Can you cold-condition too much? (in bottle)

[ChucknBeer]

Simple, quick question.

My first batch was bottled at the end of 2014 and after 2 months I put the last bottle in the fridge. After 5 months, I opened it and the beer was so clear it looked like a filtered/commercial brand. The taste ranged from meh to bad: all the mistakes of my first batch were more than evident.

But... can you settle too much of your beer? Can your beer loose flavors/body after a too long rest in the fridge?

 

[cooper]

You'll definitely lose flavors as a beer ages out, especially if it was a lower gravity higher hopped beer as the hop characteristics go away over time. I had a hefe that tasted like mineral water after it had set in the bottle for a year. I had to try it to see what it would be like though.

The good thing is you have some experience to go refer back to for the next batch.

 

[smizak]

No, it's the time that did it. I cold condition all of my beers, bottles stored cold with the keg. Your beer will thank you

 

[ChucknBeer]

Thanks for the input, but remember that I'm asking if it is possible to cold-condition too much.

My beer tasted bad because many things were wrong during brewing/fermentation and in fact, the cold-condition time allowed me to really taste all the problems.

But! If you have a good and properly brewed/fermented beer, a Pale Ale or a Stout, and you leave some bottles for 1 year on your fridge, can this affect color/flavor/body in any way? Can I drop from suspension too much from the beer? Can you loose a few points in the SRM scale?

 

[smizak]

No. Color doesn't separate out. You can (I do) perceive changes in body from cold-conditioning, but it's always for the better. Usually fuller mouthfeel from smaller CO2 bubbles, as there are less proteins and particulates for the gas to nucleate on.

 

[mrgrimm101]

I had an American Strong Ale (Arrogant Bastard Clone) that was extremely hazy. After a couple weeks in fridge it still was hazy and cloudy. I let the last few bottles sit in the fridge for about 6 months and it poured super clear. I didn't expect that. The flavors were changing a bit, but that had more to do with the fact that it was 6 months old. It was still really good