (10-12.7℃), and lighter beers, like wheat beers, pilsners, and lagers, do best at 45-50℉ (7.2-10℃).^{[18]
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- The higher the alcohol content, the higher the storage temperature will typically be. The lower the alcohol content, the lower the storage temperature.
- 50-55℉ (10-12.7℃) is ideal for most beers. The higher the temperature, the more you risk shortening your beer’s lifespan.
- Bartender Bryan Sullivan says that beer tastes different depending on the temperature that it’s served at. The darker and stronger the beer is, the warmer you’d want it served.^{[19]
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- Sullivan says a stout should be served at 50-60℉ (10-15.5℃). Most lagers are best served at 35-45℉ (1.6-7.2℃).^{[20]
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Reseal opened beer with a wine cork or vacuum pump. As soon as you open a beer, it starts losing some quality and carbonation. But, you can still keep it fairly fresh by resealing it with a wine cork or vacuum pump. If you use a cork, insert it into the top of the container and make sure it seals. If you use a vacuum pump, wet the stopper, insert it into the bottle, connect the pump to the valve, then pump until you feel a vacuum forming.^{[21]
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- If the bottle is ¾ of the way full or more, be careful when pumping, as froth can shoot out.^{[22]
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Keeping your bottles and cans upright lowers the amount of oxygen your beer is exposed to. Plus, if you store a bottle on its side, you risk it forming a yeast ring, which can negatively impact appearance, quality, and taste.^{[23]
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Section 8 of 8:

What to Do With Expired Beer

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While expired beer may taste a bit worse when you drink it, it’s harmless when you use it on the grill. To add rich flavor to your meat and keep it juicy, soak it in the beer before grilling. As it cooks, the beer will evaporate and add extra juice and flavor to the meat, making for a tasty meal.^{[24]
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Make a michelada. Because the worst thing about expired beer is the taste, you can use it to make a michelada! Mix 2 tablespoons (1 oz) of sea salt and ¾ teaspoon (0.125 oz) of Tajin seasoning on a shallow plate. Run a lime wedge along the rim of two glasses, then coat the rim with the salt mixture. Fill the glasses halfway with ice cubes, then evenly mix 4 drops of Worcestershire sauce, 4 drops of soy sauce, ²⁄₃ cup (160 mL) of tomato juice, ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of lime juice, and 4 drops of hot sauce into a glass. Then, top both glasses with 12 fluid ounces (0.35 L) of beer, garnish them with the lime wedges, and enjoy!^{[25]
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- The tomato juice will help provide flavor.
Check for any spots on your coffee table, cabinet, or other wooden furniture, then soak a soft cloth in flat beer and apply it to the surface. Wipe away any grime, dust, or dirt, and voila! Your wooden furniture will now have a bit of extra shine, and you didn’t even need to throw away your beer!^{[26]
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When you notice that you’ve got an ugly stain on your pots or pans, soak them in stale beer for about 5-10 minutes. Once you’ve soaked them, use a soft cloth to buff the surface and gently remove any stains. This will have your pot looking fresh, even though you used stale beer.^{[27]
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