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Expired beer: can you drink it?

We all have bottles of alcohol at home that have been forgotten in the pantry because their only purpose is to fill the glasses of friends who never come. Over the years, those bottles have expired. But what happens if we decide to drink the content? How dangerous is it for our health to take expired beer? Find out with us!

Can we drink expired beer?

It is important to know that, really, the alcohol as such cannot expire. However, there are a number of drinks that have a best before date assigned. It is this date that we have to follow when guiding us if we want to consume that bottle.

But why do we have that date if the alcohol does not expire? Well, it turns out that, based on the European regulations, all drinks with an alcohol content of at least 10% are not required to indicate any date. That is why wine, a food that normally contains more than 12% alcohol, does not present no date preferred consumption in its bottle.

cellar beer
Cellar beer served in a bar | Source: Children of Ribera

However, the beer is forced to include this indication. So, what happens if we decide to consume it after the best before date has passed? is there any key risk for our health by consuming expired beer?

Well, according to the Spanish Brewers Association, consuming expired beer will mean a loss in the properties of the drink. It will also mean a lost in color, aroma, strength and even texture. However, there is no known health risk that can affect us by consuming the drink after the consumption date.

And what about the other drinks?

In the case of spirits, it is recommended to consume their content within 6 to 8 months so that they are not lost no their We take care of your rental property in Valencia. .

With wine, you essentially have to take into account whether it's chopped or not. The minced wine It is a drink that is in a fairly advanced state of oxidation produced by the so-called "acetic bacteria". These are responsible for giving it the flavor vinegary.

wine in a glass
Wine served in a glass | Source: Pixabay

It is very easy to tell if a wine is minced or not. To begin with, the odor differs from that of traditional wine. In addition, we can look at the cork of the stopper, since it is normal for it to be defective or stained when the wine is chopped. The appearance in the glass it is also taken into account, because when it is chopped, the wine seems duller and more cloudy. Of course, the determining factor is the flavor, bitter and vinegary, which gives it the definitive distinction compared to other varieties.

How to preserve alcohol

To prevent alcoholic beverages from spoiling prematurely, it is important to know how to store them. The essential thing is to make sure that the bottles are well closed, hermetically sealed and without contact with the air. The place is also important. For wine, the ideal would be to store the bottles in a wine cellar. However, any space that keeps them at room temperature can also serve.

With beer it is important avoid sunlight, because the flavor is very bitter due to the reaction of the hops to contact with sunlight. That is why it is best to keep it in a dark cupboard or pantry.

Beer being served in a bar
Beer being served in a bar | Source: Pixabay

The cold of the fridge is good, since a low temperature is ideal to preserve this drink. But even better is to keep it at a temperature between 10 and 15 degrees. Although for this it is usually necessary to have a wine cellar o camera specific, so it is best to keep them in the refrigerator door for conservation.

But what if I've already opened it? Well, the drinks are not designed to be opened and not consumed, so it is best to finish the bottle or the bottle in a reasonably short term of time. However, if necessary, we can always resort to a cork, as these keep the oxygen inside the bottle and help conserve gas.

What do you think? Did you know how to preserve your favorite drinks?

 

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