Beer is an amazingly resilant beverage and can be aged for decades in many cases. The thing to remember is that regardless of ABV and even if it has lost all carbonation or "gone off" there is nothing in beer that can harm you.If you are looking to store it for long periods:1. Stay away from fliptop bottles. The seals will degrade over time.2. Stay away from green and clear bottles. Light is the enemy of beer. UV light breaks down the hops oils and skinks the beer.3. Keep it cool, but not cold. Cellar temperature if possible. If you don't have the ability to cellar it see #4. Refrigerating it will slow the development...stunt the growth. 4. Consistent temperature is possible more important than cool temperatures...or at least just as important. Try not to let the beer go from one extreme to the other. Though temperature change skunking is a myth, extreme changes in temp will effect aging process and can make off flavors develop.5. Beer should be stored in the upright position, unless a corked beer. this keeps the beer away from the cap. Corked beer, just like win, you want to keep the cork moist.6. Pour your beer. This will allow you to see if any nastiness has developed before drinking.7. Smell it after pouring. 90% of your sense of taste is based on smell...but the real reason is if it smell like foot jam it probably taste like it.8. ABV and hoppiness don't matter...they do help. This is the reason we have IPAs and Russian Imperial Stouts today, but even lower ABV and slightly hopped beers can age well. You never know until you try.View the original article here
