Storing high ABV stouts in Fridge

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Dools9, Aug 24, 2012.

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  1. Dools9

    Dools9 Pooh-Bah (1,788) Jul 5, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I just picked up a 4 pack of some FBS and want to try and keep a bottle or two for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Seeing as the price is 14 bucks a four pack I probably wont be buying it again. I dont really have ideal cellaring conditions and was wondering if keeping the beer in the fridge at around 40 degrees for a few months would effect the beer quality or do beers like this need to be kept at cellaring temps during longer periods?
     
    #1 Dools9, Aug 24, 2012
  2. Psychmusic

    Psychmusic Pundit (992) Jun 22, 2012 Massachusetts

    I think that if you're looking to minimize change the fridge is probably your BEST option actually. Cellaring temps will encourage development more than colder temps will as far as i can tell
     
    #2 Psychmusic, Aug 24, 2012
  3. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Some stouts get better with age, but if you put them in the fridge they age much more slowly.
    Basically exactly what psych said, I just need my daily sense of validation.
     
    #3 jivex5k, Aug 24, 2012
    dsal89 likes this.
  4. MaxSpang

    MaxSpang Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    I think FBS would be fine in the fridge until November/December. The coffee tends to stick around for awhile. I wouldn't age it much past that, though.
     
    #4 MaxSpang, Aug 24, 2012
  5. Zhiguli

    Zhiguli Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2012 California

    Store them in my fridge, they'll get much better
     
    #5 Zhiguli, Aug 24, 2012
    jaminjohnson likes this.
  6. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    I read on here all the time about how coffee fades almost as fast as hops, then I found a 2010 WnB in the back of my fridge and figured I wouldn't taste the coffee much at all.....then I drank it and tasted massive coffee flavors still very present. Is that the same in all coffee beers? I don't know. But I say IMO you're fine.

    tl;dr you'll be just fine holding them in your frige until Nov/Dec.
     
    #6 Hanzo, Aug 24, 2012
    daryk77 likes this.
  7. cmannes

    cmannes Pundit (967) Mar 15, 2009 Minnesota

    I recently drank a 3yr old bottle of Darkness out of my Fridge. (My cellar doesn't hold a good constant temp.) It was wonderfully delicious.
     
    #7 cmannes, Aug 24, 2012
  8. daryk77

    daryk77 Pundit (925) Jun 16, 2005 District of Columbia

    Just bought a 2011 four pack of FBS off the shelf last week (Had to dust the bottles off.) Had one last night and still a ton of coffee in there. So OP I think you will be fine until November.
     
    #8 daryk77, Aug 24, 2012
  9. PangaeaBeerFood

    PangaeaBeerFood Initiate (0) Nov 30, 2008 New York

    Refrigerators are designed to preserve. Your beer will stay far fresher in the fridge than at cellar temps. Cellars are design to age and mellow a beer, not preserve it.
     
    #9 PangaeaBeerFood, Aug 24, 2012
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  10. mocktm

    mocktm Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2011 Virginia

    14 a four pack? Jesus
     
    #10 mocktm, Aug 24, 2012
  11. Dools9

    Dools9 Pooh-Bah (1,788) Jul 5, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yup, seen it upwards of 18 south of Boston
     
    #11 Dools9, Aug 24, 2012
  12. SHODriver

    SHODriver Pooh-Bah (2,415) Aug 13, 2010 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    drank an 09 BCBS bomber yesterday that spent almost its entire life in a fridge and it was delightful
     
    #12 SHODriver, Aug 25, 2012
  13. sleuthdog

    sleuthdog Savant (1,218) Oct 21, 2008 Illinois
    Trader

    If I'm not mistaken I believe the bottle actually states "store in refrigerator".
     
    #13 sleuthdog, Aug 26, 2012
  14. zachary80

    zachary80 Initiate (0) Nov 29, 2009 Indiana

    Made a coffee homebrew two years ago, the coffee is still dominant. It doesn't seem to have faded at all. I almost wonder if it serves as a preservative since it was only my second batch and tastes about the same.
     
    #14 zachary80, Aug 28, 2012
  15. chanokokoro

    chanokokoro Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2012 Illinois

    The coffee in FBS has quite a bit of staying power. I would expect it to be quite prevalent still in November/December especially if you store it in a fridge. I had an FBS from last year a month or so ago and the coffee is still quite evident.
     
    #15 chanokokoro, Aug 28, 2012
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