You always see signs that say something like, “ice cold beer here.” Advertisements tell you to drink your beer when it is literally cold as snow. However, drinking a beer that is too cold, especially a darker one, can be detrimental to taste, smell and even carbonation. Bringing the temperature of a beer to near freezing numbs your palate and stifles any aromas that may be detected from the brew. The ideal temperature range to enjoy your beer is between 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 57 degrees with lighter beers (lagers, Pilsners, Kolschs and hefeweizens) at the low end and big beers (Barleywines, imperial stouts, doppelbocks and quadrupels) at the high end. Pay attention to packaging:  Brewers know their beer and will put the optimal serving temperature right on the bottle or pack holder.

Many brewers will let you know exactly how cold your beer should be by putting it right on the label.

There is a myth that other countries serve their beer at room temperature. Room temperature is around 70 degrees, where beer in countries like Germany and England is served at cellar temperature, around 53 degrees. Some taprooms literally draw beer from kegs in the basement of the bar to give patrons the perfect drinking experience.

Storing beer at a colder temperature is a different story. Hops are the first thing to fade in a beer--there is a difference between a two week old IPA and a day old IPA. A colder storage may slow the loss of hop aroma. There is another myth that already refrigerated beer will go flat when brought to room temperature and then made cold again, so people try to buy beer only when it is warm if they cannot keep it cold. Beer goes through many temperature fluctuations from the brewery to a distributer to your local retailer. Some distributors have refrigerated trucks, while the brewer’s trucks may not be. Those same distribution trucks bring refrigerated product to the retailer where they are placed on non-refrigerated shelves.

The reality is that all beer, especially non-pasteurized beer, benefits from cold storage and helps maintain freshness and better flavor longer--buying beer already warm to avoid it from “going flat” yields a beer that may not be as good as it could be. Unfortunately, retailers usually do not have the cooler space to keep every beer cold, so the non-pasteurized beers should be the first to get that space and then whatever else is their discretion. This is not to say you should avoid buying warm beer; just be a smart shopper and pay attention to “best by” and “born on” dates on those warm beers. If they have not been sitting out for a long period of time, they are still going to taste fresh.     

Some beers do benefit from aging but remember what I said earlier about hops fading:  do not go and age a regular IPA for months, because you will end up with an unbalanced mess. Do take those hefty barleywines, quadrupels and imperial stouts and store them in a separate refrigerator dedicated to beer. The reason for this is that this separate fridge can be set at the cellar temperature, which is perfect for aging. You definitely want to keep the food in your primary refrigerator at a much colder temperature. Some beer agers go as far as dipping the crown (beer cap) and a portion of the neck of the bottle in wax to greatly reduce oxidation while the beer is aging. This is good for aging a beer for years.

Some restaurants and drinking establishments serve their beer in a frosted mug. This goes back to near freezing temperatures muting the beer’s taste. Politely ask the server for a regular mug. I actually had a server bring me a stout ice cold in a frosted mug. Most beer from bars is served from the lines between 34 and 38 degrees. This is achieved either from fans that circulate air through insulated ducts that surround the lines or Propylene Glycol, an organic compound that runs through a tube next to or wrapped around the tap lines. This helps reduce foam while dispensing the beer. The beer does warm up when poured into a regular glass, but cupping your hands around the glass for about a minute will bring it to that perfect temperature for optimal enjoyment.

Adam Shugan, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits beer consultant - Gainesville

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