Frozen beer is best brought back to drinking temperature gradually by putting it in the refrigerator for a day or so.
Frozen beer can distort the shape of the can or even crack a glass bottle. Though you should never drink from a cracked or broken bottle, even a distorted can may sometimes be rescued as long as the CO2 hasn’t begun to escape.
The best way to defrost a beer is by putting it in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. This will keep it at an appropriate drinking temperature, but let it thaw and return to an appropriate drinking temperature slowly.
Whether the beer freezes quickly or over time, the frozen liquid will expand, usually requiring more space than the bottle has to give.
Drinking defrosted beer isn’t in and of itself dangerous, but being frozen is hard on beer.
Alcohol is not affected by freezer temperatures, however, the beer itself may lose carbonation or flavor as a result of being frozen.
Whether this is the case or not, place the beer in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours to thaw it out. For best results, put it in a zipper back or a tray of some kind to catch any leakage that may occur.
Inspect any frozen or partially frozen beer bottles carefully for signs of cracking. If a case of beer bottles freezes and a few of them explode, it’s best to throw away the whole case to avoid the risk of drinking broken glass.
The best way to defrost a frozen beer is simply to move it to the fridge and wait a day or so until it thaws out on its own. However, defrosting a beer is not all that different from defrosting meat or vegetables in a hurry.