Warehouse Temperature

[RNJ]

A potential warehouse space for our beers has a ambient temperature that varies between 50-65 degrees year round. Typically never goes much above that. Is that acceptable for storing kegs and cases or do we need to install a cooling system? I imagine most distributors do not have refrigerated warehouses for all the beers they carry. Anyone with experience in this department?

[Larry Doyle]

Packaged beer storage temp. of 50-65 degrees is very good. I have visited many distributors with "temperature controlled" warehouses and their temps were usually in the high seventies.

As for keg storage, you need to be below 40 degrees.

[RNJ]

How long would a keg last in say 65-70 degree ambient temperature before risking spoilage?

[Larry Doyle]

It all depends on the micro condition of the beer. But to generalize, even one day at 65-70 could put you at risk. You might get the kegs out of your warehouse tasting ok but you run the risk of spoilage/off taste at retail.

[dick murton]

If the micro quality of the beer is good, it should be able to last two or three weeks at these temperatures. Cask beer in the UK often has a shelf life of 4 to 6 weeks, and whilst it is not intended this time should all be spent at theis temperature, in summer, it may be held in warmer conditions than the quoted temperatures for a couple of weeks. Having said that, people are moving where ever possible to temperature controlled warehousing.

Why don't you try a few kegs form a normal packaging run yourself at these temperatures, and see what it tastes like over a period of time ? Realistically that is the only way to be sure you have a fair test of what your beers will be like under these conditions. How someone else's performs is far less relevant than your own beers.