Refrigeration After Bottling

[SCBrewing_2015]

Hey Guys,

I know there is probably a million threads on this same subject, but I am new to home brewing and have just bottled my very first batch of a blonde ale. After i bottled the beer i immediately placed it in the fridge, upon reading i found that refrigeration makes the yeast dormant, which prevents carbonation (I used priming sugar).

My question is.....will the refrigeration mess up the carbonation of my first batch i took the bottles out after reading, they were in the fridge for less than 12 hrs.

Thank you,

Robert

 

[unionrdr]

Let'em come back up to room temp. 70F or so is normal. Swirl the bottles a bit to get some yeast back in suspension if it settle out well. Then box'em up & keep in a dark spot a couple weeks.

 

[mrgrimm101]

Should be ok. Do as @uniondr said. You want 2 weeks minimum where they sit in bottles to condition and carbonate. Depending on the style, they may need more time. My IPAs are usually fully carbed after 2-3 weeks. My stouts take about 3-4 weeks, and even longer sometimes to condition to it's peak flavor.

 

[juskojj]

on a side note, after full carbonation should you store your bottles in a fridge or just in the same place you left them to carb up?

 

[fuzzy2133]

on a side note, after full carbonation should you store your bottles in a fridge or just in the same place you left them to carb up?

After fully carbed put as many in the fridge as you want and wait at least 24hrs. For hop forward styles getting them in the fridge is recommended to slow the fading of hop aroma and flavor.

 

[unionrdr]

Or if you have a cool basement, you can put them in boxes on a shelf after carbonation is complete to slow hop degradation.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Say I have s stout which tastes good, but I suspect a little green (lacking some of the sweet maltiness I'd expect, but still very drinkable) so I'd like to age it. My condo is generally in the 70s but can get much higher (80s) on hot days and we have no a/c.

To age these bottles now that they've been at room temp for 4 weeks, should I keep them in the fridge? I'd like to do the 6 months and year taste test, but with a small fridge that is going to be a hard sell, plus seeing all those beautiful beers in there each day will make it hard not to just drink them up!

-- Nathan

 

[fuzzy2133]

See if you can fine a place that is dark, with the lowest temp (cellar temp is like 50-60, get as close as you can) and no temp swings (closet with the furnace would be a no go). Just keep in mind the higher temp will accelerate the aging process. When you start looking you might be surprised what you find. I use a dial fridge thermometer to find cool spots and monitor the temp of beer aging in my house. I know a few here (possible more) keeping their beer in bedroom closets.

EDIT: If I am wrong on the cellar temp please speak up.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Thanks, I'll double check but my place is west facing and tiny so it heats up quick and holds it during the day. I don't think even a dark corner in a closet is safe. I'm seeing more and more reasons why I should get a small kegerator or a wine fridge.

-- Nathan