Shelf life and temperatures?

[Jim Blockley]

Hi Folks.

Just wondered what your thoughts are on conditioning time and shelf life. I'm taking a couple of beers to the local Camra bash next month and want to make sure they're at their best. About 4 weeks in the barrel? How long will it be good before it starts to go off?

There are three AG brews, all less than 5% and in plastic top-tap barrels. I have taken off a couple of samples to see how it's going, but the barrels have not been opened. I brewed them two weeks to a month ago and plan to serve them towards the end of December. My biggest problem is maintaining constant cellar temperature as my brew fridge only takes one barrel. Two of them have been in the sitting room fluctuating between 10 and 18 deg, but I’ve moved them to an unheated part of the house that will go between 10 and 15 during the day and night. Hope this is ok!

Cheers,

Jim.