What’s the Best Temperature for a Beverage Refrigerator?

Beer and Beverage Cooler

A beverage refrigerator is a good solution if you want your drinks to be stored at their optimal temperature. With easy-to-operate digital temperature control panels, beverage coolers can be set within a temperature range of 39-64°F. What is the best temperature for a beverage refrigerator? It largely depends on the kinds of drinks you are storing.

If you are dedicating your beverage cooler to beer only, you will want to set the temperature within an ideal range. In general, most beer can be stored in a dark space with a consistent room temperature. However, to maximize the shelf life, the recommended storage temperature is between 45 and 55° F. When it comes to drinking, some beers require warmer temperatures that allow more aromas to be released. Drink the beer too cold, and your palate may be too numb to taste the beer. Lower quality beers can be served ice-cold to help mask the flavors. For craft beers, however, the right temperature is important to provide the full drinking experience. According to the Home Brewers Association, beer should be served between 38-55℉. Recommended serving temperatures for mainstream beers is between 33 – 40° F, pale lagers and ales between 40 – 45° F, wheat beers and lambics between 40 – 50° F, dark lagers, IPAs, stouts, and porters 45 – 55° F, and cask ales 50 – 55° F. If the beverage cooler has multiple temperature zones, you can set one zone to storage temperature and the other to serving.

The perfect storage temperature for most wine is 55℉. Wine prefers a consistently cool and humid environment where it will not be exposed to direct sunlight or unnecessary vibrations. Some beverage coolers have multiple temperature zones, one zone can be designated for soda or beer, and the other zone can be set for wine as long as it has the proper racking.

The storage temperature for sodas, soft drinks, or pop largely depends on personal preference. Storage temperature can be 40 ℉, while the serving temperature is between 38 to 42℉. You can always adjust the serving temperature of your soda by adding ice or allowing it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes to warm.

You can also use a beverage cooler to store other beverages such as juice and sports drinks. According to the FDA, juice should be stored at 41℉ or colder. Since most sports drinks are shelf-stable, the temperature at which they are stored largely depends on personal preference. U.S. Dairy recommends milk to be stored at 40℉. We do not recommend storing food inside a beverage cooler unless the beverage cooler has been designed to store both food and drinks. Questions about beverage coolers? Contact our team with our Contact Form.