Storing beer (cool)

[Wonderwoman]

Obvious answer to the question, where do you store your "finished" beer when it needs to be kept cool is obviously "the fridge" :P However, we've already got two fridges and a third one would have to go in the garage (not possible at the moment and they do use a lot of energy too), so I am wondering where I should store 20 bottles of beer after my settling period is over? Luckily it's getting colder out now, so I will be able to keep it outdoors soon, but at the moment this would still be too warm, I guess? Would the beer spoil if it isn't kept cool, two weeks after bottling?

I can put a part of it in the fridge (and clear out the other stupid drinks lol) but probably wouldn't manage to put all 20 bottles in. Plus, I'd like to try making some lager soon, so I will end up with almost 40 beer bottles in total which will want cooling.

Is there a trick, maybe something like the bottles in water with towel draped over (like for fermenting lager) or would it be okay in the garage or sth?

 

[terrym]

In my view storing home brewed beer in the cold is a 'nice to have' but not essential, since the benefits are probably only marginal anyway. If you have the facilities fine, but if you don't it's no big deal, just store your beer in the coolest place that fits in with what you have without inconveniencing yourself or others. I keep my beer in the garage which joins my house and whilst it's north facing it pretty much follows outside temperature, so the stored beer is the same. I usually leave beer about a month before starting to drink and aim to finish each brew by the time four months is up. And I haven't noticed any difference between beer stored at summer temperatures compared to the winter.
Finally there are many naturally conditioned beers in bottles on supermarket shelves and other than the usual sell by date and stock turn over there are no special arrangements made for their storage.

 

[Spapro]

For cool conditioning ales I pop mine in the garage which is cool and dark, currently around 14°C. Through the summer the garage has been around 18-20°C and my beers have conditioned fine - they don't clear as quickly in the bottle if stored somewhere a bit warmer, but certainly don't 'go off'.

For drinking you can pop them in the fridge to get them to a temp you like to drink at.

Not sure on lagers, if its a brew which uses a true lager yeast you need to be brewing around 12-14°C and then I believe conditioning somewhere cold but not done 'proper' lager myself. If you are thinking of doing a Coopers lager kit then most of those use an ale yeast so you brew/condition as though its an ale.

 

[terrym]

- ....they don't clear as quickly in the bottle if stored somewhere a bit warmer, but certainly don't 'go off'.

For drinking you can pop them in the fridge to get them to a temp you like to drink at.
.

Agreed....

 

[Wonderwoman]

Good stuff, thank you! I just wasn't sure as I know it's better to leave beer to settle as long as you can bear to wait ;-) but yet I heard it's supposed to be kept cool after about two weeks. I'm glad I don't have to invest in yet another fridge (might get a little drinks fridge in the summer) and I'll just pop it in the garage then. This morning it's only been 12 degree down south!

As for the lager... I haven't done any yet - only just finished my first brew but already planning the next ;-) I just did a wheat beer and want to make some German lager/Pils, thinking about Festbier.