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As Thanksgiving approaches, you’re probably thinking about all the delicious food—and of course, the beer. Knowing how to store your beer properly will ensure it stays fresh and ready to enjoy. Here’s how to store beer for Thanksgiving, so you can serve it at its best.
Beer is best enjoyed at the right temperature, and that meanscool, but not freezing. Most beers (especially lagers and pale ales) taste best when stored between45-55°F. If you’re planning to serve beer cold, chill it in the fridge about 30 minutes before serving. Butavoid the freezer—it can freeze the beer and affect its flavor.
Light Lagers and Pilsners: These are best served colder, around40°F.
Ales, Stouts, and Porters: These brews should be slightly warmer, around45-50°F, to bring out the rich flavors.
Always store your beer bottlesupright. This keeps the beer from mixing with the sediment at the bottom of the bottle, ensuring a cleaner pour and better taste. It also helps prevent the cap from coming in contact with the beer, which can lead to a stale flavor.
Beer, especially bottled beer, is sensitive to light. UV rays can cause a reaction with the hops, which creates a “skunky” flavor. To prevent this,store your beer in a dark place—a pantry, cupboard, or fridge works perfectly. If you have beer in clear or green bottles, this is especially important.
If you’re planning to keep a few varieties of beer cold, make sure there’s enough airflow around the bottles and cans. An overcrowded fridge canslow down the cooling process and leave you with unevenly chilled beer. Try to keep a little space between your beers for the best results.
If you have room to store beer before you chill it, keep it in a cool,dry place. A basement or pantry works well. Just make sure the room stays between50-60°F. Don’t store beer in places that get too hot (like near a stove or in direct sunlight) or too cold (like outside or in a freezing garage).
Some beers, especiallyhigh ABV ones like stouts or Belgian ales, improve with age. If you plan to age beer for future Thanksgiving celebrations, make sure youstore it in a cool, dark place—a wine cellar or dedicated beer fridge is ideal. Be sure to check the expiration date on your beer, especially for light beers or lagers, which are best enjoyed fresh.
If you're setting up a beer-tasting station or have a variety of brews to offer, considerstoring the beers in a bucket of ice right before guests arrive. It’s a great way to ensure your beers are at the right temperature for drinking. Just remember tokeep the ice bucket out of direct sunlight to maintain the chill!
Proper beer storage is key to making sure your Thanksgiving brews taste as fresh and flavorful as possible. So, store your beer right, and get ready to enjoy a cold, delicious drink with your Thanksgiving feast. Cheers!
