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Re:Beer on Board in the Age of Sail by ludicrousdispla on Thursday April 24, 2025 @01:31AM (#43779563)
It is my understanding that the yeast in the beer will consume everything it can and that is what keeps the beer preserved, or safe to drink.
Re:Beer on Board in the Age of Sail by poloniculmov on Thursday April 24, 2025 @04:20AM (#43780387)
While yeast will consume most of the nutrients, there's still residual sugar in beer. Hops will inhibit microbial and bacterial growth, but they will not stop it completely.
Re:Beer on Board in the Age of Sail by larsga on Thursday April 24, 2025 @04:40AM (#43780498)
Yes, there is residual sugar, but it's complex sugars that not even yeast that specializes in fermenting sugar can consume. Plus there is alpha acids from hops, as you point out, there is alcohol, pH is low, oxygen is gone, there's a CO2 blanket, etc. So it's a very, very difficult environment for microorganisms. Pretty close to none that cause disease can grow in this environment.

Is it more than 99.99999999999999% safe? No. Is it vastly safer that water? Yes.