Beer Suggested Temperature American Mainstream Light Lagers 33° – 40° F Pale Lagers, Pilsners 38° – 45° F Cream & Blonde Ales 40° – 45° F Nitro Stouts 40° – 45° F Belgian Pale Ales, Abbey Tripels 40° – 45° F Wheat Beers 40° – 50° F Lambics 40° – 50° F Dark Lagers 45° – 50° F American Pale Ales & IPAs 45° – 50° F Stouts, Porters 45° – 55° F Strong Lagers 50° – 55° F Real & Cask Ales 50° – 55° F Belgian Dubbels 50° – 55° F Data from Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher.
I can't argue with that guy. He looks like a cross between Ernest Hemingway and Mr. Yelverton. my 8th grade science teacher. I wouldn't argue with either of them.....
I can't speak for others but I make a choice to drink my beers at a pleasant rate. I take the beer out of the refrigerator (40 degrees F) and pour it into a room temperature glass (which will immediately warm up the beer a couple/few degrees) and over 20-30 minutes enjoy drinking the beer (which further warms up the beer). I would guess that those last few sips of the beer are about 50 degrees F. This 'works' for me regardless of beer style with one exception: right now I drink my homebrewed English Bitter Ales at cellar temperature. Cheers!
I was about to come in here and type out a version of exactly what @JackHorzempa said... out of the fridge and then I just take my sweet time on the pouring and drinking... and if I feel the beer is getting better as it warms, I go slower... if it's getting worse, I go faster.
