Bud Light is a globally popular, refreshing beverage drunk by millions of people. Prior to the expiration date, consuming Bud Light is a terrific approach to experience the highest quality and flavor.
Does Bud Light expire? Yes, Bud Light does expire. The manufacturer of Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch (A-B), offers the beer a shelf life of 110 days. Although Bud Light can theoretically still be consumed after its expiration date, its quality declines after this period and worsens within six to nine months.
Learn how to determine whether your Bud Light is still drinkable and how to extend its shelf life through appropriate storage.
How Does One Find the Bud Light Expiration Code?
The “freshest before” date that appears on the bottom of your Bud Light can is an expiry code. A common Bud Light expiry code appears as follows: 09DEC19. Here’s how to simplify it:
- The day of the month is represented by the first two digits. In this situation, it is the ninth.
- The initial three letters represent the month. Here, it is December.
- The final two numbers constitute the year. This bottle of Bud Light expires in 2019
If you’re looking at an older can of Bud Light, the expiry date may be a “born on” label, which A-B debuted in 1996. This label displays the date of manufacture rather than the beer’s expiry date.
A-B replaced the “born on” label with the “freshest before” date in August 2015. If your Bud Light has a “born on” label, it is far older than the authorized 110 days. While the beer itself is subpar, its container is a remembrance of a bygone era.
How long will unopened Bud Light remain fresh?
According to A-B, unopened Bud Light should be used within 110 days after manufacturing, however it is safe to consume far after this time frame. Six to nine months after the expiration date, bottled and canned beer becomes flat and loses taste.
The optimal temperature for storing beer is between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which may be achieved by refrigeration. It can extend the shelf life of beer beyond its expiration date by up to two years.
How long does Bud Light last once it’s been opened?
Once opened, beer typically keeps its quality for around one day when refrigerated and covered. Expect it to lose its carbonation and have an awful flavor thereafter.
While unopened Bud Light has a lengthy shelf life, the quality of opened Bud Light soon degrades due to oxidation. Because the sealed cans and bottles exclude oxygen, unopened Bud Light is shielded from this aging process.
Additionally, your Bud Light has been tainted with your bacteria if you have been drinking it. Although Bud Light is an alcoholic beverage, it contains just 4.2% alcohol by volume. This quantity of alcohol is insufficient to eliminate all microorganisms in the beverage, although chilling can limit their growth.
How Should Bud Light be stored?
Similar to other beers, Bud Light should be stored in a cool, dark location at a steady temperature. To avoid oxidation, store Bud Light upright with the seal intact until it is ready to be consumed.
Exposure to light, air, and bacteria are the three most significant causes of beer degradation. Due to the rarity of bacterial contamination in modern times, beer enthusiasts need only worry about safeguarding unopened Bud Light from exposure to light and oxygen.
Even unopened, unexpired Bud Light can develop a characteristic “skunked” flavor when exposed to light.
A-B created the packaging for Bud Light to limit the effects of light exposure, but you may further extend the shelf life of your beer by storing it in a dark location away from light.
Because cans block more light than bottles, they have a longer shelf life. They also tend to stay longer than bottles since their seal protects against oxidation better than a bottle top.
To keep cans and bottles from oxidizing, store them upright as suggested by the manufacturer. When kept correctly, just a little amount of liquid is exposed to the oxygen in the container, so reducing oxidation.
As previously stated, bacteria is an issue for opened Bud Light since the beer is often consumed while it is open. Refrigeration can help inhibit the growth of bacteria in beverages, and keeping your beer to yourself can help avoid the spread of sickness.
Additionally, if your Bud Light was previously chilled, you must keep it cold. Similar to other alcoholic beverages, Bud Light does not enjoy being heated and chilled repeatedly. If this occurs, it will acquire an unusual flavor.
What Occurs If You Consume Expired Bud Light?
Consuming expired Bud Light is unlikely to be harmful, while you may experience some of the unpleasant symptoms associated with alcohol intake, such as headache and nausea. You probably will not love the flavor.
Bud Light is pasteurized, a procedure in which the beer is cooked to a high temperature in order to kill any germs and prevent yeast development. Because of this, Bud Light should have relatively few microorganisms after its expiration date has passed.
Therefore, the likelihood of becoming ill or experiencing an unfavorable health reaction from consuming an expired Bud Light is relatively minimal unless the beer has been left open for days.
The quality of expired Bud Light is the major worry while consuming it. There is a significant likelihood that the carbonation in your expired Bud Light has diminished, altering the flavor. As long as you are prepared for the worst, taking a drink is perfectly safe.
Conclusion
Although consuming outdated Bud Light will not harm you, it will likely be flat and unappealing.
The parent company of Bud Light suggests consumers consume the beverage within 110 days after manufacturing; but, with appropriate storage, Bud Light may retain a respectable flavor for six to nine months or even two years beyond this period.
To optimize its shelf life, store your Bud Light upright in a cold, dark location, preferably the refrigerator. Once the bottle has been opened, refrigerate it and consume it within one day.