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For How Long Is Beer Good In The Keg
Firstly, a keg is a small barrel that stores beer. So, regardless of what beer is being stored in a keg, it can go bad after some time. A pasteurized beer store in a keg properly will last for 3 to 4 months. And a non-pasteurized beer in a keg will last for 2 months.
For kegs properly stored in the kegerator, how long the beer stays fresh depends on the style of the beer. In this case, your beer can stay fresh for months, but the total time really depends on the beer itself.
The way you choose to brew your beer also plays a big role in how long your kegs stay cool.
If you follow these draft beer tips and facts, you can keep your keg fresh for as long as it takes to finish your beer. The use of a kegerator or bottling system that dispenses draft beer using CO2 should not affect the freshness of the beer if the keg is kept at the proper temperature and pressure.
When it comes to bottling draft beer from kegs, temperature is the most important factor. The recommended temperature for storing draft beer is 38 degrees according to the Draft Beer Quality Manual.
The ideal temperature to store beer
You don’t want to store your beer at too high or too low a temperature, as this can negatively affect the quality of your beer.
Storing beer above or equal to 50 degrees Fahrenheit can speed up the oxidation process, causing the chemical composition of the beer to gradually change, resulting in stale beer. If the beer in the keg is above 38 degrees Fahrenheit, the beer in the keg can become very foamy or stale. The beer keg should preferably be stored in a kegerator or perhaps a converted refrigerator to keep it at the right temperature at all times.
Storing the keg at a higher temperature will not only result in excessive foaming of the beer but also stale beer.
Storing beers at the right pressure
Too low pressure can result in overly foamy and flat beers, and too high pressure can lead to wastage as the beer will come out of the keg too quickly and be foamy too.
It would be nice if I pumped up the keg at 60 psi (the keg will rise to about 130 psi). If your keg is larger, say a full-sized keg, you may start to notice a change in flavour as you continue to drink your beer (unless you are throwing a massive party that will empty the keg in a day or two).
Typically, you have at least eight hours to finish a barrel before the beer goes bad. In most cases, a hand pump keg will only serve fresh beer for a few days before the beer becomes noticeably stale, so be sure to enjoy it as soon as possible.
If you buy a commercial keg and use a party pump, the beer will only last 12 to 24 hours after bottling. A barrel of unpasteurized beer, even in good condition, will last up to several months.
| Types | Shelf life | Temperature |
| Pasteurized | 3-4 months | 162°F to 180°F |
| Unpasteurized | 6-8 weeks | 70oC |
What is the shelf life of beer?
The rule of thumb for most CO2-free draft beers is that unpasteurized beer stays fresh for 45-60 days if adequate pressure and temperature are maintained. A good rule of thumb is that a pasteurized beer keg has a shelf life of about 90-120 days (or 3-4 months) and an unpasteurized draft beer is about 45-60 days (or 6-8 weeks). at the right temperature.
Under proper storage conditions, unpasteurized beer or beer that has not been processed prior to packaging has a total shelf life of 45-60 days (or 6-8 weeks).
The shelf life of an IPA beer can extend up to 12 months, but usually, the quality of the beer starts to decline after the first 120 days or so. Wheat beers and brown ales have the same shelf life as PAHs and are recommended to be consumed within four months of packaging.
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While each brewer’s expiration date may vary, the number of days they’re stored before they reach you count towards the expiration date of the keg. Typically, a keg can last up to 2-4 months when stored in the right conditions, although many factors affect the life of your keg, including pump type, storage temperature, and beer type. The general consensus is that if your kegerator lines are clean and your kegerator is working properly, you can keep your keg fresh for up to 6 months.
Unlike the aforementioned hand pump, a kegerator that uses CO2 to dispense beer will keep it fresh for much longer. High-quality kegerators can fill your beer 2 to 4 times for small kegs and even more for large kegs and are capable of retaining flavour with every touch. Draft beer usually spills faster, and if you change kegs more often, it usually means fresher beer.
There are many variables that can play a role in how quickly your keg starts to change flavours, but a general rule of thumb to keep in mind is that as soon as that keg is filled at the brewery, the “fresh hours” begin.
Another thing that can help determine the amount of time you spend with a keg is whether the beer is pasteurized or unpasteurized. If you think there’s nothing better than a frothy pint of fresh beer from a keg, you probably know that keeping your beer fresh for the life of your keg can be tricky.
Bacteria forming in the keg can ruin the beer
Bacteria can also start to form in your keg if you store it in these conditions, which will greatly affect the taste and overall quality of your beer.
Bacteria can get into the beer and affect flavour, and shelf life, or ruin the entire keg. This issue is less of an issue for commercial brewers who are looking to reduce bacterial contact, but you can increase the shelf life of craft beer by refrigeration.
Bottled beer is at greater risk of oxygen exposure than canned beer, and keeping it upright is a great way to minimize exposure to air. Unless special filler is used, fresh beer is exposed to large amounts of oxygen during filling.
Beer lines contain bacteria, wild yeast, and beer stone (the flakes left over from some line cleaners). Stainless steel kegs, as part of the bottling system, dispense beer in much larger quantities than any other beer container.
The need for a keg recovery plan is exacerbated by the need for a balanced dispensing system that dispenses beer with just the right amount of foam every time it is dispensed.
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Pasteurized beer has a shelf life of about 90-120 days (three to four months) and unpasteurized draft beer has a shelf life of about 45-60 days (six to eight weeks) when properly stored.
Can Old Keg Beer Make You Sick?
It is suggested not to use a beer past its expiration date. The shelf life for a beer keg is about 3-4 months. Expired beer will not make you sick, but you will feel a little stomach pain. Because of this, it can cause you to feel dissatisfied and disgusted.
Does Beer In A Keg Go Bad?
If properly stored, a keg of pasteurized beer will last between 90 and 120 days (or about 3-4 months), while a keg of unpasteurized draft beer will last between 45-60 days (or about 6-8 weeks). Pasteurized beers are standard in both domestic and imported beverages.
Does Opened Beer Go Bad?
The beer should be consumed within a day or two after it has been opened because although it will be fine, the flavor will be different from what you expect. After opening, it doesn’t make sense to store beer as it’ll taste stale, and you’ll probably throw it away anyway.