With the bitter cold hitting much of the nation, it is now... "Too cold for beer in Wisconsin"

I work with a bunch of people in La Crosse and they're almost all hunkered and working from home. -30 and a foot of snow? That hurts me just thinking about it.

 

Here too.

And its supposed to hit 46° on Sunday -- and we think the stock market is a roller coaster!

 

On the other hand, I spotted this dead soldier outside TCF Stadium at the U of M, one early day in January:



Meanwhile, it’s -10 on this sunny morning and I haven’t seen a beer delivery truck yet!

 

Got down to -26 last night, now it has warmed up to -15. No school, no work, no mail. Supposed to be +41 on Saturday, so we're going to grill lunch and supper.

 

You wouldn’t by any chance happen to live in Embarrass, Minnesota? It’s always colder than a witch’s naughty bits up there.

I’m off work (both of my employers decided to close today) and am finally making my way through a backlog of sampler packs and homebrew. Hope the beer delivery guys are keeping that beer warm!

 

Fortunately, brandy doesn't freeze.

 

It is -27 here right now with a -50 wind chill but I went out Monday and made sure I had enough beer to make it through until next Monday a least and if the stuff in the fridge runs out, there is always the cellar.

 

Pretty sure wind chill doesn't affect inanimate objects but not sure if that applies to beer - I think it speaks to me sometimes

 

That's a pretty sad array of cans...

 

When I left for work this morning it was -34 with a wind chill of -58. Currently it's -18 with a wind chill of -36. That said we are still rather busy here at the store. The weather won't stop any true Minnesotan from their booze.

 

And people down here whine all day if it gets to 20° overnight.

 

One of these vortex things or the like hit when I lived in Saratoga Springs NY in 1988/89 winter. I remembered picking up a friend whose car wouldn’t start and the bank sign said -21F. This southern boy had a ragtop Jeep with heater on the fritz. I remember a six of Genny left in the back became 6 rocks in a few hours.

And yes, our +19F in NC is a major news event. We are wimpy.

Oh, I promptly fixed the heater.

 

Bit of a tangent, but I didn't think it warranted a new thread:

How much does the specific style/ingredients affect a beer's freezing temp? I ask because I forgot about several beers in my garage yesterday; 11.4% BA stout--perfectly fine, 8.4% DIPA--also fine, 9.6% barleywine--frozen solid. They were literally side by side, subjected to identical conditions. Just found it odd that a stronger beer would freeze first.

 

There are two aspects that provide 'anti-freeze' qualities to a beer:

• Alcohol level
• Sugar content

A beer that is high in both alcohol and sugar content will require very cold temperatures to freeze.

Cheers!

P.S. The other 'ingredient' that could provide anti-freeze capability is salt content. Perhaps this is applicable for the Gose beer style?

 

The pesky water will freeze, but will the beer in total freeze? In Arthur Miller's "The Crucible", John Proctor remarks to his wife, Elizabeth, that her temperament "... would freeze beer". Hmm. That's chilly, all right, but is it really happening?

 

As you can read in the post above by @glass_house: 9.6% barleywine--frozen solid.

Do you have a bottle or can you would like to sacrifice for science? Put it outside today (in the shade) and see how long it takes until you see:

 

But was it TOTALLY frozen? That is what I am wondering. I am not doubting the scientifics, just the outcome in its totality. Hmm, I still have a bottle that you provided …

 

My advance apologies for being Bro. Woody the Doubter, but pics or it didn't happen.

I am having a tough time believing that the alcohol froze.

@JackHorzempa is referencing you as proof thereof, but in lieu of Doubting Thomas, I present to thee, Doubting Woody ("dilly dilly" NOT included)!

 

Sure looks that way to me.

There is an old saying: "seeing is believing". What not utilize the conditions of the Polar Vertex to your benefit here? Check to see if the mountains get 'extra' blue!

Cheers!

 

I did not intend my use of the word "solid" to suggest a thorough scientific analysis. However, when I turn the bottle upside down, there is zero observable movement of the matter within. Relative to the two beers beside it, the barleywine was solid.

 

We used to put bottles out on the windowsill in the winter when I was in college in VT. They turned slushy. Next day we'd open them up and suck off the alcohol.

 

I used this technique to make captain Morgan something worth drinkng when it would get left after a party back in the day. After a thorough freezing and filter it was much less offensive tasting

 

Good point I didn't think about the bars. It’s 13 degrees this morning, it’ll be 50 tomorrow, 60 on Saturday. The Midwest might be a bit different though.

 

Do you venture out for small tour? We were out today walking at 15 degrees with strong wind, and that was tough. My eyes are still watering..That far below is spooky.

 

Did that beer turn into an apple fritter?

 

We used take Schlitz Malt Liquor and pack it into a snow bank then road drink some Old Milwaukee while the good stuff chilled. Go back to the malt liquor and drink the un frozen stuff. Not saying it was right but a helluva good time. High school days!
Only -8 right now. No shit, it feels warm. 20 degrees warm than this morning. Been below zero since Tuesday night. Tomorrow will be the first day most schools will be open this week. Monday closed for snowstorm.
God do we love Summer around here!

 

Years ago we did something similar. Then we grew up and appreciated good beer !

 

Had that happen to a Cali-belgique in my freezer. Tossed it in to cool off and proceeded to pass out. Nice surprise when I remembered it the next day.

Enjoy