Here's Why Time Is Of The Essence After You Crack Open A Beer

Although many other countries forgo the ice, Americans like their beverages cold. This is true for beer, soft drinks, tea, and water — the latter being something Mark Twain has even referenced (via Essays on Paul Bourget). "I think that there is but a single specialty with us, only one thing that can be called by the wide name 'American.' That is the national devotion to ice-water," he said. Unlike Americans, however, Europeans aren't fans of ice water. They likely believe ice takes away from the amount of liquid in the glass, per Smithsonian Magazine. 

For the best business practice, restaurants often add excessive amount of ice in your drink to save a few bucks, Just Restaurant Supplies explains. The reason isn't always purely selfish, though. In alcoholic drinks, ice makes a tremendous difference in flavor. Beer is another alcoholic beverage you don't want to drink warm. But whether you like your beer ice cold or at a room temperature, one thing's for sure — you need to make sure you consume it quickly once the cap is popped. 

If you enjoy a tasty, ice cold beer, it's obvious you shouldn't leave it sitting out for long. Besides the drink becoming warm, there's science backing a beer's change of flavor if it's not consumed within a few hours. Per Learning to Home Brew, a beer loses carbonation quickly after the airtight cap has been removed, so its fresh taste dissipates as its bubbles dwindle. Luckily, an opened beer can be saved in the refrigerator if a makeshift lid seals it off properly, but the decision is one that should be made right away.

It's a common misconception that unopened brewed beer tastes better or becomes more alcoholic over time. And in doing so, you might actually be ruining your beer. According to How Stuff Works, even a sealed beer will become flat as it ages. And even though beer ferments as it sits, its alcohol content stays the same as its yeast has died off. For the best-tasting beer, make sure the beverage isn't more than a few months old.