Don’t Judge a Beer by Its Age: Expert Insights on Whether Beer Can Go Bad

We all know the sinking feeling of discovering a fresh batch of mold on a loaf of bread or the stench of spoiled milk wafting from our fridge. But when it comes to beer, can it actually go bad? And how can you tell if it has passed its prime? We turned to Neil Witte, one of only 22 Master Cicerones in the world, for answers.

Neil Witte is a beer expert with over two decades of experience in the industry. As the owner of Craft Quality Solutions, a specialized draft beer company in Kansas City, Missouri, he possesses a vast knowledge of the beer world. So, we posed the question to him: can beer go bad?

According to Witte, the short answer is yes, but not in the same way we typically think of food going bad. Unlike other perishable food and beverages, beer does not pose a risk of pathogenic bacterial growth. Witte explains that the alcohol content and the antimicrobial characteristics of hops prevent the growth of harmful pathogens. “The worst thing that’s going to happen to beer when it gets old is that it’s going to taste bad,” he clarifies.

However, Witte does mention that different beers have different shelf lives. Some high-alcohol, malt-forward styles, such as barleywines and Imperial stouts, are intentionally brewed for aging purposes. Brewers anticipate that people will age and savor these beers for multiple years. But for most beers, Witte recommends drinking them as fresh as possible.

This recommendation is especially true for hop-heavy styles like India Pale Ales (IPAs). While hops prevent pathogenic growth, they are also delicate and tend to dissipate with aging. Witte emphasizes that the defining characteristic of an IPA is its hoppy aroma, which diminishes as the beer ages. A fresh IPA exhibits the vibrant hop characteristics, while an IPA that’s a few months old may lose its hop essence.

Determining the age or expiration date of a beer can be challenging for consumers. While beer labels are required to display certain information like the alcohol volume and brand name, the packaging date is not obligatory. Some brewers provide hints, such as “Best By” dates or the brewed date, but it’s not a requirement. Witte believes that brewers offering age transparency demonstrate a higher level of quality. He personally avoids purchasing beers without a clearly marked expiration date.

However, even if you happen to consume an old or expired beer, there is no need to worry about your health. Witte reassures us that the worst thing that may occur is a less enjoyable taste experience. No health risks are associated with drinking old beer.

To maintain beer quality, Witte shares a few tips. First, check for an expiration date if it’s available. If not planning to drink the beer immediately, store it in the fridge until ready to consume. Alternatively, find the coolest spot in your house, like a basement or cellar, to store the beer. Additionally, keep the storage area as dark as possible to minimize light exposure.

So, the next time you come across a forgotten beer bottle in your fridge or stumble upon a dusty one in your basement, remember that while it may not taste as great as it once did, it poses no harm to your health. Cheers to enjoying beer responsibly, whether fresh or aged!

Related: The Surprising Reason Why Sunlight Can Ruin Your Beer

When it comes to beer, we all want it to taste its best. But did you know that sunlight can actually have a negative effect on the flavor of your favorite brew? It may sound strange, but it’s true. When ultraviolet light comes into contact with certain hop compounds in beer, it triggers a chemical reaction that can turn your beer into something that smells just like a skunk. And nobody wants that!

This phenomenon, known as lightstruck, can happen to any beer. However, there is a simple solution to avoid it – just keep your beer out of sunlight. According to beer expert Witte, one of the best ways to protect your beer from light is to choose packaging that blocks out UV rays. Different colored glass provides different levels of UV protection, with brown glass doing the best job of blocking almost all of the light. On the other hand, green and clear glass offer very little protection.

It’s important to note that there are some beers that intentionally use clear or green glass bottles and embrace the lightstruck flavors. If you enjoy those particular brews, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, if you prefer to avoid the skunkiness in your beer, it’s best to keep it cold, store it in a dark place, and drink it fresh.

While exposure to light and changes in temperature can affect the flavor of your beer, rest assured that the hops and alcohol in beer prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that could make you sick. So, even if your beer isn’t as fresh as it could be, it’s still safe to drink. However, to ensure that your beer stays fresher for longer, it’s a good idea to keep it cold, away from direct sunlight, and consume it within a couple of months of purchase.

So, the next time you crack open a cold one, remember to protect it from the harmful effects of sunlight. Your taste buds will thank you!

Read the original article on Eating Well for more information on how sunlight can impact your beer’s flavor.