Chill bottles before gifting?

[maurtis]

I have searched but could not find this answered. After I bottle and wait a few weeks for the beer to carb, should I chill any bottles I plan to gift, knowing they will likely warm up before being chilled again?

For example, say I chill some bottles for a couple days then give them to a friend who lets the bottles sit around for a week before remembering the marvelous gift I gave him and he refrigerates them. Does this affect anything?

Or should I just gift them pre-chilled as is and tell them to let them chill for a few days before consuming?

 

[unionrdr]

I try to chill them for 5-7 days to make sure any chill haze has a chance to form & settle. Besides giving it time to get well carbed & settlings to compact on the bottom of the bottles. They'll have to chill them again, obviously to settle, get the equilibrium between gas in solution & head space to equalize a little again.

 

[twistyboy]

They have to be chilled at least 12 hours, best 48 hours , prior to drinking no matter what you do with them before.Its gonna help to sediment the yeast in suspension( except if you have chill haze) and have the right carbonation level.

 

[twistyboy]

I try to chill them for 5-7 days to make sure any chill haze has a chance to form & settle. Besides giving it time to get well carbed & settlings to compact on the bottom of the bottles. They'll have to chill them again, obviously to settle, get the equilibrium between gas in solution & head space to equalize a little again.

For me, time in the fridge didnt help the chill haze. I have tried weeks in fridge with no difference.Am i the only one?

 

[maurtis]

I try to chill them for 5-7 days to make sure any chill haze has a chance to form & settle. Besides giving it time to get well carbed & settlings to compact on the bottom of the bottles. They'll have to chill them again, obviously to settle, get the equilibrium between gas in solution & head space to equalize a little again.

Great, thanks for the confirmation. So pre-chilling it is.

 

[Hello]

I don't usually. I just tell people to stick them in the fridge for a couple of days. I always stick some in the fridge and test before I start giving things out, so I know what they can expect.

 

[1977Brewer]

I was thinking about printing up instruction labels for mine.

"Chill for 48 hours. Pour into a clean glass, leave the residue in the bottom. Enjoy."

Unless I brew a hefe, then of course the directions change.

 

[unionrdr]

For me, time in the fridge didnt help the chill haze. I have tried weeks in fridge with no difference.Am i the only one?

Well, if you mashed some grains, it could be starch haze from incomplete conversion. I got that with my hybrid lagers. Or in AE brews if chilling the wort took too long. Not to mention condition of extract used.

 

[PatrickLS83]

My rule of thumb is that if its a dark beer or stronger ale, just let it condition at room temp, light ale or (especially) IPA should go in the fridge to preserve freshness. Lagers should always be refrigerated. If you had it in the fridge for two weeks, gave it to your buddy, he/she let it sit at room temp for a day or two, then put it in back the fridge, it's not a big deal, IMO.