Fastest Ways to Chill Your Beers at Home
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As the British summer heatwave blazes on, there’s nothing better than kicking back with a refreshing, ice-cold beer.
But what do you do if you’ve accidentally left your beers out in the sun and need to chill them fast? Crafty Brewing has you covered with their expert research, so read on for the quickest and most effective methods to get your beer ice-cold in no time – just in time for the 30°C+ heatwave expected in mid-August!
DO:
1. Salt, Ice, and Water Mix: The ultimate method. Combine ice, water, and a generous amount of salt in a bucket. Submerge your beers, and they’ll reach near-freezing temperatures in just 30 minutes. The salt lowers the water’s freezing point, ensuring your beer gets extra cold, extra fast.
2. Ice and Water Combo: If you’re out of salt, a mix of ice and water is almost as effective and will still give you a nicely chilled beverage in a similar amount of time. Combining water with the ice is more effective as it constantly envelopes your drinks, providing more surface area to cool when compared to solid ice.
3. Freezer Method: Place your beer on the middle shelf of the freezer for the coldest temperatures. Effective but risky – set a timer to avoid a messy explosion! For an extra touch, pre-chill your glass in the freezer to keep your drink cooler for longer.
DON’T:
1. Wet Tissue Paper in Freezer: Wrapping your beer in wet tissue paper before placing it in the freezer can be messy and is less effective than just using the freezer alone. Don’t get caught out by the ‘hacks’!
2. Fridge: While convenient, this method is slow, and better suited for gradual cooling – so reserve this one for when you have a few hours to prepare.
3. Air Cooling with Wet Flannel: Covering your beer with a wet flannel in a breezy spot will drop the temperature, but this method is more of a last resort or when on the move as it’s less effective than the others.
4. Cold Tap Water: Running your beer under a cold tap for three minutes is wasteful and not very effective, and as such, definitely one to avoid.
5. Cold Water Submersion: The least effective method. Simply dunking your beer in cold water without ice will barely cool it. So, miss this one out if you don’t want to be left with a lukewarm beer!
As Luke Herman, Founder at Crafty Brewing, puts it: “Nothing beats the heat like an ice-cold beer! When shopping, we recommend picking up cans over bottles since cans cool much quicker due to aluminium’s superior heat conduction compared to glass.
“Plus, cans are better for the environment as aluminium can be recycled infinitely, unlike glass. They are also lighter, which means lower emissions from transport, and they offer better protection for the beer against oxygen ingress and UV light – crucial to protect the beer’s flavour during the sunny summer months! For the perfect summer refreshment, I highly recommend trying our Great Taste award-winning Arctic Fox gluten-free Pilsner.”
