How long is draft beer stored at home. We determine the shelf life of beer, storage temperature in various containers

Store your beer in the correct position. There are both good and bad ways to store beer bottles. Stand the bottle upright instead of laying it flat. Even famous brewers like Chimay recommend storing beer this way. This ensures that the yeast (sediment) settles to the bottom of the bottle and does not leave a mark on the walls. In addition, modern caps do not dry out and do not allow air to pass through, so storing beer does not cause any problems, but you should not put the bottle down (since prolonged contact of the beer with the cap can worsen its taste). The best way to store a bottle of beer in an upright position is also because in this position it oxidizes less and lasts longer!

Store beer in a dark place. Choose a dark place to store your beer, as ultraviolet or blue light can ruin it. Having received "sunstroke", the beer will acquire an unpleasant taste and smell, reminiscent of skunk waste.

Choose the correct storage temperature. Heat spoils beer over time, so it's best to store it in a cool place, but don't freeze it. Although some people like to freeze beer before drinking, it is well known that freezing beer loses its flavor. Suitable places to store beer are a dedicated shelf in the refrigerator or a basement. However, long-term storage of collection beers in the refrigerator is not recommended. A dry environment in the refrigerator can adversely affect the lid. The optimal temperature for storing beer depends on the type of beer. Use this handy list as a guide:

You need to know how long a beer will last, especially if you're going to age it. Different types of beer have different shelf life, depending on what kind of fermentation process was used and whether the beer is suitable for long-term storage, or whether it should be consumed as quickly as possible. While beers that are produced in large quantities will have an expiration date on them, not all brewers will have an idea of ​​how long their brews should be aged. The aging period usually ranges from 6-8 months to 25 years, depending on the brand, storage methods and quality of the beer. In other words, if the manufacturer does not provide you with information on how to properly store beer, then you yourself should have an idea about this. If you want to collect beer rather than drink it, then you will definitely have some difficulties and questions about storing it. It is best to treat this process with interest and a sense of humor. Unlike expensive wines, even if the beer goes bad, you will not be so offended, because you will not throw away so much money!

Don't forget to keep a record of the beers you've tasted since purchase and the ones you've kept in your collection. Always try to buy two bottles of each type of beer intended for storage. Drink one and make notes about its flavor, texture, richness, and quality. Then do the same with the stored beer and compare the results to see how the beer changed during storage. Has the beer improved or worsened over time? Over time, you will learn how to successfully choose beer that is best for long-term storage.

Live unfiltered beer is a completely natural product. Contains the most valuable yeast sediment and natural carbonic acid. Contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Active yeast cells are a source of vitamins and amino acids. The shelf life of beer, in some cases, can reach several years.

The basis of live unfiltered beer is concentrated beer wort and top-fermented brewer's yeast. Concentrated wort is produced in factories by evaporating water from beer wort, i.e. the labor-intensive process of preparing the wort from malt and hops in this case is taken over by the plant, we just have to dilute the concentrated wort with clean water and add sugar syrup. Special top-fermenting brewer's yeast ferments the wort at room temperature for 5-7 days. Yeast produces alcohol and carbon dioxide from the sugars in the wort. Unfiltered beer is poured into sealed containers from which it will be consumed (bottles, barrels), while adding a small amount of sugar syrup for secondary fermentation in order to obtain natural carbon dioxide. Beer should stand in bottles at room temperature for 7 days. Then it is placed in a cool place for another 2 weeks to ripen. After the beer has matured, you can enjoy its unique taste, because. it is handcrafted in limited quantities. Beer can be stored for several years, while the maturation processes will continue. The yeast found in beer is a natural "preservative" and prevents the beer from spoiling, so there is no need for preservation or pasteurization. As you know, brewer's yeast has a beneficial effect on the body, improves metabolism, increases immunity, contains vitamins and amino acids.

p.s. Remember that even the "best" medicine in large quantities can be poisonous. (Ministry of Health warned)

1. To prepare 23-25 ​​liters of beer, you will need ...

2. A set of home brewers: a fermenter (barrel), a water seal with a stopper, a self-adhesive thermometer, a piece of food hose

3. desirable, but not necessary: ​​Hydrometer AC-3 0 ... 25, hydrometer flask, blown siphon (instead of a piece of hose)

4. thermometer

5. A couple of moments and the brewery is ready.

7. Ingredients: Yeast

11. honey (to taste, optional, some brewers make beer by replacing sugar with honey or unhopped wort in a ratio of 1: 1.25)

12. Disinfection is the key to a successful result

13. Let's prepare the yeast for work.

14. Cooking syrup (used 1 kg of sugar and 200 grams of honey).

15. We measure the required amount of wort (I took 2 kg with a little) and add it to the syrup.

17. Although the wort is hoppy, you can add a little hops at the end of the boil for aroma.

18. Pour water, syrup with wort into the fermenter, add prepared yeast. Close the lid, install a water seal

Here is the minimum cost of making beer at home:

1. Wort 2 kg 450-500 rubles.
2. Yeast 100 rubles.
3. Sugar 1kg 35-45 rubles.
4. Water 25l 130-200 rubles.
5. Bottles 1L PET 25 pcs. 125-150 rub.

Total: 875 rubles. for 23 liters. 1 liter - 38 rubles.

Video filming of the process:

Fermentation process on the 2nd day

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING BEER FROM CONCENTRATED
HOP WORT

For preparation of 23 l. beer with an initial extract of 11%, (approximately 4.5-4.8% Alc.v.) you will need:
2 kg. concentrated wort
1 kg. granulated sugar
1 sachet of brewer's yeast (10 gr.)
Pure water.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
1. Plastic or polyethylene food container with a volume of about 30 liters, with a water seal
2. Siphon-tube, for pouring, removing beer from the sediment, and bottling or kegs.
3. Kegs or bottles sufficient to fill 23 liters. Plastic fizzy spirits bottles, brown beer bottles with crown caps are perfect.
Note - Do not use cracked or chipped glass bottles.
4. A hydrometer and measuring flask will be useful for monitoring the fermentation process and determining the final gravity.
5. Thermometer (for optimal temperature control).

PURITY
All equipment, bottles, etc. must be washed and disinfected with appropriate disinfectants. means. Be sure to thoroughly rinse all equipment after disinfection. Do not use household detergents and formulations.

EXPERIENCE
Experienced brewers can make slight changes to the instructions below and produce a beer more suited to their individual tastes. For example, replacing some of the added sugar with malt concentrate or unhopped wort (instead of 1kg sugar for 1.25kg wort) will result in a fuller body beer. By diluting the kit to 18 liters instead of 23, you will get a beer with a fuller, rounded aroma and an alcohol content of approximately 6%.
Note - When using unhopped wort or dry malt concentrate, they must be boiled for 10-15 minutes.

FERMENTATION
1. Pour 2 liters into the pan. water, heat, add sugar, boil for 30 minutes. over low heat, add concentrated wort, bring to a boil, leave to cool under a closed lid for a while (10-15 minutes).
2. In an empty sterile container, pour 15 liters. cold water, add wort with syrup, bring cold water to a volume of 23 liters. Stir. The temperature of the wort before adding the yeast should be 18 - 28 C.
3. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface of the beer and close the lid.
4. Leave the container in a warm place at a temperature of 18 - 24 C, the beer will ferment for about 4 to 8 days.
5. Before pouring the beer, it is necessary to check whether the fermentation has ended or not. Signs of the end of fermentation: no bubbles should rise to the surface, the beer becomes clear. Hydrometer readings should not exceed 2%.
6. It is advisable to additionally remove the beer from the sediment, for this it is necessary to carefully pour the beer into a sterile container without raising the yeast from the bottom, and leave it to stand for a day, then remove it from the sediment again, before adding sugar for fermentation.
It is important to make sure that the fermentation is completely finished before bottling the beer, otherwise there is a danger of the bottles bursting.

BOTTLING BEER
1. During the fermentation process, your beer will be saturated with carbon dioxide, which adds life and sparkle to the beer.
2. Prepare sugar syrup: 100 gr. water 170 gr. Sahara. Add the syrup to the beer removed from the sediment. Do not exceed the amount of sugar, otherwise the beer will be too carbonated. Using a siphon tube, pour the beer from the container, without topping up 5cm into the bottles. to the edge of the bottle.
3. Close or crown cork your bottles tightly, put in a warm place at about 20 C and leave for about 7 days for secondary fermentation. Store beer in a dark place.
4. Then move the bottles to a cool place to allow the beer to mature. Ripening will last approximately two weeks. Once the beer is completely clear, it is drinkable, but the taste will improve if left to mature for a month.
5. When pouring beer, be careful not to disturb the yeast sediment that will collect at the bottom of the bottle. You may like to pour the beer into the pitcher first. Drink chilled.
6. Rinse the bottles with water as soon as they are empty, it will be easier for you to wash and disinfect them next time.

Beer is a popular and revered drink around the world, which has been known to mankind since ancient Egypt.

Light, dark, unfiltered, lively- the abundance of types and manufacturers, as well as brewing technologies, allows everyone to find their ideal option.

Beer perfectly quenches thirst, can have a pleasant bitterness or sweet caramel taste, contains a number of vitamins and microelements, as well as beneficial properties for the body.

Reference! Dark beer is not always strong. Often this type of drink has a pleasant pronounced bitter taste of rye bread or, on the contrary, a sweetish aftertaste of caramel.

Varieties of foamy drink and how to clean it

Modern brewing technologies make it possible to produce a quality drink of various types, which largely depend on the method of preparation and purification.

Depending on the purification technology, it happens:

1. filtered;
2. not filtered;
3. pasteurized;
4. not pasteurized.

Pasteurization is one way to extend the shelf life of beer. During pasteurization, pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed, but some taste qualities are lost.

Filtration- a more gentle type of beer purification from possible impurities, which also increases its lifespan.

There are two types:

• sterile - passing through a cardboard filter;
• diatomaceous earth - cleansing with the help of natural fossil diatomaceous earth, which is able to retain pathogenic bacteria and small fractions.

Also, modern breweries use clarification technology, which is used only for non-filtered and non-pasteurized beverage. Its essence lies in the addition of stabilizers, which should settle the yeast sediments to the bottom, reducing the yeast smell and extending the shelf life.

Live beer, loved by many, is not filtered and pasteurized, and also has a sediment if the clarification process has not passed.

It is thanks to this that live beer has its own unique taste and useful properties.

Reference! The special technology of its production makes it safe for humans (in moderation).

Expiration date depending on the packaging and type of beer:

Shelf life depending on variety and packaging

The packaging method is not an indicator of its shelf life, what is more important is what technology was used in the production of the drink.

Today you can find an intoxicating drink in the following packages:

1. glass bottles;
2. plastic container;
3. kegs;
4. aluminum cans.

Important! Traditionally, pasteurized or filtered beer is stored in glass and aluminum cans, and live hoppy drink is stored in kegs.

Bottled beer, on average, has a shelf life of 6 months. Sometimes there are brands with a shorter "life" period of 1-3 months, or vice versa, with a longer one year.

Canned beer is stored from 6 months to 1 year, due to more frequent addition of preservatives.

In plastic bottles foamy drink is stored from six months to one year. The use of plastic for the mass sale of beer is explained by the cheapness of containers.

Reference! Regardless of the container, you should pay attention to the expiration date, the shorter it is, the less preservatives and more useful properties it contains.

Kegs is the perfect way to store live beer. A keg is a special, airtight barrel in which sometimes the beer goes through the last stage of fermentation.

Some beers can keep their properties from one to three months, but live beer can be stored in an open barrel for up to 8 days.

craft beer is a special kind of drink that combines the softness and lightness of classic light beer and the pronounced, sometimes caramel or bitter, taste of dark beer. Produced mainly in small breweries.

Reference! The shelf life of homemade and craft beer is determined by the brewing technology. A key role in the quality of the drink, and hence its shelf life, is assigned to maintaining the sanitary and temperature conditions, as well as the container into which the finished product is poured.

The peculiarity of this type of beer is that ripening is possible in bottles, which prolongs the period of its storage and consumption.

Craft beer must be stored in a dark, cool environment to retain its full flavor.

Watch a video that explains how to store beer:

How to identify a spoiled drink?

Before answering the question posed, it is necessary to find out how it is possible to establish the fact that the beer is spoiled:

• suspensions, flakes, turbidity and sediment, which is not justified by technology;
• sour smell and taste;
• lack of foam, or its excessive formation;
• container damage.

Attention! Expired and already spoiled beer should not be drunk, this can lead to severe food poisoning, as bacteria can react with preservatives.

A foamy drink that has expired but not yet spoiled can be used for a number of household purposes.

The use of the drink for other purposes:

1. use for home cosmetic procedures - hair masks, or body baths;
2. for the care of large indoor plants - wipe the leaves with a solution of water (1: 1), which gives the leaves a shine;
3. use a solution of beer with water for aromatherapy in the sauna (they are poured over stones to form fragrant steam).

Some people use an expired drink as a marinade for meat, and also add it to the dough.

The video describes how to determine the quality of beer:

When choosing a foamy drink, you should pay attention to the conditions and terms of storage. Of course, only in private breweries can one appreciate the true taste of a lively, fresh, foamy drink that has beneficial properties and an incomparable taste.

However, beer is still an alcoholic beverage and should be consumed with care and in moderation.

The quality of beer depends on the terms and conditions of storage. The expiration date is determined by the variety.

Storage conditions

Keg is one of the most common containers for beer. Due to the lack of contact of the drink with air, the shelf life of draft beer in kegs is quite long.

Conditions that determine the shelf life of beer in kegs:

• the correct position of the keg is vertical. This prevents the drink from oxidizing;
• the keg must not be turned over and beer shaken in it;
• foamy drink does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature;
• beer in kegs is stored in a cool room;
• must be stored in a dark place. Ultraviolet rays impair the taste and appearance of the drink.

Temperature regime

The storage temperature depends on the type of beer.

The optimum room temperature for strong beer storage is 13-15°C. For a low-alcohol or non-alcoholic drink, the temperature should be between 7-10°C.

Live beer requires an even lower storage temperature of around 3.5°C.

At temperatures from -1 to -5°C, beer in kegs freezes. This indicator depends on the strength of the drink: the more alcohol, the lower the freezing point. The beer should not be allowed to turn into ice, as its taste will not be restored.

Shelf life of draft pasteurized beer

A foamy drink after pasteurization is stored much longer than a “live” one - about six months.

The shelf life of pasteurized beer in kegs after opening under air pressure does not exceed 10 hours. If it is under carbon dioxide pressure, the shelf life of an open keg of such beer increases to a week.

How long does live beer last?

The shelf life of draft "live" beer in kegs is short compared to pasteurized beer.

In a closed keg, this type of alcoholic beverage is good for consumption within 30 days.

The shelf life of live beer in an open keg depends on whether it is under carbon dioxide or air pressure. In the first case - no more than 7 days. However, for maximum preservation of taste, it is recommended to use the keg in 3-4 days. "Live" beer from an open keg under air pressure should be consumed within 10 hours.

When pouring expired beer from a keg, flakes sometimes appear, its taste and aroma change.

Even if the shelf life of beer in kegs is observed, it is worth remembering that the taste of the drink weakens over time, so it is better to pour it as quickly as possible.

If you are not a collector of beer of various varieties and brands, then you will not need to store this drink for several months or even years. But sometimes you have to store beer at home for several days. Under what conditions should beer be kept so as not to spoil its taste?

Conditions for home storage of beer

Beer bottles must be kept strictly upright. It is believed that the contact of the drink with the cork can affect the taste.

The second mandatory storage condition is related to the effect of light on beer. Bottles with this drink should be in a dark place where direct sunlight does not fall. Under the influence of ultraviolet light, beer can change not only the taste, but also the smell.

So, beer should be stored upright in a place protected from direct light. It remains to answer the most difficult question: at what temperature should beer be stored?

Just not in the freezer!

Fans of cold beer on hot days are ready to cool it at the lowest temperatures. Alas, such an attitude to the foamy drink does not benefit him. But warm beer bottles are also contraindicated. Beer should be stored in a cool place, ideally in a cellar. Of course, your own cellar is now a rarity, so a refrigerator can easily replace it. The main thing is not to put the bottles in the freezer.

The optimum temperature for storing beer is 10-12 0 C. Strong beer can also be kept at room temperature, especially if it does not rise above 16-17 0 C. Many Czech beers, such as pilsner, are best stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 7 0 C. If you do not know for long-term storage, then you better enjoy it in a bar or a Czech pub sir.

To store beer, it is also important to maintain a constant temperature and avoid sudden changes. What temperature should the beer be before drinking it? It makes no sense to drink too cold beer, as the receptors simply will not be able to capture the flavors of a particular variety. Beer producers recommend drinking beer no warmer than 12 0 C, but no colder than 4 0 C.