Thread: Too cold???
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Old 02-05-2008, 02:04 PM
Scott Zuhse Scott Zuhse is offline
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Beer begins to freeze on average around 29F. This is where the solids begin to separate from the liquid. Not good since this solid is calcium oxalate. Better known as beer stone. If a system is too cold, you can actually accelerate the build up of beer stone in your system.

Depending on the alcohol content and type of beer, it will begin to freeze solid around 25F or so. This, obviously, causes problems. A concern of brewers with serving beer too cold has always been that the flavor can be masked (33.5F).

Additionally, these cold temperatures will not allow for much froth on top of the beer in the glass. The gas in the beer, which normally releases as you pour in the form of froth / foam, stays in the beer and the glass is filled to the brim. This does not look very appealing and you drink a lot of gas. Not so bad if you can belch your ABC's! Target 38F - great temperature for enjoying your beer.
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Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute
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