Few drinks taste as good as a cold beer on hot summer days, regardless of whether you are in the pub, in the garden or inside your home. It is the perfect choice for a moment of relaxation or a meeting with friends. However, in order to fully enjoy the flavour and aroma, you need to make sure you serve it at the right temperature. Read on to find out how to cool beer to the optimal temperature.
Few drinks taste as good as a cold beer on hot summer days, regardless of whether you are in the pub, in the garden or inside your home. It is the perfect choice for a moment of relaxation or a meeting with friends. However, in order to fully enjoy the flavour and aroma, you need to make sure you serve it at the right temperature. Read on to find out how to cool beer to the optimal temperature.
At what temperature does beer freeze?
Beer is not generally considered a product intended for freezing. Storing it for several hours at a temperature below zero (e.g. in a freezer or outside during winter) will make it cloudy and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide responsible for the slightly carbonated, refreshing taste. In a nutshell – if you freeze beer, you shouldn’t drink it after defrosting.
Cooling beer
Beer should always be served at an appropriate temperature. In order to achieve and maintain the ideal temperature of beer, special equipment can be used for this process. Such equipment is highly valued by professional bartenders and beer drinkers alike.
Beer dispensers are not only used to serve beer, but also maintain the right temperature. They are usually connected to several-litre kegs, making them efficient to use. The CO2 cartridges, which are usually included with the dispenser, maintain the correct pressure and protect the beer against oxidation.
Home-use distributors will be a real eye-catcher at any party or social gathering, also making the process much more efficient. They ensure cooling in a wide temperature range (e.g. 2-12 °C), letting you decide how you want to serve the beer to your guests. They are also very flexible in use, and you can choose your favourite beer temperature from the settings, e.g. 4 or 10 °C.
This is not the only advantage. Beer dispensers are also very easy and intuitive to use. Just pull the handle and beer will start flowing from the tap. Before choosing a specific model, pay attention to whether it has rubber feet. This will not only stabilise it on the surface, but also absorb vibrations. When serving beer from a dispenser, a small amount will sometimes drip from the tap. This is when a drip tray comes in handy, making it much easier to clean the device.
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Beer Dispenser With Cooler
279.00 €219.00 € -
Beer Dispenser with Cooler – 5 L – 2 to 12 °C
239.00 €189.00 € -
Beverage Cooler – 54 L 369.00 €
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Electric Cooler Box – 2-in-1 device with warming function – 50 L
How to quickly cool beer
Beer dispensers let you to keep the beer at an optimal temperature. But what about bottled or canned beer? Such beer also requires proper storage, and often also needs to be quickly cooled. Beverage coolers are therefore the best solution. Manufacturers offer a wide variety of refrigeration equipment: from a capacity of several litres, through several dozen litres, to up to even several hundred litres. With such a wide choice, you can easily provide the right temperature for beer both in both a small catering establishment and in a large restaurant. Additionally, the glass doors let you attractively present your offer to your customers.
The models shown typically provide cooling in the standard ranges of 2-8°C or 2-10 °C. This temperature is also optimal for other drinks, including mineral water, juice, fizzy drinks, etc. Always remember that the more efficient the compressor, the faster the refrigerator will reach the selected temperature.
Beer type vs. temperature
The appropriate beer temperature may seem to be a universal issue, decided in advance by producers and restaurateurs. However, this issue is actually of a more complex nature, because it all depends on the type of beer being served. A fairly wide temperature range is generally used, between 3 and 13°C, depending on the type. Weaker beers are usually served at a lower temperature, and stronger beers at a higher temperature. However, regardless of the type you should never cool it down too much, as this will make it lose its finest qualities. Experienced bartenders advise serving beer at a slightly lower temperature than recommended, allowing it to warm up slightly in the glass after being served.
Below are the most popular beer types and the optimal temperature ranges for them:
- Lager – light beer should be served at a temperature range from 3-7°C. In the case of weaker beers of this type, it could even be lower. Dark lager tastes best between 7 and 10°C.
- Beers with a richer flavour and aroma than lager should also be served with a temperature between 7 and 10°C. An even higher temperature (8-13°C) is ideal for IPA, i.e. India Pale Ale.
- Porter also tastes best at higher temperatures, ideally around 10°C, although a range of 8-13°C is also acceptable.
- Wheat beer should be served at a fairly low temperature, in the range of 4-7°C. The ideal temperature for wheat beer is slightly above the temperature for lager.
As you can see, each beer type has different requirements to fully bring out its taste and aroma. In order to experience this yourself, you can do a simple test. Simply buy two bottles of the same beer (e.g. porter) and then chill them to two different temperatures. One of them, according to the recommendations – up to 10°C, and the other to a much lower temperature, e.g. 3°C. Then try both beers and see which one tastes better. Even if you are not very sensitive to subtle flavours, you will definitely feel the difference. The warmer porter will taste better than the chilled one, and it will also have a more intense aroma.
Beer temperature – summary
By serving beer at the optimal temperature, you will gain recognition in the eyes of your customers and guests. By following the principles of beer cooling according to the type of beer, you will bring out the best out of each beer in terms of its taste and aroma. Designated beverage equipment is necessary in order to do so. Good beer dispensers designed for use with kegs (learn how to tap a keg next) provide a wide temperature range of cooling – tailored to the recommendations for each type of beer. In addition, they will help you give your garden party a professional feel.
Beverage coolers are an ideal solution for more intensive use. They also have a temperature range and let you attractively display your beverage offer. Regardless of the equipment you use, you should always remember not only how to quickly cool the beer, but above all, serve it at the right temperature.
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