How To Store Beer Correctly

So, you just finished bottling up a fresh batch of homebrew beer and now you’re ready to store it. It’s a common assumption among ‘newbie’ brewers that beer will last for years or even decades as long as it’s bottled. While bottling does help to preserve its flavor and characteristics, there are other potential factors which may result in spoilage. In this post, we’re going to reveal some of the do’s and don’ts on storing beer.

Bottle It!

Whether you are brewing a couple beers or a hundred, be sure to bottle them immediately after they are finished brewing. Allowing them to sit out for days on end will gradually spoil your beer while creating a general ‘flat’ taste. Bottling is an essential step in homebrewing, and you should get into the habit of doing it each time you produce a new batch of beer.

Upright or Sideways?

Unlike wine which is best stored on its side, beer should be stored upright. Some brewers may stick their beer bottles sideways in the refrigerator just so they can pack more in it. Unfortunately, though, doing this will only reduce the shelf life of your beer. When beer is stored on its side, all of the compounds and ingredients are mixed up, resulting in chemical changes which affect its flavor. You might not be able to fit as many in your refrigerator using this method, but always store your beer upright to increase their shelf life.

Avoid Sunlight

You might be surprised to learn that over exposure to sunlight can spoil an otherwise perfect batch of beer. Once your beer is bottled up, find a dark area that’s far away from the sun. Even open windows can allow enough light in to ruin a batch of beer. This same principle holds true for wine as well. The sun’s powerful UV rays penetrate through the glass of beer and wine bottles to literally cook the beverage from the inside out. In turn, this results in spoilage.

Temperature Controlled

Lastly, make sure your beer is stored in a temperature-controlled environment, such as a refrigerator. Storing your beer at room temperature isn’t the best option. While it probably won’t spoil your beer, room temperature environments will reduce its overall shelf life. Instead, place your beer inside a refrigerator where you can adjust the temperature to a cool 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit.