71 Degree Beer Cellar, Seeking Advice

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by HOP_KING, Dec 10, 2013.

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  1. HOP_KING

    HOP_KING Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2013 Illinois

    My basement area where I store my beer heats up to 71-71.5 for most of the winter. In the summer it's much cooler.

    I have a bunch of BCBS that apart from drinking a few now I want to store for a year or longer. Is it okay? Should I put them in fridge? Will any age better than others, I have several of each.

    Thanks BA, you are great.
     
    #1 HOP_KING, Dec 10, 2013
  2. iatethecloudsfor

    iatethecloudsfor Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2012 Vermont

    I haven't done this experiment but I think bcbs would be fine I be honest. I wouldn't age things any longer than a year in high temps. Also lower abv beers might not do as well

    I've kept things for a year at 60 year round and they were fine
     
    #2 iatethecloudsfor, Dec 10, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 10, 2013
  3. Treyliff

    Treyliff Grand Pooh-Bah (5,025) Aug 10, 2010 West Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The beers will be fine, just keep them away from light.

    This should be in the 'cellaring' forum btw.
     
    #3 Treyliff, Dec 10, 2013
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  4. Dupage25

    Dupage25 Savant (1,044) Jul 4, 2013 Antarctica

    Yeah BCBS should be fine for a year at that temp, would get a bit dicier beyond that.


    I assume the reason your basement gets warmer in the winter is because you have the heat on. It's just a suggestion, but if the main thing that goes on in your basement is beer cellaring, consider closing the heat vents in the basement. I was surprised how much colder my basement felt with them shut.
     
    #4 Dupage25, Dec 10, 2013
  5. elchicodelgado

    elchicodelgado Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2008 Texas
    Trader

    Living in TX my "cellar" is always 70-72 degrees. We don't have basements in Dallas so that's the best I can do. It's only a few years old but my beer has been ok. Curious though, why is your cellar colder in the summer? That's weird to me.
     
    #5 elchicodelgado, Dec 10, 2013
  6. dnb128

    dnb128 Initiate (0) Jan 9, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I'd imagine a basement in Antarctica would be very cold with the heat vents closed
     
    #6 dnb128, Dec 10, 2013
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  7. PsilohsaiBiN

    PsilohsaiBiN Maven (1,473) Aug 10, 2010 New York

    Or open, even.
     
    #7 PsilohsaiBiN, Dec 10, 2013
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  8. markdrinksbeer

    markdrinksbeer Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2013 Massachusetts

    Perhaps the op has a stove/fireplace in the cellar that heats the house in the winter, thus warming it up in the winter.
     
    #8 markdrinksbeer, Dec 10, 2013
  9. msubulldog25

    msubulldog25 Initiate (0) Aug 3, 2005 Oregon

    Moved to Cellaring/Aging forum, just because I happened upon this topic right before calling it a night... FYI, it's very easy to hit 'Report' and send us Mods a quick message to move a thread. Any time.
    Cheers,
    Brian
     
    #9 msubulldog25, Dec 10, 2013
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  10. HOP_KING

    HOP_KING Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2013 Illinois

    I wondered same last winter first time living here after buying house past spring.

    The room I store it in has the furnace, normal Trane gas model, but all vents are closed otherwise it would be like 74.

    Elsewhere in basement where TV area and office are it is still 70 in winter. I think soil around me stays warm until later in year around March when it begins to cool. Only thing I can think of. Either way it doesn't make for ideal storing temps.

    My garage is 17 degrees right now with the coldest blast of arctic air to hit here in December for years. So that's out.
     
    #10 HOP_KING, Dec 10, 2013
  11. HOP_KING

    HOP_KING Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2013 Illinois

    Then in summer cold air goes to basement making it nice and cool. Though for whatever reason hot air goes to basement too in the winter haha.
     
    #11 HOP_KING, Dec 10, 2013
  12. Biff_Tannen

    Biff_Tannen Initiate (0) Dec 8, 2013 Missouri

    Turn off your furnace for a day. If it cools down it is not "warm soil". You're In Illinois? Warm soil? Really?
     
    #12 Biff_Tannen, Dec 11, 2013
  13. gkoz

    gkoz Pundit (929) Apr 22, 2013 Arizona

    what is reasoning behind 50-55 vs 71 degree cellaring? i understand light but that temperature flucuation doesnt seem too drastic. just curoius the science
     
    #13 gkoz, Dec 13, 2013
  14. BrettHead

    BrettHead Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2010 Nebraska

    Soil below a certain depth stays bascially the same temperature year round. You do not have warm soil..

    Personally I would never "cellar" beer that hot.
     
    #14 BrettHead, Dec 13, 2013
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