Guinness beer ingredient

All About Guinness beer

liquids

Your complete guide to guinness beer - discover how to store it properly, identify when it's gone bad, and find the best substitutes for your recipes.

3 storage methods
27 substitutes

How Long Does Guinness beer Last?

Storage times and freshness tips for guinness beer in different conditions.

Safety first: This guide provides general information. When in doubt, throw it out! Trust your senses and err on the side of caution. If something smells, looks, or tastes off, don't consume it.

unopened, refrigerator
Up to 9-12 months past 'best by' date (for optimal quality)

Signs of Spoilage

Similar to room temperature storage: significant off-flavors (e.g., papery, wet cardboard, skunky, sour), excessive cloudiness, lack of head retention, flat taste.

How to Check

  1. Check 'best by' date: Primary indicator for optimal quality.

  2. Visual inspection: Pour into a clean glass. Look for unusual cloudiness, particulate matter, or a lack of the characteristic dark, opaque appearance.

  3. Smell test: Swirl gently and smell for off-aromas like vinegar, sulfur, or excessively stale/oxidized notes.

  4. Taste test (small sip): If visual and smell tests are inconclusive, take a very small sip. If it tastes unusually sour, metallic, or strongly 'off', discard it.

Storage Tips

Refrigeration slows down the degradation process, helping to preserve the beer's quality for a longer period compared to room temperature. Consistency in cold temperature is key. Avoid repeatedly moving between warm and cold environments.

opened, refrigerator
12-24 hours (for acceptable quality)

Signs of Spoilage

Completely flat (no carbonation), stale or sour taste, metallic or vinegary off-flavors, lack of the characteristic creamy head (for Guinness).

How to Check

  1. Visual inspection: Observe if any carbonation bubbles are present and if it forms any head upon pouring.

  2. Smell test: Smell for a pronounced stale, sour, or vinegary aroma.

  3. Taste test (small sip): The most noticeable sign will be a lack of carbonation and a distinctly stale or sour flavor.

Storage Tips

Once opened, beer rapidly loses carbonation and begins to oxidize, which quickly degrades its flavor. For best quality, consume immediately. If you must store it, cover the opening tightly (e.g., with plastic wrap for a glass, or a bottle stopper for a bottle) to minimize air exposure, but expect significant loss of carbonation and flavor within hours. Draft cans with a nitrogen widget will lose their characteristic creamy pour once opened and the nitrogen dissipates.

unopened, room temperature
Up to 6-9 months past 'best by' date (for optimal quality)

Signs of Spoilage

Significant off-flavors (e.g., papery, wet cardboard, skunky, sour), excessively cloudy appearance (beyond normal for the style), lack of head retention, flat taste.

How to Check

  1. Check 'best by' date: This is the primary indicator for optimal quality.

  2. Visual inspection: Pour into a clean glass. Look for unusual cloudiness, particulate matter, or a lack of the characteristic dark, opaque appearance.

  3. Smell test: Swirl gently and smell for off-aromas like vinegar, sulfur (rotten eggs), or excessively stale/oxidized notes.

  4. Taste test (small sip): If visual and smell tests are inconclusive, take a very small sip. If it tastes unusually sour, metallic, or strongly 'off', discard it.

Storage Tips

While generally safe to consume for a longer period, the quality (flavor, aroma, carbonation) will degrade over time. Store in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight or extreme temperature fluctuations to best preserve quality. Light exposure is a major cause of 'skunking' (lightstruck flavor).