People enjoy a beer in a casual setting, at home, in a bar, or shared with friends. Beer lovers always ensure to have their favorite six-pack in their fridge, contributing to the massive consumer market.
But have you ever wondered how long you should have a beer in your house before it expires?
Do you wonder why beer expires and what effects the expiration has on people?
How Does Beer Expire?
Beer is like other consumable food products that expire after a while due to the ingredients and packaging.
However, unlike some foods, expiration means something entirely different. When beer expires, it loses some flavor and potency, and it may decay and go bad – although this is optional.
What Makes Beer Expire?
You should understand some basic facts about beer production before you can know what makes beer expire?
Beer goes through a process of brewing, fermentation, and bottling that contributes to its taste and quality, based on the preference of the beer maker.
During this process, the beer maker introduces ingredients like yeast, sugar, and other plant materials. Since these ingredients are organic and plant-based, they can start to deteriorate over time.
Some Factors that Make Beer Expire
Brewers take note of these circumstances during the production and packaging of beer. One of them or a combination informs the brewer of the estimated expiration date.
- Oxidation:
Oxygen is the biggest culprit in the decay, deterioration, and eventually, expiration. Oxidation is the reaction that occurs from the interaction of oxygen with the ingredients and molecules in beer.
When oxygen interacts with the ingredients in beer, especially the hops, it alters the taste in various ways.
In most cases, oxidation will create an unwanted rotten taste in the beer. Some beers will see the hoppiness disappear during oxidation. But, in some rare instances, oxidation can improve the taste.
Because of how easy it is for oxygen to get into the beer at different stages of the brewing process, brewers take care to limit the oxygen level.
Limiting oxygen altogether is near impossible, so the little amounts that make their way into the bottle of beer interact with the aroma and flavor of the hops, contributing to the expiration date of the beer.
- Bacteria
Homebrewers might suffer from this occurrence, but commercial factories will consider bacteria invasion a rarity.
The process of brewing beer is also a perfect breeding spot for bacteria; without proper precaution and preservation, the bacteria will grow and completely take over the beer, rendering it undrinkable.
It will take a few weeks – or months with preservation – before bacteria grow in the beer solution, so that time is usually the expiration date.
- Ultra Violet Light
Beer interacting with light causes the compounds derived from hops to experience a severe breakdown. This breakdown will generate a skunk-like smell in the beer.
Brewers take precautions when packaging and storing beer to limit the light that touches the beer.
However, the light will penetrate and interact with beer. The expiration date is the period after which exposure to light causes damage to a bottle of beer lasts.
- Alcohol by Volume
The brewer decides on the desired alcohol level in the beer during the fermentation stage of brewing, based on taste, preference, and quality.
Alcohol by volume is the measurement of the alcohol level in beer (and other drinks).
The alcohol level in beer contributes to the inhibition and delay of the deterioration or expiration. Alcohol will reduce oxidation, act as a preservative system to prevent bacteria growth, and limit the effects of light exposure.
Beer with higher alcohol content tends to have a longer shelf life, which impacts the expiration date.
- Temperature
Like light, heat severely impacts the aroma and flavor of beer negatively. High temperature mainly affects beer by hastening the deterioration caused by oxidation.
Refrigerating beer prevents this disaster.
How to Find the Expiration Date of Beer
Many beer manufacturers understand that most consumers will not buy food or drink products without assessing the expiration date. As a result, they ensure to label their beer with the correct expiration date.
You can typically find the beer’s expiration date printed at the bottom of cans or the neck of bottles. Other possible locations for the beer’s expiration date are the bottle’s cap, the six-pack carrier, or the beer carton.
Usually, signifying labels appear before the expiration date. Some of them are “EXP,” “best before,” and “expiry date.”
There are multiple ways the manufacturers label expiration date:
- Clear alphanumerical dating:
This method is when the expiration date appears in a five, six, or eight-character format, depending on the manufacturer’s preference.
An example of an expiration date of March 22, 2022, can be 03/22/22, 03/22/2022, or 3/22/22.
- The Julian Date Code
This method of expiration date labeling is rare because it is difficult for regular people to understand.
In the Julian Date Code, dates appear in a four-character format, with the first three characters telling the day and month and the last character telling the year.
An example of an expiration date of March 22, 2022, will be 081 2, interpreted as the 81st day in 2022. Conversely, the date can appear as 2 081, with the year appearing first.
What is the Shelf Life of Beer?
The shelf life of beer depends on the type of beer, the brewing method, and its packaging and storage. But, mainly, the shelf life of beer depends on its alcohol by volume (ABV).
Alcohol by Volume
Beers with higher alcohol by volume – above 7% – will have a longer shelf life because alcohol is an effective preservative, which inhibits bacterial growth.
High ABV will also ensure that the beer remains stable for an extended period.
Packaging and Storage
Another essential factor responsible for determining the beer’s shelf life is the packaging and storage.
Manufacturers use dark-colored bottles and cans to package beer to avert the effects of excessive light exposure. These dark-colored bottle beers have longer shelf lives than ones packaged in light-colored bottles.
Airtight Closing
The tight beer bottle covers are not only necessary to avoid spillage; they are also to prevent oxidation.
The tiny amount of oxygen that makes its way into the beer bottle is unavoidable, but cautionary methods will prevent further oxidation.
For this reason, opened beer bottles or cans have shorter shelf lives than unopened ones.
Average Shelf Life of Beer
Considering various factors, the average shelf life of beer is six to eight months without refrigeration and 12 months with refrigeration.
Can You Drink Beer After the Expiration Date?
Determining the expiration date of beer is not an exact science because there are uncountable variables to consider. However, manufacturers usually set expiration dates as the last day the beer will have the highest quality.
Sometimes, expired beer is not edible. It may not have the same taste you expect, but it will not have a terrible effect on you.
On the other hand, some manufacturers set expiration dates by the time the beer deteriorates.
These kinds of beer are typically dangerous for consumption, often leading to mild or severe food poisoning.
How Will You Know Your Beer is Unsafe?
- The look of your beer will determine if it is safe to drink.
- When your beer opens without a distinct hissing sound, oxidation is happening, and it is unsafe to drink.
- If the current date is very far from the expiration date, it is probably unsafe to drink.
Conclusion
Beer can be enjoyable when it is fresh, but it is best to discard it after the expiration date to avoid illness.
