How Long Does Beer Last in the Fridge? Does Beer Expire?

In This Article

Introduction to Beer Freshness

There’s nothing worse than bringing home an india pale ale you’re excited about and finding all the flavor has disappeared. Reaching all the way to the back of a fridge to find a beer (behind a jar of mustard) and cracking it open only to find it flat and tasteless is also a bummer.

Beer typically lasts 6 to 12 months in the fridge if unopened, and optimal freshness is found only within the first few months. Beer is a perishable good, so care must be taken to seek out only fresh beer and keep it that way once you buy it. Knowing when to consume it is also important.

The style of beer actually makes a big difference. Lighter beers (pilsners, lagers) have shorter shelf lives, along with IPAs and other hop-driven beers. Stronger styles (imperial stouts, barleywines) almost always hold up longer and can even age well. Knowing the “best by” date or other indicators is always helpful. A little effort goes a long way, as does knowing your way around an expiration date.

Here’s everything you need to know to keep your beer fresh:

Understanding Beer Expiration Dates

Best Before vs. Use By vs. Packaged On

• Best Before (also known as Best If Used By): This indicates the period of time when the product will be at its peak quality. It’s not a safety date, as the beer can often be consumed safely after the “Best Before” date has passed (provided it’s stored properly). You’ll want to ensure the beer still looks, smells, and tastes fine before consuming or serving it to guests.
• Use By: This is important and should be heeded, as this date indicates the last date the product can be used at peak quality. It’s not necessarily a safety date but a recommendation from the manufacturer.
• Packaged On: This date simply indicates when the food was packaged, nothing else. While this can seem useless for determining whether it’s still good, you can reference the instructions below for making your own conclusion based on the style and when it was packaged.

Do Different Beer Styles Age Differently?

Beers That Don’t Age Well

Beers like IPAs, wheat beers, and light lagers are best consumed fresh:

• IPAs: It takes 3–4 months before hops start to lose their aroma and bitterness, so IPAs are best enjoyed as fresh as possible. Older IPAs, especially those from larger breweries, are still safe to drink around 6 months, regardless of how they taste.
• Wheat Beers: This type of malt can thin out as the beer ages. Also, common adjuncts like orange peel or coriander can fall out after 6 months, and the beer will lose flavor.
• Light Lagers: The low alcohol content makes it tough for these beers to last longer than 4–6 months.
• Lighter Ales: Lower-ABV beers like golden ales or pale ales see their flavor and aroma drop off as they age.

Beers That Age Well

Higher ABV or malt-forward beers often age better and can develop new flavors:

• Low ABV Stouts and Porters: These can last 6–12 months and won’t see a significant drop-off in flavor or aroma.
• High-ABV Porters: These will develop nicely for 1–3 years (sometimes longer) as the flavor refines and heat from the alcohol becomes gentler.
• Barleywines: The ultimate beer to age, this high-ABV beer’s strong malt and often hop profiles can develop and evolve.
• Imperial Stouts: The heat from the alcohol and intense flavors can mellow out over a few years. Newer and more complex flavors will become apparent.
• Belgian Quads: High-ABV Belgian ales can develop a smooth, creamy texture with even more complex fruity notes. A Quad’s darker malts make it better for aging than a Tripel or Dubbel.
• Barrel-Aged Beers: These beers will already come aged in wine or spirits barrels, and adding a few months or years will never hurt. The barrel flavor might develop over time, while the alcoholic sweetness will mellow for an improved drinking experience.
• Lambic: This unique Belgian style continues its natural fermentation in the bottle as it evolves and develops complex, often sour, fruity, and earthy flavors.
• Scotch Ales: This malt-forward style’s strong alcohol heat can mellow out over time, allowing more complex flavors to develop.
• Farmhouse Ales: Saisons and other Belgian or French ales can benefit from barrel aging or simply sitting for a year to add fruit, spice, and earthy flavors.

How Long Does Unopened Beer Last in the Fridge?

General Guidelines

• Bottled beer: 6–12 months
• Canned beer: Up to 12 months

Pasteurized vs. Unpasteurized Beer

Pasteurization refers to the process of killing microorganisms that can cause spoilage through heat. Pasteurization will extend shelf life and maintain the intended flavor profile while also allowing for room temperature storage. The process may affect taste and especially aromas, so it’s a thorny subject among brewers. Purists believe unpasteurized beer tastes fresher, even if it has a shorter shelf life and requires constant cold storage.

Factors That Affect Shelf Life

Several environmental and packaging factors can shorten or extend a beer’s life:

• Exposure to light: Beers in clear or green bottles are more likely to get “skunked” through light exposure (or photooxidation) when off flavors are created by unintended molecular compounds. Keeping your beer in a dark place is advisable for all bottled beers.
• Temperature stability: Fluctuations in temperature can impact the beer negatively, so whether you’re starting a beer cellar or storing in the fridge, just make sure to keep it in one place and at one temperature.
• Oxidation risk (especially with improperly sealed caps): This is up to the brewery, so customers can only control the first two.

What About Opened Beer?

How Long Is It Good For After Opening?

• 1–2 days for most beers
• Expect rapid loss of carbonation and aroma.

Tips for Storing Opened Beer

• Use a resealable beer stopper
• Store upright to limit oxygen exposure
• Consume within 24–48 hours

Draft Beer and Growlers in the Fridge

Shelf Life of Growlers and Crowlers

• Unopened growlers: Up to 1 week (if sealed and refrigerated)
• Once opened: 1–2 days
• Crowlers: 2–4 weeks sealed

Tips for Keeping Draft Beer Fresh

• Keep growlers cold and upright
• Avoid shaking or warming
• Finish promptly after opening

Signs Your Beer Has Gone Bad

Visual and Smell Cues

• Aroma: Bad beer may have a musty, moldy, or skunky smell.
• Appearance: Cloudiness, excessive sediment, or “floaties” indicate spoilage. Note: Some styles, like Wild Ales or Lambics, naturally have sediment.
• Carbonation: If the beer is flat or lacks carbonation, it may have gone bad. Conversely, excessive fizziness could indicate unwanted secondary fermentation.

Taste Issues

• Flatness, which resembles cardboard or even dusty flavors, is a sign of oxidation.
• Sourness, unless it’s a sour beer, is a telltale sign of spoilage.
• Look for off-flavors like skunk, excessive sweetness, or a vinegary taste. These can be from light spoilage or heat fluctuations.

Simple Tips to Maximize Beer Shelf Life in the Fridge

Dos and Don’ts

Do:

• Store upright
• Keep temperature consistent
• Check expiry dates

Don’t:

• Freeze beer
• Expose it to light
• Store near strong-smelling foods

Ideal Temperature for Beer Storage

• The ideal temperature range is 37–45°F (3–7°C) for most styles.
• The 3-30-300 Rule suggests that beer stored at 90°F for three days will be as fresh as beer stored at 72°F for 30 days and beer stored at 38°F for 300 days.
• You can store high-ABV or bottle-conditioned beers at slightly warmer temperatures than light lagers or IPAs.

Top 5 Tips to Extend Beer’s Shelf Life

1. Control the temperature: Maintain a consistent temperature (ideally between 45–55°F) to slow aging and prevent oxidation. This means keeping the beer in the fridge once it’s in there!
2. Storage should be dark: Always store beer in a dark area away from direct sunlight and fluorescent lights. This will prevent “skunking.” Every beer cellar should be dark if you plan on aging beers.
3. Avoid strong odors: Beer can absorb odors from strong-smelling foods or cleaning supplies.
4. Keep oxygen out: Store beer upright to prevent oxidation. After opening, use an airtight cap or stopper to minimize oxygen exposure.
5. Packaging matters: Dark bottles, especially cans, offer better protection against light than clear or green bottles.

Pro tip: Stay organized! Keep your beer in a separate or dedicated area in the fridge and rotate based on when you’re bringing them home. Keep shelf-stable beer in the back and IPAs or lagers in the front.

Conclusion

While you can’t control everything, there are a few ways to ensure your beer (especially highly coveted IPA or stout releases from your favorite brewery) stays fresh for as long as possible. All it takes is a little effort and knowing what to look out for!

Patrick Daul Expert Writer

Patrick, based in Chicago, is our expert writer at Craft Beer Me. Cicerone-certified since 2017, he brings a wealth of technical knowledge and refined tasting expertise to every article. With a background in travel, Patrick is passionate about experiencing the best craft beers around the world—sharing his experiences and knowledge through engaging and insightful writing.

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