How to create your own craft beer cellar at home?

You probably have half a dozen bottles lying around somewhere between the overflowing fridge and that cupboard that serves as a graveyard for good intentions.

An IPA bought three months ago because the label was cool. A triple brought back from a weekend in Belgium. That Christmas beer patiently waiting for... July. All stored haphazardly, next to the pasta and canned goods.

Creating a beer cellar isn't about becoming that collector who talks about "vintages" in their vaulted cellar. It's the art of having the right product at the right time. The difference between serving a beer at its peak and a tired beer that has lost everything that made it interesting.

Choosing the right location for optimal beer storage

No need for expensive equipment. Your beer only has two real enemies: light and temperature variations.

Light kills hops

UV rays are deadly. They react with the hops and turn your IPA into a bottle that smells like skunk. Darkness is your best friend. Closets, boxes, or anywhere the sun never reaches.

Two storage areas to suit your needs

The "ready-to-drink" stock (the fridge) : For fast-moving beers – IPAs, pale ales, lagers. A temperature of 4°C to 7°C keeps the aromas intact and the beer fresh.

Storage (the cellar) : For beers that can be aged. A stable temperature between 10°C and 14°C is ideal. A pantry, a cupboard at the end of the hallway (away from the heating), or even an apartment cellar will do.

The golden rule: always stand up

This isn't wine. Beer is susceptible to oxidation. When upright, the surface area in contact with the air trapped inside the bottle is minimal. As an added bonus, the yeast sediment stays at the bottom instead of circulating everywhere.

Build a balanced stock craft beer for every moment

To start, a stock of 30 to 40 bottles easily covers several occasions. The simplest approach? Begin with a selection that covers all styles.

Our Discovery Pack contains our entire permanent range: Zepp, Moonshine, Speakeasy, Stirling, Embuscade, Estafette, Double Oat, and Diversion IPA. Eight different styles to build a solid foundation and understand what you truly prefer.

Next, organize your stock by use:

• The "working capital" (for emergencies and unforeseen events)
  The refreshing beers you open on a Tuesday night without thinking. Our Zepp (craft lager) or the Moonshine (wheat beer). Always keep a few chilled.
• The "gastronomic" options (for the meal)
  Those that complement a dish. A Stirling (gluten-free pale ale) with a burger. The crisp bitterness of an Embuscade (IPA) that stands up to a spicy dish. This is where the secrets of the best pairings come into play.
• The "specifics" (the gourmet's masterstroke)
  Enough to surprise all your guests. A friend with a gluten intolerance? Bring out the Stirling. The guest driving? Our Diversion range ( wheat or IPA ) at 0.5% ABV will impress everyone with its true beer taste.

If you drink regularly and entertain often, aim for 60 to 80 bottles, evenly distributed. The Explorer Pack (Moonshine, Stirling, Embuscade, Speakeasy ) allows you to quickly build up this versatile stock.

Mastering the rotation between fresh beers and aged beers

This is where it all comes down to. Beer isn't wine. 90% of craft beers are meant to be drunk cold.

Drink quickly (maximum 3 to 6 months)

All hoppy beers – IPAs, pale ales, double IPAs. Take our Double Oat : it's bursting with mango and pineapple aromas. These flavors come from the hops. They're volatile. They evaporate.

If you keep a Double Oat for nine months, you'll only be drinking a shadow of its former self. Forget the myths: drink it fresh. The same goes for Embuscade, Speakeasy, or Stirling. Hops don't wait.

Average rotation (6 to 12 months)

Lagers and wheat beers – like Zepp or Moonshine – age better. Their aromas remain stable, but they will lose some of their vibrancy after a year. Store them in a cool place to maximize their shelf life.

Allow to mature (1 year or more)

This is the exception. Only strong beers (over 8-9%), dark or complex beers. The alcohol acts as a natural preservative. This is the case with our Estafette (triple). Its fruity and spicy complexity will develop over a few years.

Where to buy your beers to build your cellar?

Freshness matters. Buying local guarantees you'll get beers that haven't spent three months in a shipping container.

The Discovery Pack gives you access to all our styles at once. The Explorer Pack focuses on our four best-sellers. You manage your inventory turnover, order fresh, and always maintain optimal stock levels.

The ultimate goal? To always have the right beer, at its peak, ready to be shared. To delve deeper into the art of tasting your beers like a seasoned sommelier , discover our complete guide.

Cheers 🍻