i realize most beers should be enjoyed fresh, that is within 3 months of bottling date, particularly IPAs since the aromaticity (it that a word?) can diminish with time. I understand high alcohol beers do well with time and can be enjoyed yrs, later. What about kegs? Is a keg a few yrs old OK, assuming it's been kept cold? Thanks for any info.
Kegs are basically a giant can in theory. They are pressurized with CO2, and do not let any O2 in (assuming they are functioning properly). I have had 7 year old Cantillon's out of a keg on a couple of different occasions, and they did not suffer at all from the age. Kegs do not let in any light either, which makes aging beer in them ideal.
Seems reasonable... but I understand kegs are not pasteurized (heat treated) unlike most bottles. Does this fact affect shelf life?
Most American beers are not pasteurized, however the majority of imported beers are. I am not completely sure about how this affects things, but I can say that I have had Abyss that was aged 3 years in the keg, and it was divine. I would think that the brewing process is sterile enough, that no bacteria would typically affect kegged beer. I could be wrong.
