5 year old beer

hello again

It is nice to be back on the forums.

I found a case of my Paulner Heffe clone that I made 5 or 6 years ago

Would this still be good to drink or would it make me sick.
I think I see a layer in the bottom of each bottle of maybe the wheat but it is hard to tell

I pured a glass but wasnt brave enough to drink it.

There was a very small head on it but not much.

I don't think it will make you sick. It might not taste the greatest. The layer on the bottom is probably yeast and a little sediment. Still being carbed is a plus!

Just having a taste won't get you sick.

And even then, I don't *believe* it would be too dangerous to drink, if it had a bad infection, you wouldn't get passed a single sip it would taste so bad. That being said, I don't know if I personally would drink something that old though. The oldest homebrew I've drank was 2 years old or so and it was fine, fairly bland, not nearly as aromatic as when it was much fresher.

I can't think of anything that might grow in the beer that could be dangerous. That being said, while safe to drink, I'm not sure it's something you really want to drink. Taste it and find out!

Was it stored at the same temperature for all that time? Was it stored in a light free place? There are no known bugs in beer that will make you sick.
Taste it, see if it is good or bad.

There's only one way to find out!

It was stored with my brewing supplies in the basment in a cabinet so the temp may have changed a little from winter to summer but it was out of the light at least.

Maybe ill get brave and try a sip tonight after I put one in the fridge.

Go for it!

Worst case it'll taste awful. :shrug:

do it... I put 10 year old Nov. 2003 Arrogant Bastard in my mouth the other night and it was glorious and Arrogant Bastard isn't "meant" to be aged.

-=Jason=-

Flomaster said:

do it... I put 10 year old Nov. 2003 Arrogant Bastard in my mouth the other night and it was glorious and Arrogant Bastard isn't "meant" to be aged.

-=Jason=-

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Out of context that is one of the most disturbing posts ever.

Flomaster said:

do it... I put 10 year old Nov. 2003 Arrogant Bastard in my mouth the other night and it was glorious and Arrogant Bastard isn't "meant" to be aged.

-=Jason=-

Click to expand...

I'm calling the authorities

rofl I love it


Yeah, just try it. Might not have aged very well and you might have some oxidation, but it won't hurt you.

Whattawort said:

I'm calling the authorities

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Which authorities and what are you planning to call them?

RM-MN said:

Which authorities and what are you planning to call them?

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I'm gonna call 'em Al.

Whattawort said:

I'm gonna call 'em Al.

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Only if they call you Betty.

jrgtr42 said:

Only if they call you Betty.

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Well played.

Might be a little oxidized, but with proper storage it should be ok. Give it a shot!

if I call you Betty you can call me AL you can call me AL

To quote Revvy, "Nothing pathogenic can survive in beer". If the beer was packaged properly there would be nothing in the bottle to grow. Age will change the flavor a bit, hops will fade, other notes will emerge or blend or fade. It will be beer still. It may not be good, it may be so-so. It may taste okay. Some get better with some age. Drink it. You never know what you have until you try it.

Last night I drank a beer that had been in the bottles for 3 years. It was just fine although the spices I had added had lost all their flavor.

Over the weekend I had a belgin quad that was 4 years old from another home brewer and it was awesome!

Hell, I'd drink it! Can't be an worse than bud light.