We’re pretty sure that if you’ve got Beavertown in your fridge, you’re probably not leaving it in there long enough to go off, are you? We knew it. It’s just too tasty.
In short, yes, beer does go off. No, we don’t mean it throws shade whenever you open the fridge. Unfortunately, it’s much less exciting than that. We’re going to talk about beer shelf life today – wait, don't leave! We’re going to make it interesting, promise.
Does Beer Go Off in Cans?
Yup. Beer can totally go off in cans. An unopened can kept in a cold dark place like your fridge will go off slower than if you kept it in a hot, bright place (like the surface of the sun). But either way, they can still go off. Which is why you should always drink your Beavertown before it’s best before date. Or at the next BBQ. Whichever comes first.
Does Beer Go Off in Bottles?
Beer can go off in bottles. Just like with cans, they’re best kept in the fridge (or an arctic planet covered in ice storms), not the centre of a supernova.
Can You Drink Out of Date Beer?
So you technically can drink your Beavertown when it’s slightly out of date (a couple weeks off not 10 years off). It’s not going to cause lasers to shoot down from space to vaporise you or anything. What we’re saying is that it’s not unsafe, but we would certainly not recommend. You’ve been warned.
What Does A Beer Expiry Date Mean?
We’ll be honest – your beer isn’t going to go bad the second midnight hits after it’s best before date. It’s not holding a tiny pocket watch waiting for you to come home past curfew to ground you from seeing your friends. It’s more that after the best before date, the taste of the beer will begin to deteriorate. So it won’t be as tasty as it could be. And the longer you wait, the less of that Beavertown flavour you’ll get.
How to Tell if Beer Has Gone Bad
Picture this: it’s been a long week at work. The sun is shining – perfect BBQ weather. You just remembered you had a can of Beavertown in the cupboard. You decide it’s the perfect beverage to enjoy during dinner. You crack it open…. Only to be met with no refreshing “tssst”. No delectable fizz. A strange, off putting aroma. And a weird cloudiness when you pour it into a glass. Yep, it’s gone off. That’s a shame. Now you have to go buy more.
What Makes Beer Go Off?
Sunlight, heat, and oxidation – 3 of beer’s nemeses.
The UV light from the sun is really bad for beer – just like our skin (always wear your sunscreen!). It can react with chemical compounds in the hops which breaks down the flavours and also ruins the look and smell. This is why most bottled beers are in dark-coloured glass so less UV light gets through the glass. So keep your beer in a cupboard or the fridge (don’t worry about the fridge light, that won’t harm your beer), not the windowsill.
Heat and temperature changes can also give your beer a weird taste as it breaks down the flavour compounds and gives your beer a bit of a ‘skunky’ flavour – yum.
While yes, oxygen is great and we couldn’t live without it, it can also be an enemy of beer. When you bottle up or can a beer, there’s always a bit of air in there as well. You can’t really get rid of this air and usually it’s fine. But sometimes the oxygen can change the taste of the beer and make it taste stale and cardboardy. And no one wants to drink wet cardboard.
How Long Does Beer Last For?
Another, secret enemy of beer – especially those really hoppy IPAs and lagers – is time. Some types of beers like stouts can be aged but the hop flavour we love in IPAs, Pale Ales, and Lagers decreases the longer it sits un-drunk. So drink it while it’s fresh!
All our beers have a 9-month shelf life, with the best before date displayed on the underside of the can. Your Beavertown favourites are brewed and canned regularly, so they’ll always be fresh!
How to Make Beer Last Longer
We’re pretty sure your Beavertown isn’t sticking around in your house for too long – it tastes too good. But if you’re storing it ready for that BBQ next week or a bank holiday family gathering, just make sure you store it in the fridge (cold but above sub-zero temps) – a cool, dark cupboard works too. And drink (responsibly obvs) before the ‘best before’ date.
Still Thirsty? Read all about pouring the perfect pint next.
