Does beer expire?
 

I found some beer in my basement, that I believe is from LAST Christmas... should I throw it away or should I drink the bottles (there are four bottles. I won't drink them right away, but in the next week or so)...?

Was any light ever constantly directly on them and what color bottles?

Unless it's been hit by light or had frequent temperature changes, it's fine. I mean it might not taste the best but won't hurt you.

I say do it. cthomer5000 drank a 6 yr old can of soda and the guy's still around:

is there any danger in drinking a 6 year old can of soda? - Front Office Football Central

beer does not expire, ever. it will stop tasting good... but the temp shock thing is a myth.. if its in a bottle, you need to keep it out of light... but thats it.

I voted no because of the taste factor, but it won't hurt you.

I'm in agreement, you won't get sick, but, you'll probably regret the taste. ;)

It's certainly bound to taste different than you would expect. It won't hurt you, but not worth drinking imo.

Alright thanks people. I might try tasting one, but I'll probably pour them out.

I accidently drank a beer that had expired 3 years ago. It tasted like ear wax, but otherwise I felt fine afterwards.

I voted yes because I'm not the one drinking the beer and no amusing results can happen by not drinking the beer

If it's a higher alcohol beer, it may actually age very well. If it's Bud or some other crap, I doubt it will age well.

Went to Thanksgiving at someone's house last year and they gave me a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale they had in the back of the fridge. When I looked at the label, I noticed that it said 2005. Was damn good, better than if it was fresh.

Cowboy up.

I once drank a 4 year old Budweiser in a bottle. It actually tasted like Labatts.

There's an MGD, a Kokanee, and two that are 9% in alcohol. Maybe I'll try the 9% ones.

I have a three year old half barrel of Old Style in my back yard. Should I tap it sometime this summer?

If you pour out beer, any beer, you better hand in your Canadian card AND your Man card!!

;)

And you finished the bottle? What a trooper.

I had some MGD that was stored in the box with no light for a year, and when I went to get it out there was stuff floating in it. BEWARE!

"And, coincidentally, my ears have been spotless ever since!"

i have a bottle of Alexander Courage Russian Imperial stout from 1971 in my cellar....freaking awesome stuff....ive also drank plenty of stuff from the 90s, including one of the best beers i have ever had.

beer will spoil over time if not stored properly, but depending on the type of beer and the storage condition, it can become exponentially better the longer you keep it. (i have a case of beers that come stamped with a date on the cap that is the "do not drink UNTIL" date.....its 5 years from the date it was brewed)

dola, if it is some crappy macrobrew BMC swill, you shouldnt drink it on the day it comes out, a year later, or anytime in between....go sell it to some homeless guys and buy some microbrews.

I would highly suggest you do not drink it because it will taste like shit. I'm nearly 100% confident if you do decide to drink it that it won't hurt you however, so if you are hard up for beer it might be a way, way, way below passable start in a pinch.

Drink 6 or 8 "new" beers first. After that it won't matter.

what a horribly done poll.

The thread title asks exactly opposite of what the poll does.

lol I know, I realized that this morning sometime but shh.

Don't know, never drank beer.

So when are you gonna drink it? Inquiring minds wanna know :)

dola,

A play-by-play would be great.