Westvleteren cellaring at higher temps

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Psychmusic, Aug 13, 2012.

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  1. Psychmusic

    Psychmusic Pundit (992) Jun 22, 2012 Massachusetts

    So I have next to no experience in cellaring but I have a pretty straightforward question.

    I got a brick of Westy XII in June, and I still have 4 left. I'm not necessarily looking to "cellar" them, but I want to store a few for about a year and a half (save at least one for graduation and one for that far-off day when I figure out for sure what I'm going to actually DO after graduation).

    Here are my options for them, and I'd really appreciate input on which is better-

    I can store them in a refrigerator drawer, but on their side. This would keep them around 40-42 degrees.

    OR I can store them in a closet in a room in my house. The room generally stays around 65 degrees, but it's perfectly possible that it'd get as high as 75. I have a couple of other beers here that I think could probably handle it (all 14%+ ABV)

    So which is better? I'm not going out to buy a mini fridge for four beers, but I'd rather drink the Westys now than store them improperly and have them taste like sludge in a year.
     
    #1 Psychmusic, Aug 13, 2012
  2. BeerThursdays

    BeerThursdays Savant (1,192) Feb 28, 2010 Delaware
    Trader

    Don't put them on their side if you plan to hold onto them for any significant period of time. Just put them in a box in the closet and they should be fine. Find the lowest point in the house and forget about them. Light is the main problem, lower temperature lets the beer age more naturally. Warmer temps, faster changes, and that's not always a good thing.

    And if I may ask, if you can put them in a drawer in the fridge, why not stand them up on the bottom shelf of the fridge for the same amount of time? Can't take up much more room, and probably is (at least in my house) used less than the drawers.
     
    #2 BeerThursdays, Aug 13, 2012
  3. Psychmusic

    Psychmusic Pundit (992) Jun 22, 2012 Massachusetts

    I wish it were possible, but it isn't my fridge, so I can only store them where they tell me I can. I'm not worried about the light actually- I wrapped them in paper towels and then aluminum foil (probably silly and excessive but since they spend their time with someone else mostly I wanted to be sure that if for some reason they were left out or dropped they would be okay).
     
    #3 Psychmusic, Aug 13, 2012
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