Thoughts on warm beer shelves

I always buy room temp beer. unless for some crazy reason its only in the cooler. Total wines cooler to warm is like 5% cold 95% warm.

 

I don't mind room-temp beer shelves. Sometimes I prefer it, if I'll be traveling with the beer and don't want to deal with condensation. Just keep your fastest moving beers on those shelves. Even if you're putting IIPA's out there, if they're selling in a week or less, there won't be a noticeable difference.

Keep them out of sunlight, if possible.

 

I have no problem with the warm shelf because in my area I don't have much of a choice. I live in a smaller college town where craft is a niche market. Only one liquor store within 30 miles has a decent selection and it's all out on the floor (out of direct sunlight at least). I'm willing to bet BMC bong fodder makes up 90% of their beer sales to college kids, so that stuff is in the cooler. I can get some Sam Adams and Boulevard cold but that's it. Boulevard is pretty popular around here as far as craft goes since we're less than 2 hours from KC.

 

As long as it's out of the sun, it doesn't matter to me.

 

About 95% of beer in British shops is stored at room temperature. I rarely if ever buy anything chilled.

 

I sort of assumed you meant that. but hey one never knows.

 

How far is the top of the shelf to the recessed fluorescent lamps? UV filters?!?

 

I rarely get anything from a cooler. Around me the only stuff they put in there is old stuff. With warm beer you just have to be a little more diligent checking dates. I never buy anything over a month old from a warm shelf.

 

I've thought about this at the store I work at, but haven't found a good answer. Do you have any more info on this? The warm beer shelf is in the back room with higher ceilings, so the lights are more spaced out and probably ~8 feet above the top shelf. We have a few bombers on the top shelf of the singles rack in the front room, which is probably only 2-3 feet away from the light.

Is there a distance where the effect of direct light drops considerably? I've thought about UV filters but haven't done any research, do those work well?

 

Well, back about 2006/2007 I read a report which was forwarded to me (from a local brewer, and via email) which was written by a reputable source writing in an industry trade publication -- it might've been a C-Store-specific publication, or something like Beverage Industry. At any rate, it went into enough detail where I was convinced that I had been "doing it wrong" for five years at retail. Of course, while we never had the kind of store owner who would spring for filters, there was thankfully plenty of business and thus the exposed Craft bombers (and 'heritage' glass in six-cartons) moved briskly enough...

That's what I understand, but damned if I could understand the physics behind it!

Nowadays, the best Craft and Specialty Beer hobbyist-centric retailers in the area all have filters in their coldboxes and recessed fixtures as well.

 

I can count on one hand the times I have bought beer from the cooler. The stuff I want is never in there. I don't care because it means that I have a large craft section in my local grocery and I would prefer to have them bring the quality and the national representation that they have together with a pretty decent international shelf as well.

I'll can chill it at home.

 

Too old to be Chaz's article, but here's one from the early 80s done in Australia, but published in the US's Brewers Digest. Light-Struck Flavor Formation in Beer in Illuminated Display Cabinets Discusses time, distance, type of florescent light, and also thickness of glass.

 

If it's any help, beer generally sits in a warehouse that is around 70 degrees before it is stuck on a truck that could be 100 degrees, depending on time and location. As mentioned, light will do more damage than climate controlled room will.

 

I too, can't believe it's been on several 100% refrigerated trucks, into refrigerated distributor warehouse(s), then the store keeps it in a refrigerated back stock...

and then they have the nerve to put it on a "warm" shelf, and not into the coldbox. Crazy!

 

This thread comes up once a month or so. For the last time, sunlight will do more damage than temperature ever will. Do you really think that the beer you just bought in a cooler was kept cold throughout the entire distribution process?

Buy off the shelf unless the beer is exposed to sunlight.

 

To your question, unrefridgerated beer doesn't bother me as long it's not near any windows. I'll check dates on the beer if I'm concerned about buying old beer.

My recommendation would be to make your "warm" shelf a special shelf for cans, or at least a good portion of cans. There's no chance of them getting light struck, less oxidation risk, and less chance of someone [or wagging dog tail, apparently] knocking over and breaking them. Craft cans are growing in popularity, ride that wave... maybe make a big craft can display to hang over the shelf to hype it up a little bit.

 

I actually prefer warm beer shelves. Most of the time when I buy beer, my fridge is holding what I'm going to drink next, so I usually buy warm beer and put it in the garage or basement until it's ready for fridge time.

 

My beer store sells exclusively craft beer and is 95% warm shelf but they keep the place pretty cool. Cans are cool to the touch. They have a "Just In" section where I purchase most my beers from and I have had good luck 99% of the time. I can think of only one skunky beer. I don't hesitate to buy a higher abv beer like a stout or Belgian from other parts of the store. I won't purchase from the IPA section though unless I can find a bottle on date.

 

Just buy stuff a day earlier.