Storing Kegged Beer Temps

[Ken The Red]

Hi Everyone, I have a question regarding storage? I have heard on all the shows etc about storing cold and have done this for the past year. My problem is I am now brewing more than I have the capacity to keep cold in refrigeration, My basement is around 50 F in the winter and around 68 F in the summer. If I carbonate beers in cornies and store them down there what are your thoughts on this? I am brewing 10 gallon batches. Thanks

[ajdelange]

The colder you store it the slower the degradation reactions. A 4 - 10 centigrade degree change in temperature is often cited as the amount needed to double the rate of a typical reaction (with the actual value depending on the reaction). That doesn't mean you can't store some beers at room temperature. Barley wines, in particular, are often stored at room temperature for years with the changes they undego sought after by the brewer. At the opposite end of the spectrum would be Bavarian Wheat beers which can be kept for a year at very cold temperatures but even then are past their peaks at a few months.

Many guys solve this problem by obtaining a chest freezer and hooking it up with an external thermostat,

[Ken The Red]

I should be good in the basement starting next month through march then I guess I will worry about it as far as the freezer thats what I have been using but have outgrown it and didnt want to spring for a bigger one or a second one and another control. Not sure what to do, thanks for answering Ken

[PSUHomebrewer]

I you already have a freezer for storing beer then you may not need another controller for a new freezer. What you could do is tee off the controller so it also controls the second freezer. Granted it is not going to be exactly the right temp, but should be good enough for storing beer.
I've actualy reverted to storing beer in my fermentation fridge when not fermenting. Gives just enough extra room till a keg kicks and a brewday comes around.