How to tell if a batch of beer goes bad?

[Soulshine]

Pretty sure I saved my batch but looking for some reassurance here.
Back in November I brewed an Octoberfest Ale (a bit late I know). I kegged it and shot it with CO2. Planned to force carbonate at a later date since I was working on my basement brew pub. A month after I kegged it and went to carbonate it I come to find that the kegs didn't hold. Seals were shot (thanks to the pub owner who sold me the kegs for assuring me they were 100% perfect and ready to go).
Anyway - I sanitized the tops of the kegs. Popped them off, replaced the seals, etc quickly. Sealed the kegs up again. Shot them with C02. Carbonated them.
Tasted the beer yesterday and it taste like a Yeungling/Newcastle like ale. I don't taste anything 'wrong' with it.
*If it were bad would I know right off the bat? I'm just afraid of drinking this is something is wrong with it and I don't know.
What does anyone think?
Thanks!

 

[BigB]

I think you are fine... it would taste like a baboons ass if it went "bad." But beer has enough alcohol and hops that it should have a pretty good shelf life. Also remember that the co2 is heavier than air, so if your keg was standing upright, there would be layer of co2 on the beer. Another thing to think about, is that although you shot it with co2, that excess co2 pressure would have been absorbed in the beer to equalize and the pressure likely wouldn't have remained on the keg...so you might not have had a leak afterall.

 

[daksin]

Yup, as long as it TASTES fine, you are good to go. You probably lost some aroma, but that sounds like about it. You'd notice immediately if the beer was infected/soured, oxidized, or spoiled in some other way. I think you're fine!

 

[jmf143]

. . .Seals were shot (thanks to the pub owner who sold me the kegs for assuring me they were 100% perfect and ready to go). . .

Thats on you for not inspecting them. Buyer beware my friend!

 

[Soulshine]

Thanks for the great info! Thanks so much!