Aging Beer

[Wilson]

The other day I heard that for every 18 degreesF over ~55, wine ages twice as fast. Does the same hold true for beer? I would guess it might even be more since wine generally has a higher alcohol content.

If so, I really need to start drinking my stash. But, on a side note, I had a Goose Island Hex Nut the other night that was "best before" a year ago. It still tasted great.

[sharkstewbrewer]

back 35 or 40 years ago when i started drinking beer, expiration dates were unheard of

[studentofbeer]

i agree it may be even faster for beer, given the lower alcohol content of most beers, though there may be counterbalancing things like hop usage in beer, which can act as a preservative. my understanding is that the science of "aging" isn't really sure about what happens to wines or other alcoholic beverages as they age. so many different compounds interact and change that i think it would be hard to pin down with certainty.

i would certainly believe the idea tho. 18 degrees above 55=73, which is a slightly warm room temperature. 18 degrees above that is 91, which is pretty darn hot.

[newportstorm]

I can't say for sure the exact rates and temperatures, but the theory sounds like it has some validity. "Cellaring" beer at fridge temps will retard the aging process, so it's sounds possible that storing it in hotter temps might speed up the beer's degradation.

Best before dates are a guideline, at best. I've had plenty of beer past it's freshness window (even well past) that is still plenty drinkable. Certainly not "fresh" in any respect, and I highly doubt it resembles the beer the brewer intended for you to enjo, but old beer won't kill ya. However, when it sucks, it sucks hard. Date all beer and let the customer decide whether to spend $$ on it.

Cheers!

[zoom6zoom]

Some beers (and wines) age. Others just deteriorate.

[corkybstewart]

Welcome to the forums,sharkstewbrewer. But if you'll think back to 35-40 years ago, American beer was pretty homogenous, and not very tasty to start with. It was hard to say if old swill was worse than fresh swill.

[sharkstewbrewer]

true enough, although when they closed the schaefer brewery in albany ny, the beer started tasting slightly better
guess they stopped using hudson river water

[PFDarkside]

Originally posted by zoom6zoom
Some beers (and wines) age. Others just deteriorate.
Couldn't agree more. I think if it's bottle conditioned you have a good chance at aging, and if it's not then the fresher the better. A brewery fresh Bud is drinkable, an old one is pretty bad.

[Beer Monkey]

so what would the best way to keep it be? in a fridge or would that slow the aging process, room temp or cooler? is there a rule about %abv and how long to store em...

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Beer Monkey
is there a rule about %abv and how long to store em...

no rule - just guesses.

Taste is subjective, so aging vs deterioration is also subjective.

[Wilson]

Originally posted by Beer Monkey
so what would the best way to keep it be? in a fridge or would that slow the aging process, room temp or cooler? is there a rule about %abv and how long to store em...

The show I saw about wine made the comment that if you are going to age the wine and dont have the proper storage conditions (dark and ~55F), it would be better off in the fridge than left out at room temp and exposed to light. I would wager the same holds true for beer.