Answers.Body: <p>There may be a general consensus for the "proper" serving temperature, which could involve questions like "what do <em>most</em> people seem to like?", and "what temperature does the brewer feel best accentuates the parts of the beer they want to highlight?".  So there are good reasons for beer to be served at particular temperatures.  In the case of your British bitters, age-old recipes were probably designed to allow the beer to taste its best at room temperature.  As for a modern British beer, I suppose that would depend on what the brewer had in mind.</p>
  
  <p>That said, my general thought is that you should drink a beer at the temperature you most like it, so the <em>should</em> part of your question is self-determined, and don't let anyone tell you that your taste buds are wrong.</p>
  
  <p>Myself, I tend to like my American IPAs cooler than the typical recommended serving temperature.  And before I visited the UK, I couldn't stand a room temperature beer.  Then, after a week in Tunbridge Wells, I picked up a large appreciation for hand-pumped UK beer, served at room temp.  So you should open yourself to trying new things as well.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-29T17:02:05.153Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-29T17:02:05.153Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: object88
Answers.Body: <p>Just like everyone else said, it's a preference. I alway say that the darker the beer, the warmer it has to be, so here are my rules:<br>
  - <strong>Light beer/White beer/Kriek</strong>: In the fridge and goes in the freezer for a couple of minutes before serving<br>
  - <strong>Golden beer</strong>: In the fridge<br>
  - <strong>Amber beer</strong>: In the fridge and stay at room temperature for a couple of minutes before serving<br>
  - <strong>Dark beer</strong>: At room temperature and goes in the fridge before serving<br>
  - <strong>Stout</strong>: At room temperature at all time.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-30T08:40:00.120Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-30T08:40:00.120Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: DeadlyJesus
Answers.Body: <p>It's always going to be a matter of preference. I prefer most beers around 55-60 but do not hesitate to drink beer at room temperature. Some styles are more enjoyable approaching room temperature. </p>
  
  <p>Historically, most beer was served at cellar temperature to room temperature, depending upon what was available. That isn't just an English tradition. Any beer can be consumed warm and drinking it ice cold as mass produced lagers are usually served tends to hide most of the flavor that you are paying for in a good beer. Give it a try and see what you like. Maybe you don't like your beer a little warmer. Enjoy what you like.</p>
  
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Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-06-09T13:57:31.487Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: reverseapachemaster
Answers.Body: <p>The basic rule is that beers should be served at the temp they were fermented. Lagers should be served at about 40°F and ales around 50°F - 55°F.  Having said this I usually like my beers a little colder on a warm summer day. Try this experiment:  </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>chill your beer to 35°F - 40°F and pour about 2/3 of it into the proper glass for that beer. </li>
  <li>Drink at least 4 or 5 sips, gulps, or however you typically consume it. </li>
  <li>Then put what is left in the microwave for about 20 seconds (time will vary with the output of the microwave).  This will reduce the carbonation some so pour the other third right in the middle of the glass without tipping the glass to get some head, on the beer that is. </li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>It makes a big difference on some beers. less on others. Also try different types of glasses and see what you like. Remember, everybody's palates are different and yours will vary depending on several factors such as, what you've been eating or drinking, how much beer you've already consumed, and how tired you are. It's a good idea to eat a bite or two of good bread like a baguette to cleanse your palate between samples. The above does not apply to mass produced lagers.</p>
  
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Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-01-28T05:36:20.993Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-01-28T05:36:20.993Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user4080
Answers.Body: <p>First, let's say there is what is considered "proper", and then there is personal-preference. To be a good Cicerone, know what is "proper" but also show tolerance for personal preference.</p>
  
  <p>With that out the way, it's definitely considered the "proper" thing to do to serve English beers warmer than ice-cold. Many of the delicate malty flavours you get from English malt, the fruitiness from esters produced by the English yeast, plus grassy, herbal or floral tones from the hops are muted greatly when the beer is served too cold. </p>
  
  <p>Some people say it's served at room room temperature. Modern room temperature of around 20&deg;C/68&deg;F is too warm. The ideal serving temperature is a cold cellar - typically around 12&deg;C;55&deg;F. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-30T04:59:24.017Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-30T04:59:24.017Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: mdma
Answers.Body: <p>Serving temperature is, of course, a preference.  Serve it frozen or boiling if you want.  However, a few opinions are:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><a href="http://www.camra.org.uk/beerinthepub" rel="nofollow">CAMRA says</a> that Real Ale (aka cask ale, usually english-style) should be served at 12-14 °C (54-57 °F), which is colder than room temperature, but warmer than your usually keg beer.</li>
  <li><a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/Story.asp?StoryID=479" rel="nofollow">Ratebeer says</a> the same thing regardless of whether it’s cask or not.</li>
  <li><a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/98/" rel="nofollow">BeerAdvocate says</a> 7-10 °C (45-50 °F) for an english bitter.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>So, if you’re looking for a rule of thumb: “cool but not super-cold” or “cellar temp” will probably get you close enough.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-29T17:05:42.310Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-05-11T21:31:38.223Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-05-11T21:31:38.223Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Fishtoaster
Body: <p>Given that the British tend to drink their beer at a higher temperature than those of us in the US, should beer brewed in an English style be consumed that way? The justification I can think of is: the people developing the taste of the beer probably consumed it at a certain temperature, which might have not been the ice-cold levels that predominate in the Colonies. </p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-05-10T02:15:16.273Z
Comments.Text: warm light beer in summer outside is a UK cultural wonder
Comments.UserDisplayName: Alex Hough
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-01-28T06:33:03.090Z
Comments.Text: I'd like to know how Guinness, in particular, should factor into this equation... It's Irish, I know. But, as far as concept - there are fascinatingly intricate serving rules associated with both the pour and temperature. I like it warm and cold..
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tim Burnett - Bassist
Tags: <brewing><temperature><taste>
Title: Should English/English-style beers be served warmer, since that is how the taste was developed?
UserDisplayName: Savage Henry
ThreadText: # Should English/English-style beers be served warmer, since that is how the taste was developed?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-29)
  
  Given that the British tend to drink their beer at a higher temperature than those of us in the US, should beer brewed in an English style be consumed that way? The justification I can think of is: the people developing the taste of the beer probably consumed it at a certain temperature, which might have not been the ice-cold levels that predominate in the Colonies.
  
  **Tags:** brewing, temperature, taste
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: warm light beer in summer outside is a UK cultural wonder  
  > **username_2**: I'd like to know how Guinness, in particular, should factor into this equation... It's Irish, I know. But, as far as concept - there are fascinatingly intricate serving rules associated with both the pour and temperature. I like it warm and cold..  
  
  ---
  
  ## 6 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2014-01-29. Score: 10 | Accepted answer
  
  Serving temperature is, of course, a preference. Serve it frozen or boiling if you want. However, a few opinions are:
  
  * [CAMRA says](http://www.camra.org.uk/beerinthepub) that Real Ale (aka cask ale, usually english-style) should be served at 12-14 °C (54-57 °F), which is colder than room temperature, but warmer than your usually keg beer.
  * [Ratebeer says](http://www.ratebeer.com/Story.asp?StoryID=479) the same thing regardless of whether it’s cask or not.
  * [BeerAdvocate says](http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/98/) 7-10 °C (45-50 °F) for an english bitter.
  
  So, if you’re looking for a rule of thumb: “cool but not super-cold” or “cellar temp” will probably get you close enough.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2014-01-29. Score: 2
  
  There may be a general consensus for the "proper" serving temperature, which could involve questions like "what do *most* people seem to like?", and "what temperature does the brewer feel best accentuates the parts of the beer they want to highlight?". So there are good reasons for beer to be served at particular temperatures. In the case of your British bitters, age-old recipes were probably designed to allow the beer to taste its best at room temperature. As for a modern British beer, I suppose that would depend on what the brewer had in mind.
  
  That said, my general thought is that you should drink a beer at the temperature you most like it, so the *should* part of your question is self-determined, and don't let anyone tell you that your taste buds are wrong.
  
  Myself, I tend to like my American IPAs cooler than the typical recommended serving temperature. And before I visited the UK, I couldn't stand a room temperature beer. Then, after a week in Tunbridge Wells, I picked up a large appreciation for hand-pumped UK beer, served at room temp. So you should open yourself to trying new things as well.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2014-01-30. Score: 1
  
  Just like everyone else said, it's a preference. I alway say that the darker the beer, the warmer it has to be, so here are my rules:  
  - **Light beer/White beer/Kriek**: In the fridge and goes in the freezer for a couple of minutes before serving  
  - **Golden beer**: In the fridge  
  - **Amber beer**: In the fridge and stay at room temperature for a couple of minutes before serving  
  - **Dark beer**: At room temperature and goes in the fridge before serving  
  - **Stout**: At room temperature at all time.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2015-06-09. Score: 1
  
  It's always going to be a matter of preference. I prefer most beers around 55-60 but do not hesitate to drink beer at room temperature. Some styles are more enjoyable approaching room temperature.
  
  Historically, most beer was served at cellar temperature to room temperature, depending upon what was available. That isn't just an English tradition. Any beer can be consumed warm and drinking it ice cold as mass produced lagers are usually served tends to hide most of the flavor that you are paying for in a good beer. Give it a try and see what you like. Maybe you don't like your beer a little warmer. Enjoy what you like.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2015-05-04. Score: 1
  
  The basic rule is that beers should be served at the temp they were fermented. Lagers should be served at about 40°F and ales around 50°F - 55°F. Having said this I usually like my beers a little colder on a warm summer day. Try this experiment:
  
  * chill your beer to 35°F - 40°F and pour about 2/3 of it into the proper glass for that beer.
  * Drink at least 4 or 5 sips, gulps, or however you typically consume it.
  * Then put what is left in the microwave for about 20 seconds (time will vary with the output of the microwave). This will reduce the carbonation some so pour the other third right in the middle of the glass without tipping the glass to get some head, on the beer that is.
  
  It makes a big difference on some beers. less on others. Also try different types of glasses and see what you like. Remember, everybody's palates are different and yours will vary depending on several factors such as, what you've been eating or drinking, how much beer you've already consumed, and how tired you are. It's a good idea to eat a bite or two of good bread like a baguette to cleanse your palate between samples. The above does not apply to mass produced lagers.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2014-01-30. Score: 0
  
  First, let's say there is what is considered "proper", and then there is personal-preference. To be a good Cicerone, know what is "proper" but also show tolerance for personal preference.
  
  With that out the way, it's definitely considered the "proper" thing to do to serve English beers warmer than ice-cold. Many of the delicate malty flavours you get from English malt, the fruitiness from esters produced by the English yeast, plus grassy, herbal or floral tones from the hops are muted greatly when the beer is served too cold.
  
  Some people say it's served at room room temperature. Modern room temperature of around 20°C/68°F is too warm. The ideal serving temperature is a cold cellar - typically around 12°C;55°F.
  
  
  ---
  
  