Keeping an open beer in the fridge is a common practice for many beer drinkers who don’t finish a bottle or can in one sitting. But how long will that beer stay fresh and tasty in the fridge after opening it? Here’s a look at the shelf life of open beer and tips for maximizing its freshness.
Quick answers
– An unpasteurized craft beer or import beer will stay fresh for 3-5 days in the fridge after opening.
– A pasteurized, commercial beer like Budweiser will last 5-7 days or more after opening when refrigerated.
– To maximize freshness, re-cap or re-cork the beer tightly and store it cold on the top shelf of the fridge, away from food with strong odors.
– Drink the open beer within the first 24 hours for peak flavor and carbonation.
– When refrigerated, beer lasts longer than wine once opened – wine really only lasts 1-3 days after opening.
How long does an open beer last in the fridge?
The shelf life of an open beer depends largely on these factors:
- Beer type – Craft beers and imports have shorter shelf lives than domestic macro beers.
- Pasteurization – Pasteurized beers last longer than unpasteurized beers.
- ABV – Stronger beers above 6% ABV hold up better than lighter beers.
- Storage method – Capping tightly and refrigerating helps extend shelf life.
- Freshness – Drinking open beer ASAP, ideally within 24 hours, delivers peak freshness.
Here are some general guidelines for how long different types of open beer will last refrigerated:
Unpasteurized craft beer or imports
– IPAs: 3-5 days
– Pale ales: 3-5 days
– Amber/red ales: 3-5 days
– Stouts & porters: 3-5 days
– Belgian ales: 3-5 days
– Pilsners: 3-4 days
– Wheat beers: 2-3 days
– Fruit beers: 1-2 days
Pasteurized domestic/commercial beers
– Budweiser, Coors, Miller: 5-7 days or more
– Bud Light, Coors Light, Michelob Ultra: 5-7 days or more
– Yuengling, Corona, Heineken, Stella Artois: 5-7 days
– Guinness (canned): 5-7 days
– Malt beverages like Mike’s Hard Lemonade: 5-7 days
The more delicate the beer style and the less alcohol it contains, the shorter its shelf life. After their peak freshness, beers don’t necessarily go bad or become unsafe to drink – they just start to degrade in terms of taste and aroma.
Why does open beer have a short shelf life?
There are a few reasons why refrigerated beer expires and goes flat rather quickly after opening:
- Exposure to oxygen – When a beer is opened, it’s exposed to oxygen which starts an oxidizing process. This affects the taste and carbonation.
- Loss of carbonation – The CO2 bubbles dissipate over time after opening.
- Light exposure – Light causes the compounds in hops to break down.
- Aging ingredients – Compounds in the beer change with time, affecting flavor.
Unpasteurized craft beers and imports are more sensitive to oxygen and have shorter shelf lives than heavily processed domestic beers. But all beer suffers from declining quality and drinkability the longer it sits open.
How to maximize freshness of open beer
Here are some tips for keeping open bottles, cans, and draught beer as fresh as possible:
- Store open beer in the fridge, ideally at 38-40°F. The cold temperature slows down the aging process.
- Drink the beer ASAP – within 24 hours for very fresh beer, and within 3-5 days for good quality.
- Pour the beer into a clean glass before drinking for better aroma and taste.
- Keep the open beer away from strong-smelling foods in the fridge like onions that can impart off-flavors.
- Tightly cap or cork the beer after pouring to limit oxygen exposure.
- Store open bottles or cans upright to prevent leaks.
- Don’t let light shine on open beers – keep them in dark storage.
- Avoid letting the beer come to room temperature after refrigeration, as temperature fluctuations hasten staling.
How to tell when refrigerated beer is no longer good
Here are some signs that indicate open beer is past its prime and no longer tasting great:
- Flat, lackluster carbonation
- Cardboard, sherry-like oxidation flavors
- Diminished hoppy aroma and bitterness
- Loss of vibrant maltiness
- Develops a metallic or rotten taste and smell
- Cloudy appearance
The hoppy flavors are usually the first to fade in IPAs and other hop-forward styles. Oxidation causes issues like wet cardboard flavors. A total loss of carbonation and strange off-tastes indicate the beer is too old and should be discarded.
Can flat beer be saved?
It’s difficult to re-carbonate beer and regain the lost effervescence. But here are a few tricks to try and revive some bubble life back into flat beer:
- Swirl the beer vigorously in a clean glass
- Stir in a tiny pinch of granulated sugar before pouring
- Use a SodaStream to add some fizz
- Drop in a few rocks of fresh ice before serving
These techniques might help add a little carbonation pop back to “expired” beer. But they won’t be able to fully restore beers that have seriously degraded in taste and aroma over time.
Does putting beer back in the fridge help?
Putting open beer back into the fridge can help slow down the staling process a bit, but it won’t recover the freshness of beer that has already started to go off. The aging reactions don’t stop or reverse once they’ve started affecting the beer’s quality. Refrigeration keeps the beer cool, which can help mask some stale off-notes.
Can old beer make you sick?
Expired beer that’s been kept refrigerated is generally not dangerous to drink. The alcohol and low pH help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. However, beer that’s been left unrefrigerated for long periods could potentially develop bacterial contamination and become unsafe to consume. Use your best judgement, and discard any open bottles that look or smell funky.
Does beer expire if unopened?
Unopened beer that’s been properly stored can last for many months or even years without going bad. For canned macro lagers like Budweiser, an unopened storage time of up to a year while retaining decent flavor is typical, though it depends on the best-by date.
Craft beers and imports have lower shelf lives of 3-6 months when kept at cool cellar temperatures. Over time, unopened beers can start to lose their hoppiness and develop oxidized flavors.
Here are some general beer shelf lives for proper storage when unopened:
- IPAs – 3-4 months
- Stouts – 6-12 months
- Sours – 12-18 months
- Lagers – 6-12 months
- Pilsners – 4-8 months
- Wheat beers – 4-6 months
Vintage beers with higher ABVs can age for many years when cellared properly, but lower alcohol beers have relatively short shelf lives when unopened.
Storing unopened beer
To maximize the shelf life of beers that haven’t been opened yet, follow these guidelines for storage:
- Keep beer out of direct light, which can skunk and degrade flavors.
- Store at cool cellar temperatures around 55°F to minimize aging reactions.
- Position bottles upright and don’t let beer touch corks or caps.
- Ensure beer is not subjected to temperature fluctuations.
- Check best-by dates and consume unopened beer within this recommended timeframe.
With proper storage conditions, bottled and canned beer can retain quality for months, especially for stronger beers above 6% ABV. But for peak freshness, it’s still best to drink unopened beers within 3-6 months of purchase.
FAQs
Does tapping a beer keg shorten its shelf life?
Yes, tapping or piercing a beer keg to dispense draft beer reduces the shelf life compared to an unopened keg. The exposure to oxygen through the draft line accelerates staling. Kegs should be emptied within 30 days, and draft lines kept clean.
How long does growler beer last after opening?
Growlers usually keep beer fresh for about 5-7 days after opening when stored in the fridge. They have a 64 oz. capacity. Keep them tightly sealed and filled to the top with minimal air space.
Can you freeze and re-freeze beer?
Freezing beer once is okay but multiple freeze-thaw cycles can ruin the flavor. The ice crystals damage the structure. It’s best to refrigerate open beer instead of freezing.
Does alcohol percentage affect beer shelf life?
Yes, higher alcohol by volume (ABV) extends shelf life. Stronger beers above 6% ABV last longer than weaker beers under 5% ABV. The alcohol helps act as a preservative.
The shelf life of other beverages
For comparison, here’s how long some other open beverages last refrigerated:
| Beverage | Shelf Life When Open |
|---|---|
| Wine | 1-3 days |
| Champagne | 1-2 days |
| Kombucha | 3-5 days |
| Hard seltzer | 5-7 days |
| Cocktails/mixed drinks | 2-3 days |
Wine lasts only a day or two before oxidation ruins the flavor. Kombucha can last up to a week thanks to its acidity. Meanwhile, prepared cocktails have freshness spans of just 2-3 days.
So while beer has a relatively short open shelf life, it still lasts longer than many other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks when handled properly.
Does beer go bad?
Beer doesn’t necessarily “go bad” in terms of safety – alcohol prevents microbial spoilage. But it does degrade rapidly in flavor when open. An old beer may not make you sick, but it probably won’t taste very good.
Follow these rules of thumb:
- Drink open beer within 3-5 days for best quality
- Store open beer in the fridge
- Check for off-flavors like cardboard indicating staleness
- Tightly cap or cork to limit oxygen exposure
While beer has a relatively short open shelf life compared to other beverages, you can maximize its freshness by minimizing oxygen introduction, keeping bottles cold, and consuming shortly after opening.
Conclusion
An opened beer’s shelf life depends on the style and storage method. Unpasteurized craft beers last around 3-5 days when refrigerated. Heavily processed domestic beers keep for 5-7 days or more. Stronger beers above 6% ABV also fare better. To maintain freshness, store open beer on the top shelf of the fridge, keep it cold, cap tightly, and drink ASAP within 24-48 hours of opening.
While an “expired” beer may not make you sick, stale off-flavors develop quickly after opening. Drink refrigerated beer fast for the best taste and carbonation. An unopened beer will last for several months when stored properly away from light and temperature fluctuations.
So while that open beer in the fridge won’t last forever, you can enjoy optimal flavor and aroma for several days by minimizing oxidation and chilling opened brews fast. Just be sure to finish up the beers in your fridge within a week and replace any that are past their prime.
