How do I store beer for a couple months?

Question

I want to purchase a local micro-brew to take back to my parents when I go home for christmas but I don't know how to store it for a month or two so that it doesn't go bad. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Any dark place not too cold but not too hot...(between 35F and 60F). Storing along the warmer side of this scale will increase aging effects since the yeast remaining in the beer will be more active. This is a good thing if you are aging a barleywine. But this will cause lower gravity beers to go "stale" sooner.

The typical idea of a modern day beer shelf life is 3 - 6 months. Christmas is just a month away...you have nothing to worry about.

Answer 2

KW made good points, but beer, as he said, does go bad after about 3-4 months. Not from the time you bought the beer, but from when it was brewed, so check the date on the carton. It will have either a born on date (like Bud) or an experation date. Sometimes, it will take a month or more for the beer to reach the shelf after the born on date.

A local brew should be OK, but check anyway.

Answer 3

store it in a cool (not cold), dark place. Pretty much like keeping wine. It should keep through christmas.

Answer 4

Not all beer goes bad! Strong beers (like barleywines) and hoppy beers (like IPAs) can withstand the test of time.

Your best best is to refrigerate it.