Whether it’s a casual pint or a special craft bottle, storing beer at the right temperature makes all the difference. But how long can you keep beer in the fridge before it loses its taste – or worse, goes off? In this guide, we’ll cover:
- How long beer lasts unopened and once opened
- How long it takes to chill beer in the fridge
- Factors that affect beer longevity
- Tips to prevent skunked beer
How Long Can You Keep Beer in the Fridge?
If you enjoy a cold bottle of beer quite often, it is likely that your beer won't stick around in the fridge for too long and won't be at risk of going out of date. However, if you only have a beer bottle occasionally, you risk consuming an out-of-date beer.
If you store your unopened beer in the fridge, it will generally stay fresh for up to 8 months. However, always check the “best before” or expiry date on bottles or cans to ensure your beer is fresh.
- Short-term storage: A few weeks to a couple of months is fine for most beers.
- Long-term storage: Up to 8 months for unopened bottles/cans.
- Beyond that: Beer may taste stale or flat. Extremely old beer could pose minor health risks.
Tip: Store your bottles and cans of beer upright to reduce oxidation.
How Long Does Open Beer Last in the Fridge?
Once opened, beer should be consumed within 1–3 days for the best taste. Here are some tips for ensuring your beer lasts as long as possible after being opened:
- Store opened beer in the fridge
- Seal it tightly using a reusable cap or plug
- Avoid leaving beer at room temperature for long before refrigerating
However, no matter how well you store your beer, carbonation will decrease over time, which will affect the taste and overall freshness.
Factors That Affect Beer Shelf Life in the Fridge
- Type of beer: Lagers and light beers last less than stouts and high ABV beers
- Light exposure: UV light can cause skunked beer. Keep beer in dark bottles or a fridge
- Temperature fluctuations: Frequent warming/cooling cycles reduce quality
- Sealing: Unopened beer lasts longer; opened beer should be consumed quickly
Is It Safe to Re-chill Beer?
Re-chilling a beer that has been warmed will not spoil it. Temperature fluctuations have little to no effect on the way the beer tastes. If this were the case, all beer imported from Europe would be spoiled before it even hit the shelves in a store.
However, constantly putting your beer through cycles of warming to cooling will eventually affect the beer's taste and leave it slightly different, also known as skunked.
How Long Should I Re-Chill Beer in the Fridge?
In a standard fridge (4–5°C), chill your beer bottles or cans for 3 to 4 hours – that’s how long it takes to reach drinking temperature.
To chill your beer even faster, you can wrap your beer in a damp cloth or submerge in ice water for around 15–20 minutes.
Note – Never freeze beer– bottles could explode and cans may deform.
What is Skunked Beer?
Skunked beer is when it has gone through a chemical reaction caused by exposure to light. This is why most beer is kept in darker bottles, as they let less light in. Skunked beer can't make you ill; it just has a damaged flavour profile and will be a lot less enjoyable on your taste buds.
It can take just 10-15 minutes of direct sunlight for your beer to become skunked, so it's important to get it into your beer fridge as quickly as possible!
To avoid skunked beer, you should keep your beer in a cool, dry place, preferably a beer fridge. You should also only take it out of your beer fridge when you are about to serve it, and don't leave it out too long. Beer is best served fresh or cold straight from the fridge.
What Temperature Should I Store My Beer?
Serving your beer at the correct temperature is essential if you want to get the best taste. This is why you need to understand your beer. Beer needs to chill at certain temperatures, depending on the type that you are serving.
Most beer is best stored at a temperature of 5°C. However, different types of beer require different temperatures, so keep this in mind when storing your beer in a beer fridge.
Let’s take a further look at the different beers and their temperature requirements:
- Lagers & light beers: 4–6°C
- Pale ales: 7–10°C
- Belgian & high ABV beers: 10°C or higher
- Dark ales/stouts: Can be stored at room temperature
Store Your Beer the Right Way With a Beer Fridge
At Elite Wine Refrigeration, we specialise in luxury storage solutions, whether for beer or wine.
We stock various brands and models of beer fridges across our online store. We have freestanding, under-counter and dual-temperature models available to browse all complete with a selection of interesting qualities.
Explore our:
With one of our luxury beer fridges, you can always have a perfectly chilled bottle of beer on hand. Take your beer storage to the next level with Elite Wine.
If you have any questions about our beer fridges or are unsure which one you should choose, please don't hesitate to contact a member of our team, who will be more than happy to help.