National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => All Grain Brewing => Topic started by: Greg2013 on July 26, 2013, 02:43:37 PM

Title: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Greg2013 on July 26, 2013, 02:43:37 PM
So here is a beginner question. How do you store your beer/home brew when you have no room in the fridge? Kitchen cupboard/attic in a box ? What are the dangers and does it depend on the type of beer ? Yes that is ginger cake, don't tell anyone k  :-[
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Garry on July 26, 2013, 02:56:44 PM
Sounds like you've got a serious problem? There's only one place for it.

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/c22f08b92534e472c9bf987bb1ee5888/tumblr_mgp19bQscH1r8o2z5o1_500.gif)

I keep mine in the garage. It's cooler out there than in the house.
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Dr Jacoby on July 26, 2013, 02:59:23 PM
Top priority: use dark brown bottles to avoid light struck beers, which can develop skunky flavours. Also, try to prevent dramatic temperature changes. Beer will remain stable longer if it is stored at an even cool temperature (the closer this temperature gets to 4C the better).

Stronger beers are more resilient but should still be treated well.

If you bottle condition, store your beers upright.

They're the main things to bear in mind I reckon.
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Greg2013 on July 26, 2013, 03:01:10 PM
You have to pm me on how you did that Garry lol. Ya man reason i ask is i seem to be building up a few bottles every time i do shopping and as you can see my fridge is quite small and i only have the one for bottles+beer, the even smaller one houses the cornie keg. This is rented house so no shed or outside utility which would be ideal.

I will figure something out, just occured to me how do others store beer they have built up in bottles is all. Cheers.

Ya but Dr going by that i take it you are saying you MUST have a fridge to store beer ? Even in Ireland our ambient temps rarely get that low :)
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Dr Jacoby on July 26, 2013, 03:11:24 PM
Not at all. I don't store my bottles in fridges. They're for my kegs  ;)

4C is the ideal temperature but beer is rarely stored that low. If you have options in your apartment, go with the one that takes you closest to the ideal. Usually this is just a cool spot that doesn't suffer massive temperature fluctuations.

Then again, if you horse your way through the bottles it probably doesn't matter either way  8)
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Greg2013 on July 26, 2013, 03:14:43 PM
Quote from: Dr Jacoby on July 26, 2013, 03:11:24 PM
Not at all. I don't store my bottles in fridges. They're for my kegs  ;)

4C is the ideal temperature but beer is rarely stored that low. If you have options in your apartment, go with the one that takes you closest to the ideal. Usually this is just a cool spot that doesn't suffer massive temperature fluctuations.

Then again, if you horse your way through the bottles it probably doesn't matter either way  8)

Fair enough Dr but 4C is not achievable in this country without a fridge. Attic is out, that much is apparent, i suppose really you need an idea of what the ambient temp is in each room to know whats best.
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: beerfly on July 26, 2013, 06:19:34 PM
i keep mine in a press.  it's rare they only sometimes get cooled just before i drink them.  that said it would be unsual that i have stuff hanging around for more then 2-3 months
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Greg2013 on July 26, 2013, 07:46:11 PM
Quote from: beerfly on July 26, 2013, 06:19:34 PM
i keep mine in a press.  it's rare they only sometimes get cooled just before i drink them.  that said it would be unsual that i have stuff hanging around for more then 2-3 months


Like a wee drop do we ? :P

Yes i think its a press for now here as well, the kitchen one seems to be the most stable temp wise.
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Ciderhead on July 26, 2013, 07:48:30 PM
Problem with pics is they show everything, still laughing about Papa Smurfs slippers.
Milkybar and Smartie Ice-cream, seriously :D
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Greg2013 on July 26, 2013, 07:55:44 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on July 26, 2013, 07:48:30 PM
Problem with pics is they show everything, still laughing about Papa Smurfs slippers.
Milkybar and Smartie Ice-cream, seriously :D

Cheeky bugger aren't you? I don't see any slippers in those pics and that smartie ice cream tub is part of my medi kit for treating the chooks, its sterile so no infection issues :P
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Will_D on July 26, 2013, 08:19:57 PM
The best place to store beer in a house/apartment is in a north facing room with small or no windows. Under the stairs is a good place. Or the utility room/back kitchen.

The attic is NOT a good place!

The secret is to have a constant temperature and not "cool at night cooking in the day"!
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Ciderhead on July 26, 2013, 08:29:31 PM
Quote from: deadman1972 on July 26, 2013, 07:55:44 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on July 26, 2013, 07:48:30 PM
Problem with pics is they show everything, still laughing about Papa Smurfs slippers.
Milkybar and Smartie Ice-cream, seriously :D

Cheeky bugger aren't you? I don't see any slippers in those pics and that smartie ice cream tub is part of my medi kit for treating the chooks, its sterile so no infection issues :P


Ok so you have a sterile kit for your chooks just not your fermenter ;)
The slippers were worn by Dempsey in one of his posts
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Greg2013 on July 26, 2013, 08:31:13 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on July 26, 2013, 08:29:31 PM
Quote from: deadman1972 on July 26, 2013, 07:55:44 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on July 26, 2013, 07:48:30 PM
Problem with pics is they show everything, still laughing about Papa Smurfs slippers.
Milkybar and Smartie Ice-cream, seriously :D

Cheeky bugger aren't you? I don't see any slippers in those pics and that smartie ice cream tub is part of my medi kit for treating the chooks, its sterile so no infection issues :P


Ran into that one :P

Ok so you have a sterile kit for your chooks just not your fermenter ;)
The slippers were worn by Dempsey in one of his posts

Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Shane Phelan on July 26, 2013, 08:42:37 PM
I store mine in a closet on the north facing side of my apartment.

Its 14 degrees in there in the winter and is 23 degrees in there at the moment. I tried my imperial stout (4 or 5 months) from there last night and it tasted off, was fine a month ago, so I'm paranoid now that the older beers are going off.  >:(
Title: Re: How Do You Store Your Beer/Home Brew ?
Post by: Will_D on July 26, 2013, 08:58:46 PM
Th etemperature is more likely to affect the flavour profile than it is to alter the flavour.

Simple example:

Get a good bottle of red wine.

Serve at correct temp: Lovely

Chill it to say 8 C: Weird flavours - Not a fine claret!

Let it warm back up: Lovely

Overwarm it: Mmm when its steaming its a bit different

Cool back to correct: Probably still Ok