Can you take a beer out of the fridge and put it back?

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you take the beer out of the fridge and put it back?” and discuss why you should not take the beer out of the fridge and put it back and what are the other factors that affect the staling process in beer. 

Can you take a beer out of the fridge and put it back?

Yes, you can take the beer out of the fridge and put it back. However, you should not submit beer to temperature fluctuations during storage or at any time, as it can lead to the formation of undesirable flavor compounds and accelerate the beer aging process (1). 

Beer should be stored at low temperatures (below 12°C or 53°F) and for short periods (up to 10 days) in order to prevent the generation of compounds related to off-flavors in the beer, resulting from chemical reactions.

The rate in which chemical reactions occur is increased when temperature is increased. Therefore, storing beer at high temperatures leads to a fast staling of the beer. Other factors affecting the staling are oxygen, light, packaging and vibrations, which will be discussed in the following sections of this article (2,3).

Why should you not take the beer out of the fridge and put it back?

You should not take the beer out of the fridge and put it back because this may favor the aging process in beer. Although there are very few studies on the effects of storage temperature fluctuations on the flavor and other characteristics of beer, it is well accepted that beer should be stored in cold conditions and without variations of temperature (4).

It has been reported by studies that the temperature variations during beer storage could lead to the expansion of the bottle cap, resulting in the improved oxygen diffusion and the higher concentration of oxygen in the bottle. As a consequence, it would favor the oxidation reactions which cause beer staling (2,3).

What factors affect the beer staling process?

The factors that affect the beer staling process are (1,2,3,4):

  • Exposure to light: light stimulates the formation of haze in beer, which is an interaction between proteins and phenolics present in the beer. Light can induce chemical changes in the non-volatile aroma compounds, leading to the formation of the “light-struck flavor”
  • Exposure to oxygen: high concentrations of oxygen lead to oxidation reactions in beer, which are responsible to cause degradation of the characteristic alcohols of beer, which are transformed into aldehydes, leading to off-flavors. In addition, oxygen cause oxidation of polyphenols
  • High temperatures of storage: high temperatures of storage favors all the degradation reactions, as the rates of reactions increase with increasing temperatures. Degradation of alcohols and Maillard reactions, resulting in the formation of furfural are accelerated at high temperatures. Flavors characterized as “cardboard” is common in beer stored at high temperatures
  • Vibrations during transportation: exposing beer to vibrations during transporting cause the generation of aldehydes that characterize the off-flavors in beer, as reported by several studies, especially when this occurs at high temperatures

Can beer go bad?

Yes, beer can go bad. However, beer is considered a stable product, due to the presence of alcohol, the low pH of the beverage and the high hygienic and controlled conditions in which it is produced in the breweries.

In addition, beer contains hops which naturally contain antimicrobial compounds. In this way, microbial contamination of beer is rare, although possible (2,3). Gushing, a phenomenon characterized by over-foaming of the beer, can be caused by contamination of fungi.

Fusarium is a fungus that is related to the occurrence of gushing and can be carried by the malt during beer production. As a result, contaminated beer may contain toxins produced by this fungus.

Mycotoxins are known to cause negative effects on health. In this way, it is not recommended to consume beer that presents gushing (5).

How to know if beer is stale?

To know if beer is stale, you should be aware of the altered flavor in beer, the possible formation of haze. Some common signs of staling of beer are (1,2,3,4):

  • Generation of off-flavors, such as caramel, burnt, toffee-like, wine-like, whiskey-like, astringent, metallic 
  • Loss of characteristic freshness and bitterness
  • Darkening of the beer color
  • Formation of haze 

Conclusion 

In this article, we answered the question “Can you take the beer out of the fridge and put it back?” and discussed why you should not take the beer out of the fridge and put it back and what are the other factors that affect the staling process in beer.

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References

2.-

Vanderhaegen, Bart, et al. The chemistry of beer aging–a critical review. Food Chem, 2006, 95, 357-381.