# I found some beer, is it safe to drink? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 21, 2001, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319 "2001-08-21T11:57:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8baadc/32.png) [@KV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KV)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/1 "2001-08-21T11:57:23Z")
While cleaning my new apartment, I found two beer bottles tucked away behind a false wall in my cabinets. One is a Miller High Life, the other is a Belhaven St. Andrews Ale. I have no idea as to how long they had been there, but there was some dust on the bottles. I don’t see any “born on” dates on either bottle. Does beer go bad after a certain period of time? Will I die if I drink this beer? ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/2 "2001-08-21T12:39:07Z")
Save it and give it to guests. The answer to these questions could make for an interesting evening of entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![therealblaze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@therealblaze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealblaze)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/3 "2001-08-21T12:44:33Z")
As it probably hasn’t been exposed to light or heat the is possibility that it’s still good. If it has been there over a year then I wouldn’t personally want to taste. "Subject: 3-3. How should I store beer? I general, beer should be stored in a cool place. In warmer climates this often means refrigeration and you get used to letting your beer warm a little before you drink it. Cooler climates often use cellars to store beer which works quite well. As long as temperatures are kept between 35F(2C) and 60F(15C) you’re probably OK. Keep in mind that storing at the warmer end of this scale will increase any aging effects since any yeast remaining in the beer will be more active. This is a Good Thing if you’re aging a barleywine but will cause lower gravity beers to go “stale” sooner. Subject: 3-4. How long does beer keep? Most beer was not meant to age. However, some beers that are strong and/or highly hopped must age to reach their full flavor potential. How a beer is conditioned and handled has a great affect on its shelf-life. Beer conditioned in the bottle or cask still contains live, active yeast and should be drunk as soon as possible. Most larger scale, commercial beers have been filtered or pasteurized to remove/kill the yeast and stabilize the product for the longer storage times encountered in the retail world. In any case, stored beer should never be exposed to heat or strong light. " [Beer FAQ](http://www.flicks4fun.com/bar/beerfaq.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![jonfromdenver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@jonfromdenver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonfromdenver)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/4 "2001-08-21T14:15:05Z")
they’re most likely safely, but they’ll sure taste like shit. i’m betting that the ale will taste better than the other. drink them and fill us in! ---
**Author:** ![KV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8baadc/32.png) [@KV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KV)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/5 "2001-08-21T14:20:29Z")
I’ll be happy to drink them. I want to get them nice and cold, first. Oh, and maybe check my life insurance policy. I don’t know if death by shitty beer is covered. ---
**Author:** ![KV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8baadc/32.png) [@KV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KV)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/6 "2001-08-22T12:13:52Z")
Okay, the Miller had very little taste, but plenty of fizz. As for the Ale, it tastes pretty bad. Almost like blue cheese. There seemed to be a little more dust buildup on the ale bottle, perhaps it had been there longer. Glad to report I am still living. ---
**Author:** ![Laser45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8dc957/32.png) [@Laser45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laser45)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/7 "2001-08-22T12:39:09Z")
COOL! A secret compartment! A friend of mine guzzled some beer he left sitting outside in the sun for several days and promptly got sick to his stomach. I had a can of beer that I carried about, kept from the sun and heat, for like 5 years and eventually threw out, being afraid to try drinking it. I have had little sample bottles of booze that I carted about for years that I later happily drank with no ill effects. ---
**Author:** ![KV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8baadc/32.png) [@KV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KV)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/8 "2001-08-22T13:14:28Z")
Yup, I am enjoying a mild buzz this morning. I figured it would be best to drink them first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach. Oh, the things I’ll do for science. ---
**Author:** ![jonfromdenver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@jonfromdenver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonfromdenver)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/9 "2001-08-22T15:06:51Z")
beer that tastes like blue cheese? you have made a great sacrifice for science, and you truly belong on these boards…\…i’m so touched i could cry… ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-beer-is-it-safe-to-drink/77319/10 "2001-08-22T15:09:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jonfromdenver \* > \*\*beer that tastes like blue cheese? you have made a great sacrifice for science, and you truly belong on these boards…\…i’m so touched i could cry… \*\* Anyone ever notice that Fosters gets blue-cheese overtones sometimes? It must degrade unusually quickly.