How and how much you can store draft beer in a plastic bottle, the temperature and when
The shelf life of draft beer in a plastic bottle varies. The exact duration depends on the type of drink and other factors. To be successful in this business, it is worth providing the product with the right conditions. Place it in a cool place. Not insignificant are the features of placing the drink and the use of a suitable container.
Features of live beer storage
This beer is considered one of the most valuable varieties. In small quantities, the product helps to improve metabolic processes and provides the body with vitamins. In order for the drink to bring maximum benefit to the body, it must be properly stored. It should be borne in mind that powdered alcohol in plastic has a short shelf life.
When manufacturing the product on an industrial scale, when packing in containers, established sanitary and hygienic standards are observed. As a result, the drink retains its original characteristics for several days or 2 months.
When selling draft beer, these requirements cannot be met.
When poured into dishes, the product is susceptible to the influence of pathogenic microorganisms from the environment. This shortens its shelf life. Beer that has been poured into a glass will literally lose its flavor within an hour. If the plastic container was tightly closed, the drink can be consumed for 3 days if the necessary rules are observed.
It should be remembered that a live drink has an ideal taste. This alcohol is not exported because it does not support transport. The shelf life of the product is very short:
- Beneficial microorganisms in a live product are not present for more than one day. However, it is recommended to store it in the refrigerator.
- If the drink is on the table or on a lighted windowsill, it will quickly lose its taste.
- Live yeast is considered one of the most valuable components of such alcohol. They die quickly when exposed to low temperatures.
How to store it properly
To increase the shelf life of alcohol in barrels, you must adhere to a number of recommendations. Thanks to this, it is possible to preserve the organoleptic properties of the product for a long time. In this case, the following characteristics should be considered:
- Storage rules. Place the bottles vertically. This prevents sediment from spreading throughout the drink. It will go down and help you take full advantage of the product. In addition, the vertical arrangement of the bottles will avoid prolonged contact with the plastic cap. Otherwise, there is a risk of distorting the taste of the product.
- Choose a place. Alcohol containers should be placed exclusively in dark places.If the drink is made of transparent plastic, direct sunlight will negatively affect its quality. It is recommended to store the product in the dark.
- The choice of capacity. Of course, plastic is not a reliable protection for a drink. However, experts advise choosing darker containers. They slightly increase storage time.
- Temperature conditions. Put the drink in the refrigerator or in the basement. In indoor conditions, beer does not spoil, however, it will not be possible to assess a balanced taste and smell. A suitable temperature for drinking this type of alcohol is considered to be + 5-7 degrees.
Shelf life of draft beer
The average shelf life of a live drink is 3 days. In addition, it is worth strictly following the rules. This period is shortened at room temperature.
An opened container should not be kept for more than one hour. During this time, it will lose its taste and aroma.
How to determine the freshness of a drink
To assess the freshness of a product, you should focus on several criteria:
- Aroma. Exhaled alcohol can be identified by an unpleasant sour aroma. The cool drink releases aromas of hops and malt.
- Mousse. A fresh, high-quality beer gives a dense foam when poured into a glass. Its height should reach 4 centimeters. The foam lasts 2-3 minutes. If after a sip there is foam on the walls of the glass, this indicates the high quality and freshness of the drink. A loose and unstable foam indicates that the beer is not fresh. It should be borne in mind that low foam is considered the norm for an unfiltered drink.
- Aftertaste. After a sip of light beer in the aftertaste, you can smell the subtle bitterness of the hops, which quickly disappears.
How long can you store homemade beer
The storage time is influenced by the type of alcohol. This characteristic must certainly be taken into account.
Pasteurized
Pasteurization is understood as the heating of a product to kill pathogenic bacteria. Depending on the heating temperature regime and its duration, the shelf life also differs.
This procedure leads to the destruction not only of harmful microorganisms, but also to the loss of useful elements. As a result, the taste characteristics of the drink change significantly. The only advantage of such a product is considered a long shelf life, which is 6-12 months.
Unpasteurized
This beer is considered healthier. It contains the maximum number of valuables. In addition, this drink has a richer and more pleasant taste. In addition, its shelf life does not exceed 8 days.
Filtered
Filtration is a gentler method of increasing shelf life than pasteurization. The procedure can be of 2 types:
- sterile - in this case, the beer passes through a special sterilizing filter;
- diatomaceous earth - during the procedure, the beer passes through a special natural substance that helps retain suspended solids and bacteria.
Clarified
Clarification is often used in beer making. This procedure consists of artificial ripening, achieved through the use of stabilizers. As a result, yeast flakes settle to the bottom. Thanks to this, the shelf life of beer increases, the aroma of yeast decreases. It is allowed to drink unfiltered clarified beer for 5-7 days.
Not clarified
The production of such beer does not involve the use of stabilizers.The unclarified drink retains its freshness for up to 3 days.
How to properly store beer kegs
Alcohol is sold in different containers. Live, craft and draft beers are sold in kegs, which are filled directly at the brewery. They go to retail outlets, where they are poured into other containers.
The drums are hermetically sealed steel drums. Their capacity is from 20 to 50 liters. The shelf life lasts from a few days to six months - it is determined by the type of product. After opening the keg, the beer should be consumed within one week. After this period, the taste of the product deteriorates significantly - a noticeable sourness appears in it. If the drink deteriorates, it can cause intoxication of the body.
The shelf life of the drink in closed kegs may vary. It differs depending on the type of beer:
- live - retains its freshness for no more than a month;
- pasteurized - can be consumed for 1-4 months.
If the barrels are connected to the spill, the alcohol quickly loses its characteristics under atmospheric pressure. It should be drunk 10 hours after depressurization. It is allowed to store the product under carbon dioxide pressure for 1 week.
The container should be at a temperature of + 10-18 degrees. Alcohol in barrels can hardly tolerate temperature fluctuations.
Can I use a freezer
Manufacturers do not recommend storing this type of alcohol at temperatures below +4 degrees. Therefore, the drink should not be put in the freezer. If necessary, it is kept in the freezer for no more than 10 minutes.If the drink is still frozen, it is not recommended to thaw it abruptly.You should not use hot water for this. It is best to place the container in the refrigerator and wait for natural thawing..
Storing draft beer has a number of features. To determine the shelf life of a drink, it is worth considering its variety. Not insignificantly important is the choice of location and compliance with the temperature regime.