Perhaps you’ve got your own home brewery, and you’re wondering how to store empty bottles in between uses. Or maybe you’ve got an excess of full containers, and you want to know how to store them to keep the beer tasting fresh.
Whether you have full or empty bottles, knowing how and where to store them is an integral part of both beer making and beer drinking. Clean, well-preserved bottles will keep your beer tasting better for longer, and keeping beer in a cool, dark place will preserve its freshness once the bottles are full.
Whatever your beer bottle storage needs may be, there are a lot of great products to help you keep your bottles in top shape. We’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of the best beer bottle storage ideas on the market.
5 Ideas for Storing Beer Bottles
1. MyGift Rustic Beer Bottle Crate
- Rustic brown wooden crate style bottle storage box with cutout handles for storing, carrying, and serving 12 oz bottled beverages
- 12 individual slots are perfect for organizing and serving your favorite bottled beer, soda, condiments, or oils
- Sturdy wooden side handles allow you to easily carry this storage box to wherever you need it
Perhaps, instead, you’re looking for a beer bottle storage crate you can keep in your pantry or cellar. This MyGift Rustic Beer Bottle Crate might be just the thing. Divided into 12 sections, this crate will hold 12 standard beer bottles at a time.
This classic-looking beer crate can be used both for storing and serving beer. Side handles make it easy to lift and carry. The section dividers will keep the bottles from clinking against each other when moving. The box is made of durable wood, so it will hold up well under frequent use.
Pros:
- Great for serving and storing
- Classic, rustic appearance
- Doesn’t take up a lot of storage or counter space
- Works for both full and empty beer bottles
- Sturdy, well-made construction
Cons:
- Only holds standard-size bottles
- Rows are sometimes spaced unevenly
2. FastRack Bottle Drying and Storage Rack
- DRAIN & DRY: Finally a bottle drying tree alternative! Eliminate contact with the inside of your bottle drying rack. With two racks, the FastRack24 kit can fit up to 48 standard beer bottles, 24 Bomber/Belgian bottles or 12 Wine bottles
- DISHWASHER FRIENDLY: The FastRack bottle drying rack and tray are safe to go into your dishwasher after usage. Unlike other bottle drying tree systems, we easily come apart and fit into a dishwasher without any hassle
- RACK & STACK: Several full FastRack bottle drying racks can be stacked on top of each other up to 5 high for convenient storage inside the FastRack bottle tray. The more you stack, the more secure it gets! Try doing THAT with a typical bottle drying tree!
Maybe you’d like a beer bottle dryer and storage rack–something you can use to let the bottles dry after washing them, then store after drying. The FastRack Drying and Storage Rack has you covered.
Unlike regular bottle tree racks, this 2-in-1 rack suspends bottles from the outside, eliminating potential bacteria or scratching on the inside of the bottle. Each frame holds 24 bottles, and once the bottles are dry, you can stack the racks up to five high for easy and convenient storage.
Pros:
- Saves time by both drying and storing empty beer bottles
- No contact with the insides of the bottles
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Only works for standard-size containers
3. Strong Like Bull BottleLoft Magnets
- US PATENT 9,920,877
- BottleLoft, the original and world's first magnetic bottle hanger
- 2 Strips with 3 Magnetic Positions, Hangs 6 bottles
Maybe you’d like a beer bottle storage rack for the fridge, but you don’t have a lot of shelf space. These Strong Like Bull BottleLoft Magnets are a fantastic option. Simply peel the backing and stick the magnet strips to your fridge ceiling. Each kit comes with two magnet strips and can hold six standard beer bottles at once. The super-strong magnets bind to the bottles by the caps and hold them in place, so you don’t have to worry about knocking them off. In most fridges, they allow a few inches of clearance so you can use the shelf underneath for small or flat items, such as tortillas or cheeses.
The magnet strips create a permanent bond to the fridge ceiling, which is great because they’ll last for the life of the fridge. However, if you have an older fridge you know you’ll need to replace soon, you might not want to use these until you get the new fridge because you won’t be able to remove them from the old fridge.
Pros:
- Powerful magnetic force keeps your bottles from falling off
- Clears up some extra space in your fridge
- A great gift idea
- Allows you to keep your beers cold if you don’t have the shelf space in your fridge
Cons:
- Expensive
- Only holds six beers
4. U-haul Styrofoam Box Inserts
If you’re looking for beer bottle storage boxes you can pack away and move without breaking, these U-Haul Styrofoam Storage and Shipping box inserts will give you the protection you need. Made specifically for wine and champagne bottles, they will also work for larger bottles of beer. These inserts will hold bottles up to 4 inches in diameter.
The box inserts come in 1-, 2-, and 12-bottle kits. Each kit comes with a different size cardboard box. Insert the styrofoam base into the box for shipping or moving your beverages safely, or use the kit for storage to protect against breakage if the box gets jostled around.
These inserts come with both top and bottom sections. Place the bottles in the bottom section and cover them with the top section for optimum protection.
Great for use as checked luggage on an airplane, for driving cross-country, or for storing bottles in earthquake-prone areas.
Pros:
- Lightweight but sturdy styrofoam protects against breakage
- Convenient box size
- Works for different large bottle sizes
Cons:
- A bit expensive for the quality
- No handles on the box for carrying
5. Antarctic Star Beer Bottle Cabinet Cooler
- KEEP WINE COOL: Heat is enemy number one for wine. The Wine Cooler enables you to store your wine in optimal conditions for long-term aging. Working temperature range is 40°F- 61°F, and allows you to customize the temp (55°F is often cited as close to perfect).
- IDEAL LIGHT and HUMIDITY: The reinforced glass door with air tight seal helps to maintain an ideal humidity level, this beverage refrigerator gives you a compact and modern sensation. Perfect for your living room. Blue soft LED interior lighting not only beautifully showcases the wine but won’t damage the wine.
- PERFECT WINE STORAGE: 26 standard wine bottles capacity, also perfect for canned beer and beverage storage. Horizontal racking is a space-efficient way to store your bottles, and it definitely can't harm your wines.
If you’re looking for a temperature-controlled beer storage cabinet, this Antarctic Star cabinet cooler might just be for you. Perfect for both wine and beer, this cooler has a working temperature range of 40-61 degrees F, so you can set it according to your ideal temperature preferences.
This beverage cooler boasts a sleek, modern look. It keeps your beer at the appropriate humidity level, won’t vibrate, and contains a soft blue light that will show off your beer without causing any damage to it.
Pros:
- Stores enough beer for a party, but small enough to stay out of the way
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Stylish appearance
- 1-year warranty
- Great for a man cave
Cons:
- Can be noisy at times
- Only works as a freestanding cooler; can’t be built-in
Related: Beer Fridges for the Garage
Factors to Consider
Here are a few things to think about when storing beer bottles.
How Do You Store Beer Bottles?
As you can see from the products above, there are lots of different ways to store beer bottles. You can choose from a variety of beer bottle storage containers, from fridge magnets to crates to storage boxes, depending on your particular storage needs.
If you are storing full beer bottles, you’ll want to keep them cool. According to Beer Cartel, you should store your beers at or slightly above your preferred serving temperatures. Lighter beers need to be stored at cooler temperatures than stronger beers.
If you don’t have space in your fridge, keep the beer stored in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. A basement or cellar would be ideal. Unrefrigerated storage works particularly well for stronger beers with higher alcohol content.
If you’re storing empty beer bottles, keep them clean and dry. You can store them anywhere you have space, but it’s best to keep them out of direct light and avoid wide temperature fluctuations, which may cause the glass to crack.
Before filling them, you’ll want to take your bottles out of storage soon enough to wash, dry, and sanitize them completely.
How to Dry Beer Bottles
To dry beer bottles, you’ll want to let them air dry thoroughly using a bottle rack. First, wash them in warm, soapy water and rinse well. Then place the bottles upside down on the rack and set them in a dry location with plenty of airflow. Wait at least a day to ensure all the rinse water has evaporated and the bottles are fully dry.
How to Sanitize Beer Bottles
- HIGH FOAMING- This sanitizer produces foam with little agitation for penetration into those cracks and crevices of equipment
- CONVENIENT NO-RINSE FORMULA- With only a 30 second contact time, this sanitizer doesn't need to be rinsed off When left to dry on stainless steel at certain concentrations, it will passivate and protect the equipment
- SAFE AND EASY TO USE - Comes in an easy dosing dual-neck bottle with built-in measurements
The best way to sanitize beer bottles is to use a brew sanitizer. Simply spray on the sanitizer, allow it to foam and clean all the cracks and crevices, then either rinse away the sanitizer or allow it to evaporate. Most brew sanitizers contain a no-rinse formula, but be sure and check with the specific sanitizer you use.
After sanitizing, wait until the vessels are completely dry once again. Then you’re ready to fill them with fresh, delicious, home-brewed beer.
Wrap Up
Keeping your beer fresh and your bottles intact is essential if you brew your own beer or if you have a large collection of beers. You don’t want your beer to age beyond its best quality, and you certainly don’t want to find a bunch of broken, poorly-stored bottles the next time you need them for a batch of home-brew.
Remember to keep your beers cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight. Keep empty bottles in a place where they won’t break, and keep them away from extreme temperatures.
In this article, we’ve looked at some of the top products for storing your beers and beer bottles. We’ve also talked about cleaning and drying methods.