How Does Beer get Transported to the Store?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by RockRuler, Jul 22, 2015.

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  1. RockRuler

    RockRuler Pundit (877) Dec 27, 2014 Mississippi
    Trader

    In general....is it refrigerated in transit from the brewery to the store? How important is it that it stays chilled in transit? Is it stored in temperature control when at the store if it’s not on the shelf? I know stores usually have an unchilled section as well. Just wondering.
     
  2. BowWowWowYippyYoIPA

    BowWowWowYippyYoIPA Initiate (0) Dec 30, 2014 California

    Depends on the distributor and the store. Some distributors cold ship, some don't. A lot of breweries won't deal with distributors that don't cold ship. Some breweries require their beer (or at least hoppy beer) to be in cold storage at the store even when not on the shelf (Russian River, Beachwood). I'm a beer buyer and I always try to keep my IPA backstock refrigerated, but I unfortunately have limited space, as I'm sure is the case with a lot of places.
     
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  3. gcamparone

    gcamparone Pooh-Bah (2,131) Dec 6, 2011 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    How? Or what temperature? :stuck_out_tongue:
     
  4. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    While all breweries want to have their beers chilled throughout the distro process, the reality is that it is not. Some distributors are better than others, and some stores are better than others. You only know whether your beer is chilled by whether you find it in the store's cooler, and then maybe it was a warm version off the shelf an hour before you pull it from the cooler.
     
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  5. Scott17Taylor

    Scott17Taylor Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2013 Iowa
    Trader

    On a truck usually. Temperature shouldn't hurt the beer all that much it'll just accelerate the aging.
     
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  6. Prince_Casual

    Prince_Casual Savant (1,236) Nov 3, 2012 District of Columbia
    Trader

    Cold -> Warm -> Cold -> Warm -> belly

    It's gone back and forth several times unless you snagged it from the brewery, and is nothing to fret over unless it's been baking in a hot truck/window for days. An ale is MADE in non-refrigerated conditions, after all.
     
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  7. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm yet to see a refrigerated delivery truck around my town. Not sure if any of the local/regional distributors have cold storage or not.
     
  8. Bruinsfan87

    Bruinsfan87 Initiate (0) Aug 25, 2014 New Hampshire

    I know a few of my distributors deliver it cold however some don't.
     
  9. BeerBrose

    BeerBrose Initiate (0) Jun 28, 2015 Illinois

    Most delivery trucks aren't refrigerated. In fact I don't know anyone in this area that uses refrigerated trucks. Unless it's unpasteurized the temperature fluctuation wont really do much. Lots of breweries that bank on their fresh hop aroma will ask to be refrigerated but in the end it's really up to the retailer.
     
  10. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Minimally, (after receiving it from usually a non-reefer transport ) the distro keeps the beer in a temperature controlled warehouse, from there it is selected and loaded on trucks and roll out. C-store, grocery and 99% of the time to bottle shops, non-reefer sideloaders and regular roll up door trailers for grocery stores or anywhere that you would bump a dock. On premise - reefer, side loader keg truck or reefer box truck with a lift gate.

    That's one fairly likely example.
     
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  11. evilcatfish

    evilcatfish Pooh-Bah (2,116) May 11, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Kegs should be kept cool from filling until the time they are served at an establishment, but "shit happens"

    Package beer can vary by distributor as well as the retail location. Interestingly, not many breweries seem to store their package beer under a controlled environment prior to shipping to distributors.
     
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  12. drinkin-beeers

    drinkin-beeers Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2014 Montana

    even on the very hot days 90+ a keg can stay pretty cold even after 7 hours in the back of a box truck
     
  13. MUTINY

    MUTINY Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2015 Virginia

    No easy answer. It can vary wildly.
     
  14. Kevin67

    Kevin67 Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2015 Arkansas

    In Oklahoma all beer in liquor stores is room temperature. Liquor stores are prohibited from having coolers. This is one of the liquor laws that is currently in the legislative process and will, hopefully, be changed. I honestly don't know how it is shipped to the stores, though.
     
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