Beer is best when it’s consumed fresh. If you do need to store it, there are several things that can affect its shelf life: the freshness date, storage temperature and exposure to light.

Look for a date on the packaging. It may be labeled “pull” (the date the retailer should pull the beer off the shelf), “born-on” (the date the beer was bottled) or “best by” (the date by which the beer should be consumed). You won’t find dates on all beers. Beer makers aren’t required to date their products, and some of theme code the date so that it’s impossible for the consumer to read.

When stored at room temperature, beer typically has a 3-month shelf life; long-term refrigeration easily doubles its life. Exposure to heat, however, dramatically shortens its life.

Exposure to light, especially fluorescent and sunlight, also affects beer’s life. Bottles stored in well-lit rooms eventually become “light struck,” resulting in an off odor and flavor. Most brewers combat this problem by using dark tinted glass bottles. Even so, it’s best to store beer in a dark area.