Tips for Storing Beer

5 Rules for Keeping Your Beer Fresh
The 3 worst enemies of beers are heat, light, and oxygen. 

1. Store your beer upright
   Stand your beer upright instead of putting it on its side during storage. Storing the beer upright help minimizes the amount of the beer’s surface area that will touch the air in the bottle. This is because on its side, there is a much larger surface area of the beer touching the air. In other words, less air contact equals less oxidation of the beer, which will help the beer last longer.

   Another reasons for storing beer upright is to ensure that the yeast sediment settles at the bottom of the beer. When beers are stored horizontally, the yeast can create a yeast ring or watermark inside the bottle that will not settle or mix in. The yeast can collect along the length of the bottle, making it harder for a clean, yeast-free pour, which increases the risk of off flavors. 

2. Keep out of the light
   The perfect place to store beer is in a cool area, away from direct sunlight and sources of heat. Pick a dim or dark space for beer storage, because exposure to ultra-violet rays and even blue light could spoil the beer causing it to be “lightstruck.” and become “skunked”.

   As the name “skunked” suggested, the beer will have an awful smell similar to that of a skunk spray.

3. Get the storage temperature right.
   Heat spoils beer over time, so beer is best kept at a cool temperature. It’s also important to keep the storage temperature at a constant level and avoid any drastic fluctuation.

   Also, keep in mind that the ideal storage temperature may vary between different types of beer.  Higher alcohol beers require warmer temperatures, while lower alcohol beers are suited for lower temperatures.

4. Not all beer age the same
   Know which beer is made for fast consumption, and which one is for long-term keeping or aging. This due to the fact that each beer has a different use by dates depending on the brewing process used. Higher alcohol beers tend to fare better for aging purposes as opposed to lower alcohol beers.
5. Never try to store an opened beer
   Beers will not last long after opening. Once a beer has been opened, it’s best to finish it as soon as possible. The loss of carbonation and oxidation will change the taste of a beer. Therefore, you will likely end up with an awful flat beer.