Aging/Storing for dummies....(that's me)

General rule of thumb: the higher the temp, the faster the beers will age.

If you intend on aging a beer for a year or less, temp is no big deal. If you're looking for long-term aging (3-5 years or more), better to keep the beer cool. For long-term aging, temps in the 50s are probably ideal.

Stouts in a fridge will not dry out; or at least mine never have, nor have I heard anyone else with this issue...I think this is all in your head.

Store beers any way you want, with the temperature caveat above. Obviously, hoppy beers stored in a fridge will stay 'fresh' longer, but the same applies to other styles as well.

My setup is an unfinished concrete basement that will swing from 50 in the winter to mid-60s in the summer for the past nine years. Some beers have maintained extremely well in this setup (Darkness, Abyss for example) while others have begun to fall apart around 3-4 years. It's not only your setup that will matter to the ultimate outcome, but the individual beer & how its made plays a large role as well.

Good luck. I love finding out how my favorite beers change over time, & have ditched several I don't enjoy aged while stocking up on proven winners.

 

With regards to fridges causing Stouts to dry out; I think you may be confusing this with fridges causing corks to dry out? It's definitely an issue with storing cork-closure bottles in the fridge...


When it comes to storing beers, just whack them in the fridge - all good.
When it comes to aging beers... well, it really depends.

I'm beginning to think that temperature swings have more of a negative effect than constant higher temperatures, but I dont have data to back that up - just anecdotes and what I have read.

I cellar my beers in a fridge, but that is because the climate here swings from about 20F to 110F through the course of the year

 

I'm pro basement 60s aging. You being in WI I'm sure the cellar temps may dip lower, but I think you'll like what your cellar does to RIS, BW and sours within 5 years.

Store your beer in boxes where they won't be bothered in your basement, or if you like put them on display on shelves. Have fun setting it up, you won't need much modification climate wise to keep your cellar happy

 

Avoid sunlight also...

 

I hope this is a clearinghouse type of thread for all aging questions because I have a few:

1. I plan on using a broken wine fridge in my basement for aging my beers once the weather starts warming up. Right now they're in a box in my closet in an unheated bedroom where the temps probably stay in the 50s during the winter. Does that seem ok?

2. Right now I'm enjoying a Founders Curmudgeon. Should that age well?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

Seems fine to me and the crumudgeon should be good with a bit of time on it too, I think I have 2 or 3 with a couple years in the basement right now.