Is it too late? :(

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by HugoTheSavant, Mar 4, 2012.

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  1. HugoTheSavant

    HugoTheSavant Initiate (0) May 26, 2011 Canada (ON)

    So I'm starting a nice collection to cellar in my basement. I recently made a switch of storage location (from a dark place with my dad's wines to an even darker and cooler place under the stairs) for my beers. However, I did have to organize the basement a little, and I also had A LOT of studying to do. My issue is that I had NO CLUE that the lights in my basement are fluorescent, and the beers must have been exposed to them for at least 5 - 7 hours. I say at least, because it could have been longer. They were out in the open in my basement because I had to put them somewhere for the meanwhile. All the beers are in dark (brown) bottles, and supposedly brown bottles protect against UV radiation to a certain degree. Unfortunately, my basement lights are quite powerful (you don't want to stare at them), and I fear that some of my bottles MAY have been skunked. My current collection is as follows:

    - two bottles of Unibroue 17 Grand Reserve (2011 release)
    - one bottle of Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 12 (2011 release)
    - one bottle of Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Double
    - two bottles of Westmalle Tripel
    - one bottle of Chimay Tripel


    Once I realized the danger I had put my bottles through, I panicked and opened my Chimay (the easiest beer to find and replace out of my collection). It tasted and smelled delicious, and I found no skunk aroma or flavor. While this was relieving to a certain extent, it does not guarantee me that the other beers did not experience changes as well. I am particularly worried because I won't have a chance to replace vintages such as the Uni 17 or the Ola Dubh 12, and the Westmalles are insanely rare around these parts. Even the Charlevoix brews are uncommon. So this is my question to the experts:

    Is it possible that some of my beers may have had their taste/smell altered, or is the yummy Chimay I tested out enough for me to not worry? I am going to lose it if I open one of the vintages a year or two from now and it smells like rodent farts and tastes like cat piss. :slight_frown:



    ...I dare not open any of my Unibroue 17s, Westmalles or the Ola Dubh 12 because they are so rare for me, yet at some point I will have to face the moment of truth. :astonished:
     
    #1 HugoTheSavant, Mar 4, 2012
  2. InebriatedJoker

    InebriatedJoker Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2010 Ohio

    Is this for real ?- all bottles are sold in stores with florescent lighting with no issues
     
    #2 InebriatedJoker, Mar 4, 2012
  3. OneBeertoRTA

    OneBeertoRTA Initiate (0) Jan 2, 2010 California

    That's an amazing collection
     
    #3 OneBeertoRTA, Mar 4, 2012
  4. HugoTheSavant

    HugoTheSavant Initiate (0) May 26, 2011 Canada (ON)

    I've read that fluorescent lights emit UV radiation, the #1 enemy of beer along with inadequate heat.

    I am also new to cellaring, lol.
     
    #4 HugoTheSavant, Mar 4, 2012
  5. Etan

    Etan Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Wisconsin

    I'm sure the bottles are fine. Hundreds of bottles sit for much more than 7 hours under fluorescent lights in bottle shops and rarely get skunked because of it. You really have nothing to worry about.
     
    #5 Etan, Mar 4, 2012
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  6. InebriatedJoker

    InebriatedJoker Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2010 Ohio

    Then every beer I have purchased from a store has been infected by the dreaded UV radiation ...
    Hmmm... maybe that's why I'm starting to get a slight green tint in my Epidermis
     
    #6 InebriatedJoker, Mar 4, 2012
  7. oldp0rt

    oldp0rt Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2011 Canada (QC)

    You can buy fluorescent lights that emit uv-a and uv-b rays but those lights are mainly for reptile cages. I don't think it's the same fluorescent in fridges. Then again I could be wrong?
     
    #7 oldp0rt, Mar 4, 2012
  8. GrindFatherBob

    GrindFatherBob Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2010 New York

    Not everyone has a case of Wooden Hell.
     
    #8 GrindFatherBob, Mar 4, 2012
  9. Etan

    Etan Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Wisconsin

    From a bit of internet research, it's clear that fluorescent lights, if they do hit the UV range, barely give off any such radiation (not nearly as much as the sun), and certainly not enough to skunk some brown bottles in a few hours.
     
    #9 Etan, Mar 4, 2012
  10. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    Your entire collection has been ruined. Only option is to dispose of it.

    I happen to be in the beer disposal industry if you need someone to take care of it.
     
    #10 Hanzo, Mar 4, 2012
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  11. HugoTheSavant

    HugoTheSavant Initiate (0) May 26, 2011 Canada (ON)

    I guess I've got all that weight off my shoulders now. But now I regret drinking the Chimay Tripel - it cost me $2.90!


    :grinning:
     
    #11 HugoTheSavant, Mar 4, 2012
  12. MADhombrewer

    MADhombrewer Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2008 Oregon

    All of those beers in inebratedJoker's avatar are all skunked too, due to the flash of the camera. Nice picture.

    Seriously, you should be fine. It wasn't that long and you caught it. I can't imagine that 10hrs would do any damage anyone would notice.
     
    #12 MADhombrewer, Mar 4, 2012
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  13. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    "Significant" off-flavor effects from fluorescent lights usually takes, at worst, several days, not hours, according to this well-known study:

    Light-Struck Flavor Formation in Beer in Illuminated Display Cabinets

    In addition, the lights in that study were much closer to the beer than, presumably, yours were.

    But how could you not know the lights in your cellar were fluorescent and why would you leave them on all the time and/or not cover the beer?
     
    #13 jesskidden, Mar 4, 2012
  14. HugoTheSavant

    HugoTheSavant Initiate (0) May 26, 2011 Canada (ON)

    Nice link! Anyway, I guess I'm just a tad bit too stupid or ignorant at times. I was doing just fine with storage until I decided "I'll just leave em in front of my basement couch while I study with the lights on." Wow, I'm embarrassed, even if nothing ended up happening.
     
    #14 HugoTheSavant, Mar 4, 2012
  15. InebriatedJoker

    InebriatedJoker Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2010 Ohio

    I should have known better than to use the retro 1900's unregulated high intensity flash powder for the photo. :wink:
     
    #15 InebriatedJoker, Mar 4, 2012
  16. HugoTheSavant

    HugoTheSavant Initiate (0) May 26, 2011 Canada (ON)

    I would like your finest skunked beer, please.
     
    #16 HugoTheSavant, Mar 4, 2012
  17. InebriatedJoker

    InebriatedJoker Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2010 Ohio

    Hmmm , lets see - I have a 2008 Chocolate Indulgence that might do the trick.
     
    #17 InebriatedJoker, Mar 4, 2012
  18. Homebrew42

    Homebrew42 Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 New York

    Just FYI, it's not just UV that causes skunking, the wavelengths of light that cause skunking extend well into the visible spectrum. That said, brown glass bottles do a decent job of filtering out harmful light rays, which is why the majority of beers sitting on store shelves do not become skunked. Beer packaged in green and clear glass bottles is much more susceptible.
     
    #18 Homebrew42, Mar 4, 2012
  19. Etan

    Etan Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Wisconsin

    Now that this has been brought up, why the hell do some of the best Belgian breweries still use green bottles for export?!?!?! Buying these beers is liking walking through a landmine.
     
    #19 Etan, Mar 4, 2012
  20. drgarage

    drgarage Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2008 California

    Seriously. Recently had a saison tasting, and the Dupont Avec Bons Vieux was just demolished with skunking. Infuriating.
     
    #20 drgarage, Mar 4, 2012
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