How do you control beer serving temps?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Maestro0708, Mar 18, 2017.

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  1. Maestro0708

    Maestro0708 Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2015 Kentucky

    Thanks everyone for your responses!

    I'll try to be patient enough to let my beers warm a bit before drinking.

    A separate fridge set at a higher temperature would be ideal. I may check into that thermometer as well!

    Cheers!
     
  2. Maestro0708

    Maestro0708 Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2015 Kentucky

    Thanks for the recs, I don't drink wine often... My wife only likes the super sweet stuff and ice cold. Yikes!
     
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  3. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,535) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I like to plan my beer consumption. Start with something that should be drank cold like a pils or even IPA. Then pull the next beer/s out of the fridge accordingly while drinking my current beer. Most often i start light and pull all the dark beers ahead of time.

    I prefer to drink my beers warmer rather than colder so I often pull my beers out as early as possible.

    If I need quicker warm time I like to put the beer in the couch cushions and cover with a pillow. Just make the wife aware so she doesn't sit on it.
     
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  4. lester619

    lester619 Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2009 Wisconsin

    :slight_smile:You are thinking about this way too much. If you like it cold drink it right out of the fridge, if not let it sit a while. Drinking beer is not supposed to be complicated.
     
  5. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,771) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
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    I'll pull just about any beer out of the fridges (both are set around 36*F) and pour it in the glass and start consuming immediately.

    I do try and drink BA beers a little slower to see how they open up, as I find it interesting what notes disappear and appear as the beer approaches and surpasses its suggested serving temperature.
     
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  6. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Wouldn't this just insulate it and slow the warming time? (... unless you wife DOES sit on it! :slight_smile:)
     
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  7. Maestro0708

    Maestro0708 Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2015 Kentucky

    I agree with you for the most part. However, this is from Todd's "How to review a beer":

    I drink my beer right out of the fridge. If I drink it slowly, I can definitely detect changes as it warms. I'm interested in how (or if) others control the serving temps of their beer. Don't want to miss out on the beers true flavors!

    Cheers!
     
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  8. Hoppy_Time

    Hoppy_Time Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2016 Maine

    I never put beer in the freezer, particularly if it is meant to be hazy, this can result in cold crashing, which drops yeast and proteins and other goodies out of the beer. Generally I rinse my glass with warm water before pouring a beer, Fridge temp plus slightly warm glass gives me a good cool starting temp that usually warms up great while I drink it. Big stouts go in the cellar and get drank at cellar temperature, that may be to warm for some but that's how I like it.
     
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  9. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,535) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Maybe??? The cushions tend to be warm themselves, kinda like putting a beer between the legs :grimacing:

    I could be wrong but it seems to work.
     
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  10. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,535) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I can't imagine a limited time in the freezer will have much impact on yeast fluctuation. Have you seen hazy beers clear with this method?
     
  11. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Frequently, I'll pop a just purchased beer into the freezer to offset the warming in the car on the drive home. It only stays in the freezer for 5 minutes, 10 max, while I unload the car, put the other beer in the 'fridge, and change clothes. I've not noticed any ill effects.
     
  12. Hoppy_Time

    Hoppy_Time Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2016 Maine

    Yes I have seen this, while it may not be easily noticeable in super hazy IPA's, lighter German and Belgian styles can see noticeable effects of cold crashing after 20 to 30 minutes in a freezer, particularly if up right and placed upright and against frozen items. I have cold crashed individual bottles of homebrew where I've sucked up some trub.
     
  13. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,535) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Society

    @Hoppy_Time @MNAle

    So I missed the part that said "I never put hazy beers in the freezer".

    Disregard my posts. I am going to blame it on beer and the iPhone.

    Cheers,
    Fellas
     
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  14. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,274) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I'm curious how this works. Typically when a carbonated liquid is chilled the CO2 in solution tends to stay in solution
     
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  15. scream

    scream Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2014 Wisconsin
    In Memoriam

    I have a cool unfinished basement where the temp usually stays in the 50's in the coolest area-that's where my beer stays. If I know someone likes their beer cold I put some in the frig for them.
     
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  16. Premo88

    Premo88 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,486) Jun 6, 2010 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Bombers are made for it, for sure.

    @TongoRad's idea of dumping two normal-sized bottles (11.2 or 12 oz.) of a German style into one big mug/glass/stein/whatever you got does this trick perfectly. And if you think about it, it makes perfect sense for the wide array of those good German lagers that are 6% ABV or under ... I mean, you were going to drink two or three (or more) bottles anyway, why not fill up a big mug and enjoy the spectrum of notes as the beers go from cold to cool?

    I say German styles but obviously you could try it with anything. The point, I think, is that we consider the big beers, the 8-9% ABV-plus crowd, as the kind of beer you want to let warm up, but the last half of a 24 oz. mug of good amber lager or German import can surprise you with its tastiness.
     
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  17. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    The dedicated beer fridge is truly best for going with the flow and not thinking too much about it. The only issue you'll find is calculating how long it will take to warm up a bit when you buy cold beer :wink:.
     
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  18. rgordon

    rgordon Pooh-Bah (2,677) Apr 26, 2012 North Carolina
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    I know. The internet has made a mockery of proper colloquialisms and useful obscure dialect. Language is so casual that good jokes go missing all of the time.
     
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  19. Maestro0708

    Maestro0708 Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2015 Kentucky

    We have a small fridge in the garage that is not in use.. Haier mini fridge. It has a temperature dial with settings 1-10. Perhaps it could work for beer on warmer settings? May give it a shot! :grinning:
     
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  20. DrStiffington

    DrStiffington Grand Pooh-Bah (3,586) Oct 27, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I have a beer fridge for keeping IPAs, pales, lagers, etc. cool but not too cold, and the stouts and other "cellarable" big beers go in my basement where they stay cooler than room temp but warm enough to enjoy right away. I like my beer warmer than most people do.
     
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