What preservatives are in beer?

Answer by  funken (13)

Many beers contain sulfites just like wine. If you get a stomach ache after drinking beer or wine and you know you don't have an ulcer, try a beer that's made without them, like German beer. Also, like Latin4 mentioned, good beer always has an expiration date because of that.

Answer by  James81 (50)

Beer is made up of water, barley, hops, and yeast. Many people have heard of hops but don't know that hops are a preservative. Not to mention alcohol itself is used as a preservative in many cases. Beer lasts so long because of these two substances.

Answer by  DanFarley (28)

For starters the main ingredients that make-up beer are preservatives; alcohol, hops, and yeast. Along with other additives and preservatives that are added, like foam stabilizers and other barley spices also preserve the taste. Although these ingredients are preservatives, they are also all natural excluding the last two mentioned. Most beers are naturally preserved for the most part.

Answer by  funken (13)

I need to add that you have to do your own due diligence when it comes to finding beers without preservatives. Unless it says it on the bottle, it probably has preservatives, even if it has an expiration date.

Answer by  MarkWatrous (729)

The reason that beer seems to last quite a while either in your fridge or in your cellar, is due to its' ingredients. Pure beer has seven ingredients: water,malt (a grain, usually barley or rice), sugar,hops,dried beer yeast,salt,and citric acid. This combination produces alcohol. The alcohol and the hops preserve the flavor of your beer.

Answer by  Latin4 (11170)

If your a beer drinker, your best bet would be to look at the expiration dates on beer. Good beers don't have preservatives, they have expiration dates.