Yet same wouldn’t apply to stale beer that went bad after a few days or weeks?
No, it wouldn't. It's very difficult to produce beer where harmful organisms can multiply. Post-fermentation it's an extremely difficult environment for most organisms.
Re:Beer on Board in the Age of Sail
by poloniculmov on Thursday April 24, 2025 @04:18AM
(#43780366)
Brewed beer can get yeast or bacterial infections, especially if you cannot refrigerate it and don't have the means to sanitize recipients.
Yes, it can. But infections by harmful organisms is very difficult to achieve. The common spoilage organisms in beer are all harmless to humans. Here's a good overview http://mmbr.asm.org/content/77/2/157.long
Just the hops alone stop pretty much all gram-positive bacteria except Lactobacillus and a few other harmless ones.
A few brushes with bad water might have given folk a strong preference for beer, just to be on the safe side, even if most water was safe.