Keeping Life of beer in a pressurized keg.

[Vrishnak]

Morning folks,

A little back history. My grandpop passed away about a year ago in another state. He was an avid wine, beer, and soda maker. Most known for his wine and beer. Last month I was home visiting my folks when I was gifted several of his 5 gallon kegs, 8 empty, 3 filled. 2 are with his wine, 1 is with his beer.

My question to you guys is how long will the beer "be drinkable" in the pressurized keg? I have no idea when the keg was filled. My folks and my grandmom couldn't tell me when he may have made this batch.

Thanks guys.

 

[brandonlovesbeer]

Drinkable in a CO2 pressurized keg? Indefinitely. It won't spoil. It just may not taste as good as it might have fresh.

But it should be noted that you should keep it refrigerated. This will slow down any flavor degradation that might happen.

But understand that the character will change over time. Notably with IPAs. If you let it sit for 2 years you may not even know it's an IPA by the time you tap it. But then again you may.

If it's a stout, it might age very well.

Good luck.

 

[Homercidal]

Agreed. Temperature and style (ingredients) determine how god it might be, along with how well it was protected from oxygen during the process, of course.

I'd check them all and see what you think. I would not doubt if the beer is just fine as long as the was well brewed and not a style that stales quickly.

 

[Revvy]

My keezer died last year.. the guy above me with the hockey stick it his mouth, just brought me a used chest freezer his mother was getting rid up. I still had several kegs full or nearly full when mine bit the dust. I've hooked the kegs up and the beer tastes fine. I also found a keg that I think was from a beer I brewed at least 2 if not 3 summers ago, that I wasn't happy with after force carbing it, or something else was ready and I pulled it out and replaced it... anyway I just tapped it and it is delicious.

A keg is the best way to store beer. It's dark, and pressurized with co2 which prevents oxidation and delays staling. The only ones that tend to "degrade" tend to be IPAs, because hops fade.. but that can be rectified by more dry hopping or running the beer through a randal with hops. Or just treating it like a lesser hoppy "pale ale."

 

[microbusbrewery]

One easy way to find out if it's good...taste it. Assuming it's good and depending on how big your family is, it might be fun to bottle it off the keg and share the bottles with the rest of your family. One last chance to try one of his beers.