Horizontal vs. Vertical

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by mxracercam, Jan 14, 2014.

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  1. mxracercam

    mxracercam Initiate (0) Jan 14, 2014 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I've searched quite a bit and haven't found much discussion other than an occasional comment.

    I'm pretty new to cellaring, and have a regular fridge and a 28ct wine fridge. I'd like to keep the wine fridge in use, as I don't really have room for 28 more bottles in my fridge, but am a bit concerned about the bottles being on their sides.

    I thought about putting a shelf in there to store them upright, but it will cut capacity in half as it's not tall enough to store two 750's vertically.

    What say you good people? Is is fine to store on the side?
     
  2. HighWine

    HighWine Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2010 Illinois

    I prefer upright so the beer only comes into contact with the inert glass.
     
  3. JasonLovesBeer

    JasonLovesBeer Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2013 Canada (BC)

    There are experienced and well-educated cellarists who store their beer on their side. It's generally accepted that storing upright is preferred, but only based on everything else being equal. The main concern with storing them on their side is the buildup of sediment on the side of the bottle - hardly a concern if you pour carefully. Lambics are typically stored on their side at the brewery.

    If storing them on their side is more convenient for you, every bit of evidence I have says it will be pretty darn fine to do so.

    Here is some inspiration: http://bruery.blogspot.ca/2013/12/andrew-bell-beer-cellar.html
     
    Eriktheipaman likes this.
  4. mxracercam

    mxracercam Initiate (0) Jan 14, 2014 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Thanks for the feedback, guys.

    I figure I can rotate them every few months to hopefully prevent sediment buildup.

    Jason... that is very, very inspiring. lol
     
  5. JrGtr

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

    I'd be fine with the sediment catching on one side - just be careful when opening it, then pouring with that side up, to get as little sediment into the glass as possible.
     
  6. budsandsuds8

    budsandsuds8 Zealot (625) Nov 24, 2009 Colorado

  7. Dupage25

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

    I thought this was going to be a thread about horizontal and vertical tastings. :stuck_out_tongue:


    With the exception of my whopping five bottles of sour/lambic, I age everything upright. I suspect the "lambics should always be aged horizontally" rule has a fair bit of bullshit behind it, but they are expensive and people have been aging lambic like that for decades with good results. Since I already know it works fine that way I'm not going to risk all that money trying to reinvent the wheel, as it where.

    Your mileage may vary.
     
    zrab11 likes this.
  8. brstls4drmrs

    brstls4drmrs Maven (1,396) Jan 30, 2011 North Carolina

    In my experience, brews with a cork are laying down next to my wine bottles. Others are upright.
     
  9. claspada

    claspada Pooh-Bah (2,391) Sep 27, 2007 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Storing beer upright minimizes oxidation from the cap.
     
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