I think it depends on if you are talking about "maturing" or "lagering" the beer.
I asked a similar thing on this thread, if you want to read this one as well:
http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum//ind...amp;hl=bamforth
After the bottles have completely carbed up and the yeast has fallen to the bottom of the bottles, you can mature the beer by leaving it at room temperature for several months. Like on the Coopers European Lager can, it says "best after 12 weeks in the bottle".
Then you have the book I link to in the above thread, where a brew scientist says there is no such thing as beer maturation, even though most homebrewers seem to disagree and I am one of them
Then lagering is at cold temperatures, so the yeast has no role to play. It is about subtle changes, but again there seem to be clear changes happening. Lagers are often said to have to be stored at fridge temp for weeks or even months before sulphury tones go away in the taste. I am very new to lager brewing yet, so mostly just claiming what others have said here. My only true lager is still in the lagering fridge and after a couple of weeks still have sulphury tones so hoping they will go away with more cold storage.
Ales are usually not stored cold for extended periods of time after the bottles are ready and carbed as far as I know. You have exceptions like Kolsch beer which is a lager-like ale lagered after it is ready.
But most ales are just kept at room temp, a month or more after bottling you start drinking them and many with me claim they are better after 3 months in the bottle.
What I have found is that maturing the beer or not, the bottles are MUCH clearer after two weeks in the fridge before drinking them as gravity settle out more and more particles.
thanks
Bjorn