As a consumer, distributor, or manufacturer of beer, there are specific concerns regarding the protection of the product when it is being shipped during winter’s freezing temperatures. It goes without saying that if the quality of a beer is not protected properly, all of the efforts that a company puts into the brewing of the product will have been wasted. This is especially true when a beer is shipped from its origination point to a much colder geographic region of the US. Fortunately, there are several products that will help prevent the damaging effects that occur when beer freezes.
Unlike bottled fine wines, bottled beer does not improve with age. However, like wine, beer has certain “enemies” that can damage the quality of it. Along with age, heat, light, and oxygen, freezing is one of beer’s more common enemies. When beer freezes, you can expect the following to occur:
- The alcohol and solids that the beer is comprised of will separate, causing the alcohol to float to the top portion of the bottle.
- The beer develops a cloudy appearance more commonly referred to as “chill haze” and results in an off-taste.
- The false appearance of flatness that occurs is attributed to freezing. This causes the CO2 molecules to constrict and move slower.
Although the alcohol can recombine in the beer as it warms up and returns to its original liquid state, the quality will not be the same, nor will the taste.
Therefore, shipping beer in freezing winter temperature is a critical concern. Naturally, this depends on the geographical area and climate that the beer is being transported in. With the recent advancements in insulating technologies and packaging, this no longer has to be a problem. Protek Cargo offers a full range of high-quality insulation products which serve as an alternative to refrigerated shipping and can tailor passive temperature control programs that will facilitate your needs.
Protek Cargo’s Sure Temp Cargo Blankets and Pallet Covers will keep beer safely insulated so that it does not freeze in the worst winter weather conditions. Therefore, the quality of the product will not be degraded on its journey from Point A to Point B. Granted, the positioning and spacing of the beer inside the container or trailer will have a lot to do with whether or not the product freezes. However, these insulating cargo blankets and pallet covers provide the added protection against freezing that is needed to maintain your product’s quality.
