I have found some weird and wonderful things in my garage and one of the things is some 40 year old beers - are they safe to drink? Im just wondering if they are like wine and get better with age. My nan owned this house before me and Ive been here 5 years but still find great things in the garage. When I first moved in I found pie filling from the war and rations books lol. I think she stocked up in case there was another war!

I really wouldnt think so. Ale & Beer have use by dates like food does. I think if you opened it, the smell would put you off just a little :)

Eugh, no way. We had some beer and lager I found from an old party from about 5 years back, I opened it to prove that it had gone off and sure enough the smell was enough to warrant it going into the bin quick smart!!

They may be worth more unopened.

In theory cans and bottles as long as the seal is not breached the contents should remain safe to consume.  Whether the flavour will be as it should is anyones guess.

Just read your thread cant tell you about the beer but agree Nans and now Mum (87) deffinitly stocked up for the next war. We laughed at the stuff my nan had when she died but my Mum seems to be the same. Trouble is  I am beginning to think I am the same too and I was born 10 years after the war !

Supposedly there was something on TV last week where a guy found some old tins of food from 40 years ago, they opened it up and it was still fresh and hadn't gone off at all.  Don't think I would of opened it, I won't have anything that's a few weeks out of date let alone years LOL!

oh has just told me he found a bottle of beer at his fil (not my Dad !) house and drank that it was 25 years old.
Well maybe that accounts for a lot lol

I never look at use by/best before dates, except in the shop.  If it's off my eyes nose or tongue will tell me.

> If it's off my eyes nose or tongue will tell me

I'm the same, my OH gets mad with me over some of the cheese & yoghurt I refuse to throw out.

Sooooooo,
We are in suspenders........ What DOES it taste like?????
Lea :)

Well I wouldn't be opening it, I would be contacting people who collect (and pay good money for!) unopened bottles of alcohol - they do exist! These bottles might well be the only remaining ones of their type in the world. There again, they might not be, but find out first before you dump them or open them.
http://www.beerbottlecollection.co.uk/
there's a start for you......

> We are in suspenders

Are you? Not sure we need to know what you are wearing Lea :-D   ROFL!!!

> I would be contacting people who collect (and pay good money for!) unopened bottles of alcohol -

That was my suggestion, it's like mint toys that have never been opened and played with etc.