Texas cellar question

Discussion in 'Southwest' started by icetrauma, Jan 19, 2013.

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  1. omnigrits

    omnigrits Initiate (0) Jun 1, 2006 Texas

    Most of mine are in a pantry that's on a north-facing wall. The temperature doesn't fluctuate wildly but in the summer I can't afford to keep the a/c at 70° 24/7 so it gets a little warmer in there than I'd like, but at least the sun isn't beating down on that wall during the day. I didn't originally plan on keeping anything more than a year or two until I got a dedicated fridge with a temp control, but you know how things happen and suddenly I've got three and four year old bottles on my hands and no space left in the pantry.

    I took seven bottles to tasting last night - all were from 2010, all were in good condition and all got marked at four (out of five) or better, except for the Anchor Christmas which wasn't off but just wasn't great, so I guess it's working okay, for now.

    The only beer I've had a problem with is Lagunitas Undercover Shutdown. I held onto maybe six bottles from 2011 and started drinking them three or four months ago. They were all off. And we didn't get any last year, or if we did I missed it.
     
  2. jbeezification

    jbeezification Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2012 Texas

    I have a wine fridge that is just about as full as it can possibly get set to 55-60. I also have a pantry with a broken light fixture that has a shelf dedicated to bombers and corked bottles that I can't lay down. I would say it stays around 60 in there and colder in the winter which is fine. I only open the door to the pantry about 2-3 times a week and close it when I grab whatever it was I need.

    Porters and pale ales (IPAs, APAs, etc...) I keep in my regular fridge because I usually drink those within a week of bringing home.
     
  3. rainerschuhsler

    rainerschuhsler Initiate (0) May 17, 2012 Texas

    I don't understand all you people that store beer in a closet. Do you keep the A/C in your house running at 70° 24/7?
     
  4. cfh64

    cfh64 Pooh-Bah (1,996) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know what ya mean, having that many beers without a "proper" cellar is a pain in the ass to keep up with. The ones in the boxes are the beers that I think aren't as temp sensitive and mainly beers I've had before. The beers in the fridge are typically beers I haven't had so I can somewhat preserve the freshness and they are always on the "to drink list". Guezes are starting to take over the wine fridge because since they can go the distance, I want them aged at the more ideal temp.

    Lol, its all somewhat complicated and has become kind of a pain in the ass which is why I'm trying to drink it down. I don't want to have to keep up with a spreadsheet either. I swear I've spent hours rotating shit around and trying to keep up with everything.

    I've also become more in the mindset that fresh is better, most of the time. I started a "cellar" to age some beers and for variety so I would have a beer for every occasion. With better and better distro in TX, I don't need to have that many beers on hand. I can run down the street and get alot of what I want, fresh.
     
  5. cfh64

    cfh64 Pooh-Bah (1,996) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    At least 70 and not just for the beer, I like it cold :slight_smile:
     
  6. rainerschuhsler

    rainerschuhsler Initiate (0) May 17, 2012 Texas

    I bought a nice big temperature-controlled wine cooler used on Craigslist for $100 and keep it set on 55°.
     
  7. rainerschuhsler

    rainerschuhsler Initiate (0) May 17, 2012 Texas

    Even when you're not home, in the middle of the summer? Damn, I'm scared of what your electric bill looks like.
     
  8. kmello69

    kmello69 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2011 Texas

    Definitely true for me too. Its getting to be like a second job to keep spreadsheet updated, to keep track of what needs to be consumed when, etc. I started "collecting" more by accident - I just buy more than I drink, so over the past few years my numbers have just climbed and climbed. Luckily I found an awesome fridge on Craigslist for $50, but thats only allowed me to keep adding more.

    New Years resolution was to drink it down, and try to get it down to the point that everything I have fits in the fridge.

    We need to organize more local tasting get-togethers, I think. My wife doesnt drink, and I can't drink all these 750s by myself.
     
  9. cfh64

    cfh64 Pooh-Bah (1,996) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My wife may sneak it up to 72 when I'm not home but I'm home most of the time. I moved into a newly constructed house a few years ago. That radiant barrier shit is the bomb. It cost less to heat and cool this house than my old one which was 1,000 sq feet less. Granted, my old one really was old, built in the 20's. Old windows, pier and beam, drafty, etc.

    No doubt I would save money though.
     
  10. cfh64

    cfh64 Pooh-Bah (1,996) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yup, I know what ya mean. Hell, I typically only drink one day a week...more during football season and I can hardly put a debt in my cellar btwn trades and new beers I pick up here. I used to save my "special" beers for "special" occasions but realized many if them would taste better now so I'm just opening them on any 'ole regular drinking day. Extras are fun but it becomes expensive and then I have that many more beers to drink. Lol, it's a brutal world we live in .

    I came damn close to buying a big ass stainless steel commercial fridge so I could put about 60% of my beers in there but decided against it.

    Off topic kind of...an example of a beer that I keep in the closet is Saison Brett. I know some people don't lik aged SB but I live the funkiness and tartness it develope. The Brett may actually "work" more efficiently at warmer temps so I now have a rotation going so I'm always drinking last years version.
     
  11. mattisloco

    mattisloco Maven (1,294) Feb 13, 2007 Texas
    Trader

    Warm aging does wonders to that beer. I had 2010 one warm aged, one temp controlled. Warm was by far better, not even close on the funky deliciousness.
     
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  12. reverseapachemaster

    reverseapachemaster Zealot (722) Sep 21, 2012 Texas

    I have beer everywhere. There are very few places in the house not hiding beer. All of my homebrew is kept at room temperature unless it's made it's way into the fridge waiting for imminent consumption. I have bought beer in the fridge as well waiting for imminent consumption but it's just whatever I think I will drink in the next week/few weeks.

    The rest of my bought beer is spread out in a few places. I think I have around 40-50 bottles. Most of it is in the back of the pantry. Some is in an ice chest (no ice, it was just a convenient place to store it) and I have a 3L bottle of Chimay blue in my closet (again, just placed for convenience). It's not kept as cool as it should be. Definitely not ideal during the summer. My house runs between 65-80 over the course of the year. I don't have a tremendous selection of beer to justify spending money on beer storage. Most of the beer I have is not beer I fear aging at room temperature, either.
     
  13. reverseapachemaster

    reverseapachemaster Zealot (722) Sep 21, 2012 Texas

    Agreed. Brett doesn't like cooler temperatures and unlike most yeast, research suggests its viability is diminished by cold storage (fridge temps). I guess if you wanted to arrest further brett character cellar or fridge temps would be a better option.

    I have a bottle of four year old Saison Brett I'm thinking about opening this summer along with a fresh bottle.
     
  14. jbeezification

    jbeezification Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2012 Texas

    I usually keep it at 70 but not constantly. You would be surprised how cool it can be in a dark closet.
     
  15. Walt

    Walt Initiate (0) Aug 6, 2006 Texas

    3rd bedroom with 4 industrial shelving units, insulation on the windows, blackout curtains, and a standalone portable AC unit...keeps the room at 57 or so. My electric bill sucks.
     
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  16. UHCougar12

    UHCougar12 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2011 Texas

    Mine is an actually drink specific fridge that holds 150-200(which I don't have that many), but I turned off all my lights and fans and went.out of.town for a week and found it cost about $.80/day
     
  17. starkmarvelo

    starkmarvelo Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2010 Texas

    Wow. That's dedication.
     
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  18. cfh64

    cfh64 Pooh-Bah (1,996) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Let me know what ya think. I did a 3 year (kinda) vertical last year with an '09 (batch 2 I believe), '11, and the fresh '12. While I still like it fresh, I just prefer the brettiness of the older ones. If I remember correctly, there was a huge difference between the '12 and older ones but not nears as much difference between the '09 and '11. I'll do a 4 year vert this year to reconfirm or prove myself wrong.

    On a side note, I'm not a pineapple fan but grilled pineapple and Saison Brett (aged or fresh) is f'in fantastic and may be one of my all time favorite food/beer pairings.
     
  19. DanzBorin

    DanzBorin Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2012 Texas

    I'm getting dangerously close to 400. About half of that is bombers.

    I keep trying to drink more and overcontribut, but it's not working!
     
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  20. Clonies720

    Clonies720 Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2012 Texas

    Mini fridge @ 50-55F. I use it for most of the rarest bottles I have.
    large Chest freezer temp-controlled @ 55F holds about 80-100 bottles
    Kegerator for dispensing my homebrew and what not @ 46F. Holds some IPAs and stuff that should be kept a little cooler.

    I'm also storing a few beers in the closet around 65-70F to compare how beer ages warm vs. "proper cellaring".

    Regular fridge for chilling things that require cold cold. And jester kings that recommend 24 hrs refridgeration prior to opening, which is necessary for funk metal lest it explode again all over my counter.
     
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