Agree... although, if you're not sure, send it to me!

Is this question serious? Beer is canned or bottled, and most stores just store the beer on the shelves, not refrigeration units...

I take stuff out of the fridge all the time and then put it back in. As long as this isn't done numerous times I wouldn't worry about it. I usually drink craft beer that has 6+% alcohol and no problems.

Yeah, this is not a "good question". But, it is a good thing that you can now enjoy your beer! Once it is cold again, of course.

So I live in Oklahoma. We can only buy 3.2% "beer" (considered a "malt beverage" in OK) cold. If you want to buy REAL 6 point beer beer, you can only buy it warm at the liquor store (not chilled - it's illegal!) It's totally safe. It's also totally a pain in the arse not to be able to buy cold beer!

With that said, there are some beer brands that won't sell in Oklahoma because they believe the beer doesn't meet their quality standards for taste if it has been transported and stored warm. (Or so I've been told...apparently it is sold in some other states warm...) Fat Tire from New Belgium comes to mind.

Oh yeah, you're good. Drink up.

Beer doesn't have to be chilled. It just tastes better if its chilled. We store it in the coolish cellar and just put it into the fridge if guests come over so that it can cool down. I guess after it is opened i might be different. And I can't believe I just commented on a beer issue (I don't drink and particularly not beer).

Ok, this question is astounding. Beer doesn't need to be refrigerated. In Europe most beer is solid at room temperature. The comment above me (at the time of writing) states that cold beer tastes better. This is only true for beer that's not made with quality ingredients. I've had many a beer at room temperature that have tasted great if not better (English Ale's and other complex Stouts) than their chilled brothers.

Beer left in hot cars is fine too, temperature doesn't impact beer, maybe over a long period of time but skunking due to temperature changes is a myth.

As a homebrewer, I can assure you that if the beer isn't perfectly sanitary when it goes into the bottles, no amount of refrigeration will save it! The only type of beer that goes bad is unpasteurized beer, which you only find in homebrews or tiny tiny microbrews. Even then, it takes months for the brew to turn, and once it does it isn't dangerous, just kind of funky tasting. Drink up!

I don't think its good. I'll be happy to "dispose" of it for you (wink wink)

I was concerned about skunking so yep, I was serious.

I think I'll reconsider before submitting another question - this groups is a rough crowd! :[

@DanielleM - you're right, tough crowd. I understood your question, you wanted to know if the beer was safe because it had been chilled then come to room temperature and chilled again. Some foods aren't safe to eat under those conditions so I thought it was a reasonable question.

Actually I'm glad you asked. I've often wondered about beer that has been chilled and then to room temp and back to chilled. I was told once that wine that has been chilled must stay chilled or it goes yucky, I assumed the same with beer.
Thanks for asking the question, ignore the grumps, some people on here are just rude and snobby. The reason why we ask questions is because we dont know, we shouldn't be treated like idiots for it.

Is this some new kind of egg salad beer? It's in a can, or bottle. Much like any other can or bottle that has not been opened, it won't be affected by a small temperature change.

I think the Kitchn ran out of questions!!!!

The statement "Beer doesn't have to be chilled. It just tastes better if its chilled." is only really true for marco lagers like bud light, coors light, etc. Many craft beers aren't supposed to be ice cold when enjoyed, they open up with more flavor. Yes, beer nerd alert.

It is a good question.

I think its a good question. Some of the local craft beers that I've gotten are cold from the store and they recommend not letting it get warm (aka you should keep it refrigerated) but sometimes I can't help if it gets warm, especially when traveling. I've always wondered if the taste changed.

Skunked beer is still "safe", it just tastes bad. I am always astounded at people's lack of basic food spoilage/safety knowledge. So much food must be wasted based on our modern ignorance of what we can/can't put in our mouths.

I've worked in the brewing industry for 8 years, and this is a really common question (certainly not a bad one). The basic answer is yes, this beer is fine to drink. However, depending on it's style and package, the taste could be affected.

Is this a macro-style, pale, fizzy beer (like Budweiser, Coors, etc.)? If so, it's likely bee pasteurized before packaging, which means there's nothing in it to actually harm you. You could let it sit in your basement for YEARS, and as long as it's sealed, you're fine. Might be a little stale-tasting, though, depending on its age.

If this is a craft-style beer that's unfiltered or bottle fermented, then the taste could be more affected, and depending on how warm it's allowed to get, that could be a significant difference. While most beer is pasteurized in some way, draught beer and a few craft brands aren't, and these are generally considered iffy after a couple of months or at a temp above 65 or so. Still, it's not likely to make you sick. Unless you're super sensitive to tastes you don't like.

Lastly, "skunked" only applies to beer in glass bottles that has been exposed to light for a prolonged period of time. It's due to a chemical reaction in hop compounds (even in beers brewed with hop extract or pellets, which is just about every macro brand). If your beer hasn't been stored in your windowsill or backyard, then you don't have to worry about this aroma (and it's just an aroma; you could pinch your nose and drink a "skunked" beer with little affect).