Expert: Matt Dick - 12/1/2008

Question
I share a house and have limited storage space and the space is on the warmer side (72-75°), so 2 weeks ago I decided to store my IPA in the garage. The temperature range in the garage is between 48-56°. I tried a beer last night and it tastes great, except it barely has any carbonation. In hindsight I would of just kept the bottles in the house a couple weeks to get carbonated, then put them in the garage. The questions are: should i bring the bottles in for a couple weeks to carbonate, then put them back out in the garage? Would it mess with the beer to have these roller-coaster temps? Should I just leave them out there and give them more time? And finally, what issues are associated with storing ales in a cold temperature range?

Any feedback would be appreciated!
Cheers,
Bob

Answer
Bob,

How long was the beer bottled before it went into the garage?  My guess is that it's about as carbonated as you're likely to get it unless it was bottled into the garage immediately.

Also, there is really nothing about maturing a beer in slightly colder temperatures that is likely to change much of anything about the beer, other than that the yeast will take longer to do its job.  It ought to taste about the same.  I would leave them as sometimes a rapid shift in temperatures could affect the taste.

Assuming there is still some fermenting going on, what you're really doing with your beer is lagering it.  Today, lagers are distinguished from ales by the type of yeast that is used and the fact that fermentation and storage is done at lower temperatures.  Originally there were no unique lager strains of yeast and the *only* distinction between ales and lagers was the temperature of fermentation and storage.   So you're lagering your beer.  There's nothing wrong with it, and I'd just leave it alone and enjoy it in another month or two.

Regards,
Matt