Does Bottled Homebrew Keep Maturing In Fridge?

[seanj]

Hello,

i recently brewed an american pale ale and after 4 weeks in the bottle I now want to refrigerate some of it to drink. I know brews keeep maturing in the bottle and get better with age but do thye keep maturing and getting better after you put them in the fridge?

 

[Wortgames]

Yes they do. In my opinion, most brews actually benefit from being stored in the fridge for longer periods.

Once they are carbonated and the yeast has had a chance to 'scrub' any off flavours in the bottle (eg 2-4 weeks), move as many as you can to the fridge. I don't think they benefit from any longer at room temp, but a few weeks in the fridge tends to improve them greatly.

Note that I wouldn't recommend this for the more 'noble' ales but for lagers and pale ales you'd be surprised at the result.

 

[Kai]

Yes, they will. But it will be both slower and different, the fridge really helps clarity and seems to help head retention though I'm not sure on that one.

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

seems to help head retention though I'm not sure on that one.

I agree 100%

PZ.