How To Keep Your Beer Cold

[Chris]

The Experiment

Beer drinking is one of  the world’s favorite pastimes. So as the weather started heating up, we felt a scientific duty to investigate this burning beer-related question: what is the most effective beer can cozy?

We took temperature measurements using a digital thermometer with a metal probe. In most of the experiments, the probe was submerged 5.5 cm into the beer, at the approximate midpoint of the can. All experiments were performed outdoors, with ambient temperatures varying from 90F (32.2C) to 103F (39.4C). Except as noted, all beverages used were 12 oz. (355ml) domestic beers. The starting temperatures for the beers ranged between 35.7F (2.1C) and 43.7F (6.5C)



<snip>

Results: All of the cozies had some effect and kept beer colder than the uninsulated can. Out of the five, the two that performed the best were the most expensive model, the metal and foam NASCAR cozy, and one of the least expensive, the foam rubber model. The terminal temperatures of the beer in each was 59.3F (15.2C) and 59.5F (15.3C) respectively – about 15 degrees below the final temperature of the naked can (74.3F/23.5C). The neoprene cozy and the plastic NASCAR cozy were both reasonably effective, keeping the beer 9.4 (64.9F/18.3C) and 11.2 (63.1F/17.3C) degrees cooler, respectively. The Coleman can holder was the least effective, keeping the can only 7.2 degrees cooler (67.1F/19.5C)

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There's more to the experiment at the link, including, food- and meat toy-based cozies, bottle cozies, and knitted cozies.

http://www.myscienceproject.org/beer.html

[Chris_]

I never let beer sit around long enough for it to get warm.

Who has this problem?

[thundley4]

Sadly, I've seen people use a can cozy in a bar before. 

[Wretched Excess]

I never let beer sit around long enough for it to get warm.

Who has this problem?

bingo.  I have never ALLOWED a beer to get warm.

[NHSparky]

Therein lies the problem when you go to Europe, particularly Great Britian and/or Ireland.

My big thing?  Make sure the tavern or pub has a basement.  Typically, that's where the beer will be kept, and usually cellars there are about 55 deg year round (warm to you and me, perhaps, but just right for the average Brit's pint.) 

If they don't have a cellar, the kegs are kept below the bar, and ice being the anethema it is over there (try getting ice in a Coke at McDonalds in Dublin), tends to be MUCH warmer.

Besides, I'm not a huge fan of Guiness ice cold myself.

[Chris]

I guess if it's always cold and wet outside, a warm pint of dark beer doesn't sound so bad.

I had a friend who drank his Coke warm.  No thanks.

[NHSparky]

I look at it this way--if I'm drinking a good stout or ale, 50-55 F is a perfect temperature.  I'll agree with you that your basic yellow fizzy beer (like when I'm doing yardwork, I'll quaff a few Bud Lights) are fine cold.

However, I will NEVER, EVER, EVER do frosted glasses.  Refrigerated, yes.  Frosted, no effin way.  I do not water down my beer, ever.

[Rebel]

I look at it this way--if I'm drinking a good stout or ale, 50-55 F is a perfect temperature.  I'll agree with you that your basic yellow fizzy beer (like when I'm doing yardwork, I'll quaff a few Bud Lights) are fine cold.

However, I will NEVER, EVER, EVER do frosted glasses.  Refrigerated, yes.  Frosted, no effin way.  I do not water down my beer, ever.

Don't put your glasses in the freezer wet. The door of my freezer (3 racks), and the very top rack is full of my beer glasses. 

[Chris_]

I never let beer sit around long enough for it to get warm.

Who has this problem?

bingo.  I have never ALLOWED a beer to get warm.

Way I figure, if you are drinking warm beer, you aren't drinking fast enough.  Keep up, or go back to Kool-aid, ya tee-totaler!

[Carl]

I have been in situations where warm beer was all there was to drink.

You do what you must and go on...it is still better then not.

[Miss Mia]

I always thought coozies were to keep your hands from getting cold, not to keep the beer from getting warm.

[LC EFA]

Firstly , While beer is BEST served cold, I have consumed a room temperature beer (room temperature being somewhat over 100F at the time) on more than one occasion.

Second, Carton coolers , which are a section of beer carton torn off and taped around the bottle, keep beer cold enough for long enough to drink it.