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How Do I... Store and Display Beer?
Entertaining season is nigh, so chances are your kitchen will soon be overrun with beer. Here's how to show and store it
Georgia Madden
18 December 2021
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and design questions. Here, we ask pros how best to store and display beer when entertaining or enjoying a cold one at home.
Is chilled beer best stored in a wine cabinet?
“No, a regular fridge is absolutely fine,” says Jesse Searls, head brewer at Young Henrys Brewing. “Most refrigerated wine cabinets are generally kept at a warmer temperature than a normal fridge.”
“No, a regular fridge is absolutely fine,” says Jesse Searls, head brewer at Young Henrys Brewing. “Most refrigerated wine cabinets are generally kept at a warmer temperature than a normal fridge.”
Should chilled cans be stored upright or on their sides?
“Ideally upright,” says Searls. “Cans generally take up less space when stored upright, plus there is less chance of agitating your beer when you remove it from the fridge. This avoids the can gushing when you open it,” he says.
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“Ideally upright,” says Searls. “Cans generally take up less space when stored upright, plus there is less chance of agitating your beer when you remove it from the fridge. This avoids the can gushing when you open it,” he says.
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What about bottled beer?
“Store it upright too,” he says. “Unless you like the flavour of the cloudy sediment of yeast that settles at the bottom of a bottle-conditioned beer [where the beer is fermented in the bottle so the flavour improves with age].
“Some people do like the flavour of the yeast and will gently roll or invert a bottle that has been stored upright before opening it. Storing bottled beer on its side helps this process.”
“Store it upright too,” he says. “Unless you like the flavour of the cloudy sediment of yeast that settles at the bottom of a bottle-conditioned beer [where the beer is fermented in the bottle so the flavour improves with age].
“Some people do like the flavour of the yeast and will gently roll or invert a bottle that has been stored upright before opening it. Storing bottled beer on its side helps this process.”
What is the best temperature to store chilled beer?
“Four degrees celsius, which is the standard temperature of most regular fridges,” says Searls.
“But it depends on the type of beer,” he says. “Dark beers such as stouts or porters are usually best served warmer – sometimes as high as 12 degrees celsius – so you can taste more of the roastiness of the dark malts.
“Most commercial lagers are the opposite, and are best served very cold.”
“Four degrees celsius, which is the standard temperature of most regular fridges,” says Searls.
“But it depends on the type of beer,” he says. “Dark beers such as stouts or porters are usually best served warmer – sometimes as high as 12 degrees celsius – so you can taste more of the roastiness of the dark malts.
“Most commercial lagers are the opposite, and are best served very cold.”
What’s the best temperature to store beer you don’t plan to refrigerate?
“Anywhere above 12 degrees celsius,” says Searls.
“Store beers that you plan on cellaring in a dark place with a fairly consistent temperature of around 12 degrees celsius. A cellar is obviously best for this, but a temperature-controlled wine cabinet would also be fine.”
“Anywhere above 12 degrees celsius,” says Searls.
“Store beers that you plan on cellaring in a dark place with a fairly consistent temperature of around 12 degrees celsius. A cellar is obviously best for this, but a temperature-controlled wine cabinet would also be fine.”
Any tips for storing beer?
“Avoid light and heat. A dark cupboard or pantry are good spots, a cellar under the house is better,” he says.
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“Avoid light and heat. A dark cupboard or pantry are good spots, a cellar under the house is better,” he says.
Browse images of country-style homes on Houzz
Nagambie Brewery in Victoria, designed by Six Degrees Architects, with timber supplied by Showroom by Bowens.
What are some attractive ways to display beer?
Timber makes the ideal backdrop for beer, says Mark Healy, director at Six Degrees Architects. “For our Nagambie Brewery project, we used 10 kilometres of Queensland spotted gum for the doors, tabletops and more, plus Oregon beams and silvertop-ash shiplap cladding.
“The timber helped set a warm, inviting mood and made a great backdrop for the beer,” he says. “The brewery and distillery are both fully lined with timber on every surface, and make the textures and colours from the beer bottles, cans and kegs really stand out.”
What are some attractive ways to display beer?
Timber makes the ideal backdrop for beer, says Mark Healy, director at Six Degrees Architects. “For our Nagambie Brewery project, we used 10 kilometres of Queensland spotted gum for the doors, tabletops and more, plus Oregon beams and silvertop-ash shiplap cladding.
“The timber helped set a warm, inviting mood and made a great backdrop for the beer,” he says. “The brewery and distillery are both fully lined with timber on every surface, and make the textures and colours from the beer bottles, cans and kegs really stand out.”
What are some other materials you can use as a backdrop for beer?
“Try other natural materials such as brick, stone or steel,” says Dan Demant, associate director at Six Degrees Architects.
These are also earth-friendly choices, he says. “They’re long-lasting and durable materials that help minimise building waste and can be recycled or reused from other buildings or projects.”
“Try other natural materials such as brick, stone or steel,” says Dan Demant, associate director at Six Degrees Architects.
These are also earth-friendly choices, he says. “They’re long-lasting and durable materials that help minimise building waste and can be recycled or reused from other buildings or projects.”
Can it make for a nice display?
“Yes, beer can be stored and displayed nicely in your home just as you would with wine,” says Healy.
“An appealing way to display beer in the kitchen is on custom timber shelves fitted to an under-bench area or above upper cabinets that don’t reach the ceiling,” he says.
“Yes, beer can be stored and displayed nicely in your home just as you would with wine,” says Healy.
“An appealing way to display beer in the kitchen is on custom timber shelves fitted to an under-bench area or above upper cabinets that don’t reach the ceiling,” he says.
Your turn
Do you like the idea of displaying beer in the home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more practical ideas to style your kitchen? Don’t miss this story: 8 Items to Display on a Flyover Kitchen Shelf
Do you like the idea of displaying beer in the home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more practical ideas to style your kitchen? Don’t miss this story: 8 Items to Display on a Flyover Kitchen Shelf
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