Cellar too cold???

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by HIGHPA, Dec 9, 2016.

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  1. HIGHPA

    HIGHPA Zealot (624) Aug 21, 2008 Illinois
    Trader

    My beer cellar is basicly an unused tool room in our basement. It stays dry and the temperature doesn't fluctuate day to day. Right now its the coldest it gets which is around 40°F. Can that be too cold? I know that a room being too hot or having quick temperature jumps can screw up your cellared beer. But can it get too cold? It never gets to any freezing temperatures, just close to it around 38°F. Do I have anything to worry about? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 HIGHPA, Dec 9, 2016
  2. deford

    deford Pooh-Bah (1,559) Nov 11, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think it'll be fine...your beers won't go bad...don't worry about it.
     
    #2 deford, Dec 9, 2016
  3. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    If I understand the general concept, the downside would be that lower temperatures would slow the "development" of the beer with the lower temps. One might argue that is a good thing, if you have the patience and the bottles are well sealed.

    Completely willing to hear from a more experienced perspective, though.
     
    #3 cjgiant, Dec 9, 2016
    maximum12, scottakelly and HIGHPA like this.
  4. HIGHPA

    HIGHPA Zealot (624) Aug 21, 2008 Illinois
    Trader

    I'm not worrying about them going "bad". I have had beers here and never had an issue. It makes sense that the only effect on the beer would be slowed development. Thanks Cjgiant. I have all the patience in the world and all the beers should be sealed just fine. Most are wax dipped or corked and caged. I have never had any oxidizing problems with any of the others that I have sampled through out the years. So verdict is no negative issues with the lower temperatures?
     
    #4 HIGHPA, Dec 9, 2016
  5. RDMII

    RDMII Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2010 Georgia

    Beer for the most part is consumed cold. That is, IPA, pales, lagers, etc. Though most beer should be consumed warmer, storing your beers cold won't harm anything except slowing any 'aging' that might occur.
     
    #5 RDMII, Dec 9, 2016
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  6. HIGHPA

    HIGHPA Zealot (624) Aug 21, 2008 Illinois
    Trader

    Thanks very much. I pretty much thought this was a?he case, but I figured I would throw it out there. Glad I got all this info from everyone.Cheers everybody!
     
    #6 HIGHPA, Dec 9, 2016
  7. phildow

    phildow Crusader (407) Jan 6, 2013 Michigan

    I wish I had a screenshot from the Vintage Beer book. One page shows 3 temperature ranges (going in the warmer direction) that basically says "in this range, the beer ages at 1.25x the rate it ages at 'cellar' temperature." I have to imagine that going lower than "cellar" temperatures would have the opposite effect, maybe aging at 0.75x the rate of aging of cellar temperatures?
     
    #7 phildow, Dec 12, 2016
  8. Sak3

    Sak3 Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2016 Connecticut

    Thanks a lot for this comment! I was concerned about my newly cellar-ed collection and this was a primary concern of mine.
     
    #8 Sak3, Jan 2, 2017
  9. Lazhal

    Lazhal Pooh-Bah (1,890) Mar 13, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Here you go! (remember it's in Celsius)

    [​IMG]
     
    #9 Lazhal, Jan 4, 2017
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