Styles such as pale ales, light lagers, wheat beers and brown ales are best within 120 days of packaging, whereas darker, heavier beers, like stouts and porters, are good for up to 180 days.

Can you drink out of date Stout?

Can beer “go bad”? No, beer has no use by date, meaning it is safe to drink well past the best before date. Beer won't be dangerous to drink, but the taste of the beer will deteriorate over time.

Do stouts need to be refrigerated?

High-alcohol beers like strong ales, imperial stouts and barleywines can last for years without much chill—it's what they were designed to do in the days before refrigeration. They are best served just slightly under room temperature.