Expert: Matt Dick - 10/22/2010

Question
QUESTION: Is it ok to age a beer after it has been in the refrigerator? Unfortunately the
store i buy my beer at didn't have a certain beer in back stock so i had to pull it
from the cooler. Thank you!

ANSWER: The answer is that it is just fine a age a beer at room temperature after it's been in the refrigerator IF THE BEER SHOULD AGE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Sorry to caps-lock you there, but it's an important point.  Most beers shouldn't age anyway.  If you have one of the rare beers that is served by aging, the refrigerator will slow down the aging process, but it won't change the beer in a way that will make subsequent warming a problem.

If you freeze it or really heat it up you might do some damage to the taste, but if it's just the refrigerator and room temperature, you're going to be fine.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for you response, I couldn't find that answer anywhere on the
net. Anyways, the beer in question is a 10.5% oak aged imperial stout that
could use some aging, so I think that's whats I'll do.

"fizzy yellow beer is for wussies."- Stone

ANSWER: Sounds good, enjoy it.  It'll age in your fridge, just slowly.

I love a good imperial stout... in fact you could age it by putting it on an ox cart and driving it around for a few thousand miles... then you'll know exactly how it *should* taste.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that hot temps and
oxidation would benefit the taste? Im also not sure how any  beer
"should" taste like.

Answer
No, I was only kidding.  In the fridge or at room temperature will be fine.  

Imperial stouts were originally brewed by British ale houses on contract for the Russian royal families.  The stouts had to be fortified (the extra alcohol content you notes) so they could survive the long, hard road to Russia.  Hence my joke.

Enjoy the beer!