Shipping beer that's been kept refrigerated

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by do_ob, May 12, 2015.

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  1. do_ob

    do_ob Pooh-Bah (1,655) Feb 12, 2015 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    Hi everyone, and apologies in advance if this question has been asked before. I'm sure it has in one fashion or another, but a search didn't turn up any answers.

    So I'm currently working on setting up a trade with another member, and it's going well so far. Looks like we'll be able to get the ball rolling shortly. My concern is, most of the beer I'm planning to send from my end has been refrigerated (not cellared). Will the temperature fluctuation of cold to hot (in transit), back to cold (I assume he drinks his beer cold) affect the taste or quality at all? The last thing I want to do is send someone a box full of skunked beer.

    For what it's worth, temperatures are steadily rising. It's been in the low 80's here for the last week. He's in the southern part of the country, so I'd be inclined to think it's the same on his end.

    Thanks!
     
    #1 do_ob, May 12, 2015
  2. Hendrick24

    Hendrick24 Pooh-Bah (1,949) Sep 6, 2013 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Here's what you do: buy a second refrigerator and a generator, preferably a lightweight Honda model, plug the fridge into the generator, fire it up, transfer the beer from your fridge to the new one, box it all up with holes for ventilation, print your Fedex label at home (to save on shipping costs), and send off to your trading partner. He should receive it nice and cold. :wink:

    Seriously though, the short time (less than a week) it spends at room temp won't hurt the beer at all. Just avoid shipping in extreme temps (above 90F or so) and try to schedule the shipment so it doesn't sit over the weekend in a warehouse if the temps are high along it's route.
     
    #2 Hendrick24, May 12, 2015
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  3. do_ob

    do_ob Pooh-Bah (1,655) Feb 12, 2015 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    Haha, thanks. That's what I was hoping to hear!
     
    #3 do_ob, May 12, 2015
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  4. Beervana

    Beervana Initiate (0) Apr 15, 2014 Canada (BC)

    Skunking is not at all a result of temperature change, only from exposure to light.

    But yeah, you'll be fine, no worries at all.
     
    #4 Beervana, May 12, 2015
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  5. youbrewidrink

    youbrewidrink Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 Vermont

    I usually line those shipments with foamboard, in essence making the box a cooler. It does not keep the bottles cold, but it does help mitigated extreme temperature swings.
     
    #5 youbrewidrink, May 13, 2015
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