The Red Flag You Should Never Ignore At A Beer Store

Whether you're defending America's most hated beer or debating the best way to pour your beer into a glass, beer can be a polarizing beverage (and topic of discussion). Whatever your stance is on this ancient drink that we know Mesopotamians loved, most everyone can agree that we should all avoid bad beer. It isn't just the brands and styles that you need to consider. Be on the lookout at your favorite bottle the shop next time you head in to pick up your brew of choice, because there is one major red flag that should activate your spidey senses.

If you see beer bottles, cans, or cases sitting in direct sunlight, you definitely don't want to purchase them. The reason is this: Beer oxidizes over time, which is what turns good, fresh-tasting stuff into a skunky, foul elixir. Sunlight actively accelerates the oxidation process, both because of its ultraviolet rays and the heat that it generates, which any beer aficionado worth their hops would know. 

Your best bet is to pick a brew that comes from the shop's refrigerators, rather than a pack that has been sitting out at room temperature. However, if the beer store you usually frequent has any beers sitting in front of a window, you should consider picking a different beer store altogether. Even if you grab something from the fridge, it still could have been kept in the path of direct sunlight before that. Remember, exposure to heat is an enemy of good beer. 

You can also check the bottles for a "best by" or "enjoy by" date, or even better, a bottled-on date, which allows you to accurately gauge the beer's freshness to the day. See a bottle you want, but its bottled-on date is over a year ago? Put it back. Even refrigerated, beer stays at its peak quality only up to about eight months.

One way to help ensure that you're getting beer at its freshest is to buy direct from the source. If you have any breweries near you that sell can fills, crowlers, or growlers, and they do steady business, that's your best bet. Popular spots will go through kegs quickly, ensuring fresher brews every time you pop in. Buying direct from a brewery also means the beer was transported much less than commercially produced stuff — when the brewing happens on-site, the beer didn't even leave the premises. If you don't have a local brewery nearby, a specialty store or a busy market with plenty of inventory turnover is also a good choice.