Ive got an overstock of Homebrew. Great problem to have! I'm thinking of storing a few cases out in the garage during these winter months. Temps have been down to around 8 degrees the past few days though.. But as long as temps don't get into the 80s they should be ok in there, right? The bottles are already carbonated so I don't need them to condition any further. Anyone done this before? Good idea, or no... Thanks!
As long as the beer doesn't freeze you should be OK. I have an Altbier that I am lagering (in the bottle) right now in my carport. I have a water bottle sitting next to it as a 'test subject' to monitor the freezing aspect. Since beer contains alcohol it takes a below freezing temperature (i.e., below 32 degrees F) to freeze. Cheers!
I have tried to lager in the garage before, temps outside in the teens and twenties, and have ended up with frozen secondaries.
Any ill effects from beer freezing, and then thawing out again? Aside from the fact that ice can expand and possibly shatter the bottles?
So I've never accidentally frozen homebrew but I have frozen commercial beers on accident before. The freezing and thawing left an off taste to them almost like it partially separated.
Well, that is my principle concern with my 'method' of lagering my Altbier. A broken bottle or dislodged cap = undrinkable beer. I would prefer to drink my beers. Cheers!
Yea, I enjoy drinking my beers as well although now that i think of it I have accidentally frozen some homebrews before - put a few in the freezer to get them cold quickly and forgot some in there. They froze, but the bottles didn't break or anything. I may try it with one again just to make sure before I put all of them in a cold garage and ruin a whole batch.
Yup. every once in a while (and perhaps a second time) the bread falls butter side up. I personally prefer to not take chances with frozen beer. YMMV. Cheers!
