Beer storage

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by jimbo2364, Feb 20, 2015.

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  1. jimbo2364

    jimbo2364 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2015 California

    So I did a little research and saw it's best to store beer around 50-55 degrees. Sounds like a wine fridge is the perfect option. What are you all using and how many bottles does it store?
     
  2. Treyliff

    Treyliff Grand Pooh-Bah (4,711) Aug 10, 2010 West Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Check out the 'cellaring' sub-forum. You'll find plenty of storage discussion over there.
     
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  3. oldsailor

    oldsailor Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2008 Connecticut

    I run a full sized Kenmore for this task; I'd have to get about 12 wine fridges to have enough capacity!

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Phocion

    Phocion Initiate (0) Aug 5, 2005 Minnesota

    When I lived in SoCal I kept an old fridge in the garage with a Johnson temperature controller:

    Beer fridge circa 2006 (the contents were much more impressive nine years ago):

    [​IMG]

    Temp Controller: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/johnson-refrigerator-thermostat.html

    Nowadays I live in Minnesota and my basement stays between 50-60 degrees year-round. That makes it much easier.
     
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  5. Brolo75

    Brolo75 Initiate (0) Aug 10, 2013 California
    Deactivated

    I live in SoCal and my cellar is a cabinet in an upstairs bathroom. For some strange reason the bathroom stays pretty cool during the summer and we don't use it. This summer I'm looking to purchase a new refrigerator for the house and move the old one into garage for a cellar.
    I've had beer up there for three years and only one beer I cellared came out strange.
     
  6. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,071) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Why are you "storing" this beer, and what styles of beer?

    If you are going to drink the beer "fresh" and immediately, normal refrigeration temperatures preserve the flavor of fresh beer best.

    Also, do not confuse a beer's suggested "serving temperature" with the best temps for preserving beer.

    If you are cellaring the beers (this is what most of the replies above are referring to)- usually higher abv beers - wanting to drink it after it has continued to age in the bottle and change over months or years, the temperature range you quote is ideal.
     
  7. patdunkel

    patdunkel Initiate (0) Apr 4, 2014 Wisconsin

    I have a passive cellar we built in the basement. It is insulated from the living space and not from the outside walls. Here in WI, it stays between 50 in the winter and 60-63 in the summer. Works great for wine and beer. I put the hoppy stuff in a dedicated fridge. Yes, I have a beer accumulation problem.
     
  8. Dicers

    Dicers Grand Pooh-Bah (3,412) Sep 2, 2012 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I definitely have more beer than I can properly store, although yes between 50-60 is ideal I definitely have some overflow in just a room temperature location. It won't necessarily hurt the beer just expediates the aging process
     
  9. jimmyfishkin

    jimmyfishkin Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2008 Wisconsin

    Impressive; you need help finishing off that Surly?
    P.S. - how long has that Blue Moon been chillling in there? :slight_smile:
     
  10. TylerKitchens

    TylerKitchens Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2014 Massachusetts

    Couple of things about a wine fridge to be wary of (or any fridge for that matter)

    1. Always store bottles upright (less beer touches oxygen, less chance of oxidation)
    2. Extensive amount of time in a fridge causes dehydration which can cause corks to shrink and allow oxygen in and CO2 out (there are humidifier options for fridges, I believe?)
    3. Take the lightbulb out. I know it looks cool to have all your beer lit up like a Christmas tree but even light from light bulbs can "skunk" or cause the beer to become lightstricken and affect the taste

    Happy Cellaring!!! You have reached the hoarding phase of beer enthusiasm.
     
  11. oldsailor

    oldsailor Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2008 Connecticut

    Haha, maybe if you're in Vegas sometime @jimmyfishkin! Definitely paid a premium for The Darkness to come out here, but it's worth it. I may have to hit you up if you're willing to trade though as I see you're from Wisconsin and my wife and I have recently been introduced to the wonderful New Glarus lineup...lookout for a message in the future!

    And as for the Blue Moon, that's a really good question to which I cannot answer. Aside from the Anchor Steam in the bottom drawer, that area is reserved for the beers I don't want to just throw away in case someone really wants a more standard beer. But seeing as I have no idea when I got it, it's a crap shoot if it'll be any good!
     
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  12. woodchip

    woodchip Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2011 North Carolina

    Two wine chillers and a full size fridge (when permitted, food also goes in here).
     
  13. Andrew041180

    Andrew041180 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    I had one shelf in the basement. Then a couple bottles overflowed onto a second shelf. Last weekend I bought a case that ended up sitting on the floor. I don't think I'll have to buy any beer for at least a month. I would really like to get back to that single shelf.
     
  14. Hop-Droppen-Roll

    Hop-Droppen-Roll Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2013 Minnesota

    If I'm not going to drink it for a while it goes in my 'cellar', which is a couple of shelves in my basement. Temperature fluctuates greatly but slowly, which is fine. It's the fast temp swings you don't want. It gets 'room temp' in the summer but never HOT. The average temp is probably in the 'ideal' range. Just keep it dark (in boxes) and you're fine.
     
  15. azorie

    azorie Pooh-Bah (2,409) Mar 18, 2006 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    the corner and its stores it well, until I place it in the frig.

    beer porn in the morning woohoo. I drink too fast to have 100 beer sitting in my frig, even IF I could afford them...which is why I HB. :grinning::rolling_eyes:

    the few old beers I do save, have sit on bottom of a old book shelf, for years @ 70-80F
    winter/summer, as its Florida and we have two seasons....worked for me.
     
  16. papat444

    papat444 Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2006 Canada (QC)

    Was just debating this. Have a whole cupboard downstairs that i'd like to use but the ducts from the furnace are right on the other side of the wall which means the temp is like 70 :slight_frown:

    I might try to put some temporary insulating but if any BAs have suggestions, shoot 'em at me!
     
  17. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,291) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Check your basement temp at floor level as far from the furnace that you can. It sounds like yo live in a cold environment so the floor should be close to ideal year-round (unless you keep your house real warm, and the basement too).
     
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  18. pagriley

    pagriley Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2014 Illinois

    How warm is your place? I am in Chicago, and even with the hot summers here I just use a spare closet that tends to stay at about 60-65 degrees year round.

    I have a wine cellar, but that is full of wine! I have not had any trouble with the beers in the closet though - it is dark, the temperature is stable (stability in temp is much more important than actual temp so long as it isn't hot).
     
  19. papat444

    papat444 Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2006 Canada (QC)

    Yeah, kids playroom is in the basement so it's heated but i believe the temp in on the floor portion of the cupboard is 60 so that's good.

    And yeah, i do live in a cold environment, Quebec; home of the constant -13F (yeah, you read right :angry:)
     
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