How low can you go? Kegged beer in the garage!

bmckee56 · Dec 23, 2008

I have a kegged brew carbing up in the garage and our temperature here in the burgh has dipped to as low as 3 degrees over the last few nights. It is not that cold in the garage, but I was wondering how the extreme temp might effect the brew.

It is not frozen and I checked it last, last night, but it sure is chilly. I will have additional room in the refrig tonight so I plan to transfer it there when I get home.

Salute! :mug:

RCxc · Dec 23, 2008

Good question, I am 10 minutes outside Cincinnati, kegs are in the garage and I was wondering the same thing. I think I need to check it when I get home make sure nothing has frozen up. If it is frozen I have no idea what I am going to do because I have no room in any other refrigerator.

eschatz · Dec 23, 2008

It will just help to clear the beer out. But DONT LET THAT GUY FREEZE! If it freezes it'll warp the keg and you'll never get the gasket to seal at the top. It'll warp to a circle instead of an "0".

The Pol · Dec 23, 2008

My garage never dips below 45F, regardless of the outdoor temp... BUT DO NOT let those kegs freeze, or you will be sooooo upset!

GilaMinumBeer · Dec 23, 2008

If there is a risk of extended low indoor temps you'd be better to move those kegs inside despite the warmer temps, even if you can't refridgerate them.

The beer will be fine either way, it's the keg itself that will potentially suffer.

bmckee56 · Dec 24, 2008

Pulled the keg inside and had one of the kegs in the fridge kick, so it was all GOOD! Relieved the pressure and hooked it up to normal tap pressure and away we went. Beautiful head, great flavor and carbonation level was perfect for me anyway. This was a Belgian Wit (BB) that looks and tastes better than my first Belgian kit I did.

The keg was quite cold, but the beer never got to freezing temperature, so I lucked out. I have installed a remote temperature monitor that will alarm if the temperature drops below 30 degrees in the garage. This will keep me safe in the future.

Salute! :mug:

eriktlupus · Dec 24, 2008

the temperature your beer cen take before freezing depends on the abv of the brew higher abv can take a lower temp before freezing. 40 proof booze doesn't freeze till 20 below and pisslight will freeze around 29-30 (3.2%abv)