Anonymous wrote in
roups.com:

Red oak boards being used as shelves. Was too wet and cold to sand, stain
and poly them so my husband put them up unfinished. Well he spilled his
beer on one. Will sanding be enough or will the spot rear its ugly head
when I get to stain and poly it in the spring?

Wipe *all* of the boards down with beer. Then it won't really matter -- everything will look the
same in the end.