Condo Storage Locker..Cellar?

uno99 · Post by **uno99** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:07 pm

It just occurred to me that that my storage locker (which is about 3 floors below ground) could be a fairly ideal beer cellar. Seems to get pretty cool down there during this time of year..I'm not sure about the summer though. Anyone try this?

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:17 pm

I used to live in a condo and stores beer in my locker because it was the coolest place I could find. I always got paranoid about the beer down there though...

That said, I actually monitored the temperature in my locker and it got pretty warm in the summer time. You might want to watch for that.

uno99 · Post by **uno99** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:31 pm

How warm is pretty warm? I would probably be ok with it getting 65 degrees or so.

Seems to be fairly decent humidity as well.. I'm just searching for a solution to my overflowing beer problem!!

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:44 pm

uno99 wrote:How warm is pretty warm? I would probably be ok with it getting 65 degrees or so.

Seems to be fairly decent humidity as well.. I'm just searching for a solution to my overflowing beer problem!!

It fluctuated between 65 and almost 70. That was my old condo though. I am sure it won't be exactly the same in yours.

uno99 · Post by **uno99** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:49 pm

TheSevenDuffs wrote:
uno99 wrote:How warm is pretty warm? I would probably be ok with it getting 65 degrees or so.

Seems to be fairly decent humidity as well.. I'm just searching for a solution to my overflowing beer problem!!
It fluctuated between 65 and almost 70. That was my old condo though. I am sure it won't be exactly the same in yours.

Sounds good enough for me to try it!

Any advice on cellerable locally available stuff? (stuff that actually has potential of improving with age, not just keeping)

I plan on buying a couple cases of Unibroue Terrible. Any other ideas?

wilco · Post by **wilco** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:39 am

I moved into a condo in May and started using my storage unit for a cellar. It's definitely cooler now than in the summer, but stayed at a consistent temperature throughout the warmer months. A couple of potential problems I've thought of:

-Light. If the lights are on all the time or people use the storage a lot, that will affect the beer. If that's a problem, use a shelving unit and put up a dark fabric.
-Odor. My storage unit is accessible through the garage, but luckily no smells come through. If exhaust fumes did come in, that would be a concern (especially for corked bottles).

It's too early to tell for me how it's going to work, but it's worth a shot. As for recommendations, the Tempest, Terrible, a lot of Belgians (La Trappe beers, Cuvee van de Keizer) and Fuller's Vintage are some of the LCBO beers I have down there now.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:43 am

uno99 wrote: Any advice on cellerable locally available stuff? (stuff that actually has potential of improving with age, not just keeping)

I plan on buying a couple cases of Unibroue Terrible. Any other ideas?

It is hard to say. Most of the locally available stuff that meets the general criteria to cellar hasn't been around long enough to try aged versions.

90% of my cellar is American stuff.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:37 am

A few Unibroues including Terrible, Fringante and Maudite, the original Cameron's Whiskey Barrel beer, various years of Fuller's Vintage and Thomas Hardy's, Grand River Ploegers Vlaams Rood, a couple different years of GL Winter Ale, a Duvel bomber and some 2010 LTM Baltic Porter Grand Cuvee are the things I have cellared over the past couple of years. All from LCBO or local breweries, etc. Don't really know what will work and what won't, but that's what I've stuck down there.

And from way back, still have a couple bottles of Scotch-Irish Tsarina Katarina. I think I've left those a bit too long though.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:10 pm

I plan on buying a couple cases of Unibroue Terrible. Any other ideas?

This thread inspired me to do a bit of digging and see exactly what I had at the back of my cellar (just a space under the stairs). I found a Terrible labelled 05-05-2004. Opened it just now in the spirit of the holidays and I'm happy to say it's still in great shape. Has lost a bit of fizz (not a bad thing; the young one I had was very carbonated) and the figgy, raisiny dark fruits have really come to the fore. Still has a very similar finish, though it has smoothed out a fair bit. All in all, still quite good (I was afraid it might have been left too long).

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:46 pm

midlife crisis wrote:
And from way back, still have a couple bottles of Scotch-Irish Tsarina Katarina.

Aw - still miss those guys...

uno99 · Post by **uno99** » Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:54 pm

Almost forgot about this thread... thanks everyone for the advice!

wilco wrote:I moved into a condo in May and started using my storage unit for a cellar. It's definitely cooler now than in the summer, but stayed at a consistent temperature throughout the warmer months. A couple of potential problems I've thought of:

Wilco, would you say it stayed below 70 in the summer?

As for the lights, they are usually turned off, but I plan on getting one of those big steel shelves from somewhere and throwing a blanket over the whole thing... might cause some suspicion mind... I'd better get a more heavy duty lock as well

wilco · Post by **wilco** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:29 am

I don't know how hot it was, but probably around 70. It was at least relatively consistent, ie didn't spike during heat waves. I used to 'cellar' beer under my sink in an apartment without air conditioning, so I've come to realize that strong beers are pretty resilient.

Torontoblue · Post by **Torontoblue** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:10 pm

midlife crisis wrote:And from way back, still have a couple bottles of Scotch-Irish Tsarina Katarina. I think I've left those a bit too long though.

Nope, it's drinking well but getting a bit thin. Wouldn't hold onto them much longer, though.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:07 pm

Concrete basement floors draw away heat which is good. You might not want to age Tempest too long.

Re: Tsarina Katerina, this beer was conceived (by the brilliant brew master Perry Mason) as a tribute to the long-defunct yet legendary Courage Imperial Stout, a beer that time-traveled decades in fine form.

Later Perry went with Heritage to try and brew a few editions of John By, which were similar to the one-off Tsarina Impy Stout.

My own 24-case of Tsarina was no Courage though - at least 4-5 of those bottles were going off within the first year. It's "Russian Imperial Roulette" which bottle you want to open. Best luck to you though and hope there's no dran-pours in the lot!