Storing keg-bottled beers

[violaleebrews]

When bottling force-carbed beer from a keg, should I expect problems cellaring any beers?

I don’t have a way to keep a “library” of beers chilled.  My keg fridge is @ 32° and doesn’t have room for a lot of bottles.  My basement temp varies from season to season; from about 55° in the winter to 72° in the summer.

My concern is the temperature change affecting the beer.  Any thoughts?

[jmcamerlengo]

Im interested in this as well.

I have been bottling with a beergun for about 9 months now, and have stored beer away from it. Ive had issues in some cases and others not. So im wondering if anyone has longer term experience.

[theprofessor]

You shouldn’t have problems if the sanitation is good, you purge the bottles before filling, and use PureSeal caps.
Whenever I’ve bottled beers in the 20-25 years,  it has awlays been fully cleared and conditioned beer from the keg.

I’ve even kept stronger beers that way, at cellar temperature, for as long a 10-15 years  and haven’t had any problems.  I have even stored many of them at cellar temperature.  I don’t routinely keep them that long (the average is more like a year or two) but the point is that they can last far longer.

Cleanliness and avoiding any oxidation are the most important points.

[brewerjack]

This is a bit off topic, but what are you using to bottle the beer from the keg?

[jeffy]

When I bottle from a keg (with a beer gun) and I want long term storage of the bottled beer, I add one carbonation tab to each bottle.  This slightly increases the CO2 volume to make up for loss when transferring and gives the yeast an opportunity to consume what little oxygen there is in the headspace.

[dbarber]

I frequently bottle off kegs using a beer gun and never had any issues with storing them for 1-2 years.  My basement also swings from 55 in winter to 70 in summer.  It’s not ideal storage temps, but I haven’t noticed any off flavors due to age.

[jrdunne (Joe Sr.)]

@jeffy

When I bottle from a keg (with a beer gun) and I want long term storage of the bottled beer, I add one carbonation tab to each bottle.  This slightly increases the CO2 volume to make up for loss when transferring and gives the yeast an opportunity to consume what little oxygen there is in the headspace.

Jeffy - what brand of carb tabs are you using?  I’ve found them to be EXTREMELY variable between brands.

And, the Munton’s ones (small, aspirin-like) seem to leave a hard waxy residue floating in the beer.

[jeffy]

@jeffy

When I bottle from a keg (with a beer gun) and I want long term storage of the bottled beer, I add one carbonation tab to each bottle.  This slightly increases the CO2 volume to make up for loss when transferring and gives the yeast an opportunity to consume what little oxygen there is in the headspace.

Jeffy - what brand of carb tabs are you using?  I’ve found them to be EXTREMELY variable between brands.

And, the Munton’s ones (small, aspirin-like) seem to leave a hard waxy residue floating in the beer.

The little aspirin sized ones from Munton’s.  Using only one I never noticed any residue.

[jrdunne (Joe Sr.)]

Hmm.  It was supposed to be a “bad batch” but I had it happen again with another batch.

Maybe I try again.  I’ve found the Brewers Best tabs to be WAY off and I have totally overcarbed beers.

I’m at the point where I don’t trust bottling anymore.  But I do it so rarely it doesn’t matter.

[euge]

The drops are worth about .5 volumes each right?

[bluesman]

@The_Professor

You shouldn’t have problems if the sanitation is good, you purge the bottles before filling, and use PureSeal caps.
Whenever I’ve bottled beers in the 20-25 years,  it has awlays been fully cleared and conditioned beer from the keg.

I’ve even kept stronger beers that way, at cellar temperature, for as long a 10-15 years  and haven’t had any problems.  I have even stored many of them at cellar temperature.  I don’t routinely keep them that long (the average is more like a year or two) but the point is that they can last far longer.

Cleanliness and avoiding any oxidation are the most important points.

+1

I agree…ensure the beer is properly conditrioned, follow sound sanitation practices and utilize proper transfer techniques (minimize oxidation). Following these recommendations will enable you to cellar your beer at those temps. The stronger and darker the beer, the longer the life.  I try to keep my lighter beers colder.

[micsager]

@brewerjack

This is a bit off topic, but what are you using to bottle the beer from the keg?

http://www.blichmannengineering.com/beergun/beergun.html

A great little device.