How to chill beer fast

There is not much worse than opening a beer and finding out that it is not cold enough. The right temperature not only makes it a more refreshing drink, but it also brings out the flavour and nose of the beverage. Therefore, it is always best to plan in advance and keep your beer bottle packs, cans or bottles in the fridge. If you were unable to do so though, and you need to chill your beer in 3 minutes, or a few minutes more, there are some simple tips to save the day.

We are going to take a look at how to quickly chill beer and the methods that work best. Let's take a look!

What is the perfect temperature for serving beer?

Before discussing how to chill beer, it is worth knowing what the right temperature to serve it at is. It is commonly thought that the colder, the better, but the truth of the matter is that if it is served too cold, it loses some of its flavour and nuances. There is an ideal serving temperature for each type of beer.

The following is a general rule:

• Beer should be served between 3º and 13ºC.
• High alcohol content beers should be served slightly warmer than those with lower alcohol content.
• Darker beers should be served at higher temperatures than paler beers.

We should not forget that there is a wide variety of beer, some more well-known, and other more special beers. Far from being a hard and fast rule, the aim is to serve beer at the optimum temperature in order to enjoy the unique properties of each brewing style. It is worth mentioning that brands are including the recommended serving temperatures more and more on their product labels.

How to chill beer with ice and salt

This is one of the quickest and most effective methods. First fill an ice box or bowl with ice. Then add some cold water to partially cover the ice and add several spoonfuls of salt. Place the bottles or cans in the bowl and turn them over occasionally. The beer will be ready to serve in 5 or 10 minutes.

The scientific explanation is that salt lowers the freezing point of water, and therefore it affects the structure of the ice, forcing it to melt at a temperature under its normal melting temperature of 0ºC (cryoscopic decrease). Salt needs energy (heat) from the environment to dissolve, and takes it from the nearby beverages, in this case the bottles or cans of beer (an endothermal reaction). Consequently, by chilling beer with ice and salt, we lower the temperature of the drink quicker.

Tips to chill beer in the freezer in minutes

The freezer is another quick solution, but it is important to keep track of the time. If we forget about the bottle and leave it too long in the freezer, the beer can freeze and the bottle can even break. Therefore, we recommend setting a timer on your phone.

There are several ways to lower the chilling time: for example, damp paper. This involves wetting a paper napkin or a piece of kitchen roll, wrapping it around the bottle or can, and placing it in the freezer for a few minutes. The water in the paper cools down and transfers the cold to the bottle or can quicker.

If your freezer is fitted with a fan, another tip is to place the beer near the fan to chill it quicker.

All told, when chilling beer in the freezer we need to be particularly careful with glass bottles, as they can break if they are left in the freezer for too long. Safety first.

Chilling by submerging cold objects

Another less common option is submerging a very cold object in the drink to quickly lower its temperature. In beer, this method works best once the beer has been served in a glass. Although it is not as quick as the other methods, it can be useful to save the day.

Some examples could be: previously frozen spoons, reusable metal ice cubes or chilling stones similar to the ones used for whisky.

How to keep beer cold for longer

Once the beer is cold, it can be kept chilled for longer by using:

• Chilling stones or ice packs.
• Insulating covers for cans or bottles. These are very useful for picnics or barbecues.
• Protecting the drink from direct sunlight. Placing them in the shade or covering them can make all the difference.
• Previously cooling the glasses that will be used to serve the beer.

In short, keeping beer chilled while you are drinking it is just as important as chilling it before serving, particularly in summer and open-air gatherings.