Confused about conditions for aging and storing

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by DanielM89, Jun 21, 2017.

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  1. DanielM89

    DanielM89 Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2017 Denmark

    Hello people!

    For the past 2-3 years I've been getting more and more into drinking craft beer. I currently have way more beers than I can immediately drink both duo to purchasing rare stuff, when I have the chance and the fact that I'm getting more and more into aging beers, as I have come to appreciate what I can do to some beers. So my current situation is a mix of aging by intend, but also simply duo to the fact that I buy more beers than I can drink, so many of the beers I own, do sit a while.

    My problem is that I have horrible conditions for aging beers, or so I have been told. Obviously I keep them out of sunlight, but since I don't have a cellar I my current best option is to keep them in closets or boxes in my coolest room. This is where it gets nasty, because it simply gets way too hot in the summer. My coldest room is about 77 degrees (25c) in the summer, and even if that summer is short I've read that temperature fluctuation is very bad. With that said, in the past 2-3 years I have only had 2 beers gone bad. I don't know if I'm a lucky, lucky man, or beers like imp stouts, barley wines, quads and lambics are very forgiving types of beers, or maybe it's when people talk about how horrible these conditions are, they are talking about effects you would only see after 5 or 10 years?

    Even with my succes storing/aging beers in not so optimal conditions, I want to do it correctly, and since I don't have a cool cellar, I was thinking about getting a fridge. But then the internet tells me that it's too dry to keep beers for an extended period of time.

    To better understand my situation I would say that I do have purchased beers to age, like some quads and few imp stouts that I've already tried fresh and a bottle of geuze here and there. But for most of my beers it is a matter of keeping them unspoiled before I get to drink them, more than it is aging them. I guess for these beers, a second fridge would be optimal. But what do I do with, let's say my several bottles of Rochefort 10, when I want to age them for a long time. If I leave them in the closet, will that ruin them over time? I guess I can't put them in the fridge, since that will preserve them rather than age them?

    I know this was a lot of thoughts, concerns and questions.
    I would really appreciate anything that could clear up some things.

    Thanks :slight_smile:
     
    #1 DanielM89, Jun 21, 2017
  2. kylenabilcy

    kylenabilcy Crusader (411) Aug 10, 2010 Wisconsin

    Unless there's something inherently off about the beer -- bacterial infection, basically -- you won't make a beer "go bad" by holding it at 77ish degrees. It will just change faster. Beer doesn't spoil over time, though. Holding beers in refrigerator conditions, on the other hand, will greatly slow the development of the beer over time. But again, it's not going to harm the beer if it's in the fridge.

    Light is the beer killer, as you appear to know, so keeping them dark is Job One if you're holding beers long-term. Stable temperatures are just as important as lower temperatures, if not moreso. Temperature fluctuations will cause instability in the seals that keep your beer protected from the environment, and if you add humidity to the mix, that can lead to all kinds of bad news under the crown cap.

    If you have a closet that stays dark and relatively stable, stash your beers in there and maybe grab one of those little Eva Dry hygroscopic bead dehumidifier deals at Target or on Amazon and stick it in there, too. Recharge it every now and then, and you'll be in as good of shape as your circumstances can muster. Short of buying a beverage center minifridge.
     
    #2 kylenabilcy, Jun 21, 2017
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  3. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Keep also in mind that it's RAPID temperature fluctuations that can lead to problems, like from cold to hot to cold in a short amount of time. Seasonal fluctuations are fine, and even the variations during the day I wouldn't worry about. You may want to keep your eyes open on craigslist or at an appliance (or big box hardware store) for a cheap fridge for down there. Besides keeping things cooler (also look into a temperature controller; they're cheap and will keep temps in optimal cellar temps - mid 50s) it can work as overflow for your kitchen fridge. That's how I'm getting SWMBO to agree to one, as soon as I get the rest of the basement cleared.
     
    #3 JrGtr, Jun 21, 2017
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  4. DanielM89

    DanielM89 Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2017 Denmark

    Thanks guys, this clears things quite a lot.
    In relation to beers aging faster at higher temperatures. Is there any way to roughly estimate how much faster it will be? To give you an actual example, I have around 20 Rochefort 10 bottles and let's say I wanted to age those from 1 to 10 years. That is based on the information about that type of beer by other people. If I assume that these people who recommend a 10 year old Rochefort, stored their beers at a more optimal temperature, let's say at 55.

    This is probably a tough question to answer, but then when would my bottle at 77 degrees reach about the same development?
     
    #4 DanielM89, Jun 21, 2017
  5. kylenabilcy

    kylenabilcy Crusader (411) Aug 10, 2010 Wisconsin

    Each bottle of beer is a unique microbiome. I would be very surprised if there was a reliable clock on general rates of bottle conditioning given certain times and temps. Cellaring is a train running downhill. Just get on and see where it takes you.
     
    #5 kylenabilcy, Jun 21, 2017
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  6. DaverCS

    DaverCS Savant (1,212) Dec 9, 2014 Arizona

    Your beer will be fine. With time, you will see how your favorite beers age in your current setup. A simple place to start is with beers that are easily accessible. Buy a couple at various times and see how they change at varying intervals. Hot temps expedite the evolution of beer, so you may not want to sit on a beer for 10 years, as with higher temps it may go bad by that point. A cold fridge slows the process down, so remember that also.
     
    #6 DaverCS, Jun 21, 2017
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  7. DanielM89

    DanielM89 Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2017 Denmark

    Thanks a bunch guys. I must admit I thought it was worse than this. I think I'm going to purchase a fridge to keep the beers not intended for aging and leaving the rest to age in my closet, while keeping in mind that I probably shouldn't keep them there for 10 years :wink:
     
    #7 DanielM89, Jun 21, 2017
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  8. jheimbigner

    jheimbigner Maven (1,342) Apr 18, 2015 Washington
    Trader

    I'd recommend picking up Vintage Beer by Patrick Dawson. It is a great read giving insight into the science behind cellaring beer.
     
    #8 jheimbigner, Jun 22, 2017
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  9. dlcarst

    dlcarst Zealot (733) Aug 21, 2015 Missouri
    Trader

    I second this. And you'll read that beer aged at higher temperatures may instigate chemical reactions in the beer that would not occur at 55 degrees. So it's not simply a matter of your beer aging faster (although in some ways this may occur), but flavors may appear that would not ever at a lower temperature. As many have said, it's all trial and error. Hopefully somewhere, someone with deep pockets and lots of space is doing some long-term experiments, aging beer in different conditions and comparing over time, and will write a comprehensive book.
     
    #9 dlcarst, Jun 22, 2017
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