Throughout all my years of consuming frozen beer, I have never had to deal with diarrhea. This frozen beer and diarrhea thing is an old wives’ tale because I have heard many people say if you drink frosty beer, you will battle with diarrhea. I saw it as a superstition; it was just so difficult for me to believe it because there is no chemical change that happens when a bottle of beer freezes, no bacteria growth or extra yeast that makes the beer go wrong, and there is also nothing that can enter or leave the bottle that will make drinking the beer give you diarrhea.
You might only have to deal with stomach upset if the bottle’s cork ruptured, exposing the beer to air. And if your beer gets frozen, it might explode the bottles or cans if you allow it to remain that way for too long. If you are not a fan of frozen beer and your beer got frozen without your notice, you can give it to a certified frozen beer disposal expert for safe and environmentally friendly disposal, or you can thaw it out in the basement or close to a drain so that if the bottles break or cans burst, it won’t be a big challenge to handle.
Frozen beer does not give me diarrhea. I have never experienced that since I started consuming it, but our digestive systems are different; what might not give me diarrhea might give you diarrhea. So, if frozen beer gives you diarrhea, you should avoid drinking it.
Certain people experience diarrhea after drinking frozen beer or any alcohol. Diarrhea can be a side effect of even moderate alcohol intake.
Alcohol is easily absorbed into many tissues in the body. As soon as alcohol enters the body, it goes directly into the bloodstream, and some of this absorption happens in the stomach.
If there is food in the stomach at the time, the absorption rate will slow. This is why people feel the effects of alcohol more quickly on an empty stomach.
Once it leaves the stomach, alcohol starts getting absorbed by the small intestine. Much of the drink is absorbed here, but the rest goes into the large intestine and exits the stool and urine.
Alcohol can cause severe changes in the normal functions of the digestive system every step of the way. Alcohol triggers the intestines and makes them react by speeding up digestion. The muscles in the colon contract more frequently, pushing stool out faster than usual. This quickening can lead to diarrhea, as the intestines do not have time to digest the passing food properly. Personal habits have a significant role to play in the side effects that are caused by drinking alcohol. Someone who drinks alcohol every day may be more likely to experience chronic diarrhea from alcohol. People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, or Crohn’s disease may experience worse reactions to alcohol and diarrhea more regularly after consuming it.
How can you prevent diarrhea caused by alcohol or frozen beer?
Reducing the intake of alcoholic drinks can decrease stress on your digestive tract.
Substitute alcoholic drinks that cause gastrointestinal symptoms with a different type of alcohol may help in the long run.
Practice eating before drinking alcohol because it can slow the absorption rate of the alcohol into the body and reduce the risk of diarrhea.
Also, stop drinking alcoholic beverages mixed with caffeine, as caffeine can increase movement in the intestine and the speed of digestion that can give you diarrhea.
You might need to see a doctor when you experience persistent diarrhea because it may be a sign of a different condition requiring a doctor’s visit. Also, constant diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
It would be best if you saw a doctor when you see the following symptoms:
- Bloody stool.
- Consistent diarrhea lasting more than two days.
- Frequent thirst and dry mouth.
- Low or no urine, even with extra fluid intake.
- Infrequent urine that is mostly very dark in color.
- Weakness and fatigue.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Fever.
- Chronic cramps and pain.
- Black stool that is not caused by an antidiarrheal medication.
Dehydration is a serious issue that is not good for your health, so if you are experiencing the above symptoms, quickly consult a doctor.
Usually, for diarrhea that is caused by drinking alcohol, the symptoms will leave as soon as you resume your regular diet or staying hydrated and stop consuming alcohol.
If you eat rice, toast or plain crackers, or other easily-digested foods, it can help ease diarrhea symptoms after drinking alcohol.
Also, avoid dairy products and foods that are high in fat or fiber immediately after diarrhea, as these can put more pressure on your digestive system when it is trying to recover.
Take a lot of fluids after drinking alcohol because your body has lost a lot of water through urine and diarrhea. Drinking water, herbal teas, and broths will go a long way in preventing dehydration.
For cases of consistent diarrhea, you can get medications over the counter or see a doctor. Probiotics may also help regain the bacterial balance in the gut.
Can frozen beer make you sick?
I have taken frozen beer many times, and it didn’t make me sick or affect my health in any way. Frozen beer is very safe for consumption. When beer gets frozen, it ends up freezing the water in it.
Frozen beer may taste bad when it is frozen, but it cannot make anyone sick. Frozen beer may taste bad because liquid expands when it freezes, the added volume and pressure can sometimes rupture the can’s seal or the bottle’s crown. If you want to drink frozen beer, ensure you allow the beer to thaw back to liquid before consuming it entirely.
How do you store frozen beer?
Sometimes I don’t feel like drinking my frozen beer, so there are ways I store it so it thaws for me to consume as a liquid. I learn to be patient when I am melting my beer. If you try to melt your beer in a hurry, it can result in cans erupting and bottles cracking from the pressure due to the sudden temperature change. Sometimes, even when you are careful, your beer won’t always recover completely. You should know that when your beer comes out flavorless and watery, discard them and start all over again.
Below are steps you can follow on how to store or defrost your frozen beer.
Step 1: Keep the frozen beer in a Ziploc food storage bag or a covered container. Keeping it in this kind of container will prevent any form of the mess caused by any leakage. Avoid opening the bottles or puncturing the cans.
Step 2: Go ahead to place your bottle of frozen beer in the refrigerator or any other place with a cool temperature like your basement or garage. Please do not keep your frozen beer in a warm or sunny place because it might make it thaw very fast and blow the can or bottle.
Step 3: Then, allow your beer to remain there until it has defrosted. It will take up to 12 to 24 hours, depending on the refrigerator’s temperature or other location.
You can still used your thawed beer that is watery and unsatisfying to make beer bread.
Please, don’t try to place your frozen glass beer bottles in hot water because the glass might expand too quickly and break eventually.
Please don’t shake your beer cans or bottles during the thawing process because it will only increase the pressure. Most times, when I am thawing my frozen glass bottles, I leave them at the basement and focus on doing other things before coming back to consume it when it is completely defrosted.
Conclusion
Our digestive systems are wired differently; while I may not experience diarrhea after drinking frozen beer, you may experience it. So, if your body is susceptible to frosty beer, avoid consuming it or allow it to thaw entirely before drinking it.