Old beer found in a cabinet. Still drinkable?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Pantalones, Nov 28, 2014.

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  1. Pantalones

    Pantalones Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2014 Virginia

    During a visit back home for Thanksgiving, I poked around in the kitchen cabinets and found these...

    [​IMG]

    Not 100% sure exactly how old they are (there's no clearly marked date on the bottle or packaging that I can see), but I'm guessing maybe from around 2010--I know they're more recent than 2008 (the side of the package advertises winning a silver medal from something in 2008) but probably a good bit older than 2012 (since, going by the dates of reviews on this site--none newer than 2012--and its "retired" status, it doesn't seem like this beer has been in production since then.)

    Question #1: would these still be safe to drink at all? They've been stored far away from any light and the cabinet's near the floor and should've stayed fairly cool most of the time (the bottles actually felt semi-cold when I took them out just now to take that picture), so as far as I can guess they wouldn't have been exposed to anything that would mess them up... aside from 4 or 5 years of time passing, of course. I know I've read that some beers can be stored for years and still be drinkable (and good, or even better than new in some cases), but I don't know if that applies to most/many beers or if it has to be a certain kind of beer for it to be safe.

    Question #2: assuming they should still be safe to drink, how would they hold up? Should I expect them to be gross at this point, good as new, or somewhere in between? I suppose I'll find out at some point, though I wouldn't really be able to compare these to a fresh one since I don't think I ever had one when they were anywhere near new (I didn't drink beer at all yet back then.)
     
    #1 Pantalones, Nov 28, 2014
  2. PsilohsaiBiN

    PsilohsaiBiN Maven (1,473) Aug 10, 2010 New York

    FT: Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale ISO: WhaAaAaAaAalez BROOOOOOO!!!!!!!
     
    #2 PsilohsaiBiN, Nov 28, 2014
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  3. elektrikjester

    elektrikjester Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2008 Georgia

    1. No reason they shouldn't be fine. Beer doesn't spoil, at least not in that way.

    2. My memory of this beer was that it wasn't very good to begin with. Michelob actually did some great "crafty" offerings in the early 2000s, but the Jack's line wasn't among them, IMO. Too many artificial flavors.

    But don't let that stop you from giving it a go. Nothing to lose.
     
    #3 elektrikjester, Nov 28, 2014
  4. Justin8mypants

    Justin8mypants Initiate (0) Jul 10, 2014 Oklahoma

    I would say to dump them. They should be safe to drink, but the flavor will have changed drastically. And since it has a rating of 72 on this site, its probably pretty nasty.
     
    #4 Justin8mypants, Nov 28, 2014
  5. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    In regards to safety, human pathogens cannot survive in beer. The only harm in drinking beer is an unpleasant experience. In regards to enjoyability, these beers are most definitely worse for wear. Don't expect much, but you'll still catch a buzz if thats what you're after.
     
    #5 kzoobrew, Nov 28, 2014
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  6. Premo88

    Premo88 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,682) Jun 6, 2010 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Drink it! Drink it!

    Then post if you're still alive.
     
    #6 Premo88, Nov 28, 2014
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  7. bozodogbreath

    bozodogbreath Savant (1,128) Oct 19, 2006 Indiana
    Trader

    Have a little fun. Break one out at a tasting.
     
    #7 bozodogbreath, Nov 28, 2014
  8. elchicodelgado

    elchicodelgado Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2008 Texas
    Trader

    You'd dump a beer without tasting it? Why not try it? They're probably nasty but, what the hell, someone paid for them at some point so at least try them.
     
    #8 elchicodelgado, Nov 28, 2014
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  9. mmmbeerNY

    mmmbeerNY Maven (1,369) Mar 5, 2014 New York

    No harm with cracking one open to try, but at 5.5 ABV this is not the type of beer that is normally aged and based on reviews I wouldn't expect much .....
     
    #9 mmmbeerNY, Nov 28, 2014
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  10. Boca-X

    Boca-X Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2014 Missouri

    Taste one and let us know...
     
    #10 Boca-X, Nov 28, 2014
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  11. Pantalones

    Pantalones Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2014 Virginia

    Yeah, I had my suspicions that this wasn't that great even to begin with (I'm assuming that was why only two bottles out of the six-pack ever ended up being opened!) If it turns out to be even less great now, like to the point where I can't even finish a bottle, then dumping it should be no problem--I was mostly just wondering if it would be safe to drink it at all after that long (and the answer seems to be "health-wise yes, taste-buds-wise maybe not.")

    Since it sounds like they'll probably be safe health-wise at least, I'll probably try one when I get back to my apartment tomorrow just to see.

    And as a random side-note, slightly puzzled over how a 72 would be the kind of score a "nasty" beer would get (doesn't 72 fall into the "okay" range, which would imply it's not awful but not anything great either?)... though I suppose it's entirely possible that it could've been "okay" 4 or 5 years ago and be more along the lines of "nasty" now.
     
    #11 Pantalones, Nov 28, 2014
  12. 302BeerGuy

    302BeerGuy Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2014 Delaware

    WTF cares! Drink it! I just drank a beer I found in my closet from 4 years ago! Little flat, but....still a beer!
     
    #12 302BeerGuy, Nov 28, 2014
  13. Justin8mypants

    Justin8mypants Initiate (0) Jul 10, 2014 Oklahoma

    Well the latter was what I was really meant. An okay beer of that type to begin with (one that is not really cellar-able) and being that old probably would be pretty bad.
     
    #13 Justin8mypants, Nov 28, 2014
  14. Treyliff

    Treyliff Grand Pooh-Bah (5,025) Aug 10, 2010 West Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Safe to drink? Yes
    But pumpkin beers do not age well, unless they are a high ABV.
     
    #14 Treyliff, Nov 28, 2014
  15. DelMontiac

    DelMontiac Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Oklahoma

    I'd be more worried about what's in that sink. You'll try the beer if you've got any hair on your ass at all.
     
    #15 DelMontiac, Nov 28, 2014
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  16. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    Welcome to BA and the long running debate whether BA's ought to "rate" to a 2.5 as average. The reality is there are many beers that are no where near perfect and are rated 4.5 or higher, and there are many beers that ought to be ranked much lower too, due to the majority of folks drinking them and rating them haven't tasted better, or other reasons.

    Usually you can assume, though, a beer with a "72" is pretty bad, even worse than you might think with a "72", compared to others in the style.
     
    #16 cavedave, Nov 28, 2014
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  17. 302BeerGuy

    302BeerGuy Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2014 Delaware

    I Love It !!!
     
    #17 302BeerGuy, Nov 28, 2014
  18. 302BeerGuy

    302BeerGuy Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2014 Delaware

    Drink MOFO...Drink It !!!
     
    #18 302BeerGuy, Nov 28, 2014
  19. NiceBeerCans

    NiceBeerCans Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2013 New York

    Let it age longer and this summer, put some out in a glass for garden slugs. Slugs love aged pumpkin beer!
     
    #19 NiceBeerCans, Nov 28, 2014
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  20. Traquairlover

    Traquairlover Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2007 Virginia

    It's already been said that it will not hurt you. As I recall that beer was not really bad, but was not among the more highly memorable pumpkin beers. Four or five years is enough that the beer will have lost a bit of its original flavor and there are ways in which its flavors will have changed. Still, with a beer like this, I'd imagine the most noticable changes would be the spices are much more subdued and the beer will have a fairly flat taste profile, possibly with some cardboard flavors.

    I doubt it will really be bad, but it will probably be a bit nondescript. If they do not taste good enough that you feel like drinking them, I would consider cooking with them rather than drain pouring them. Maybe use them to boil sausages?
     
    #20 Traquairlover, Nov 28, 2014
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