How to chill beer quickly and easily

December is here, and there's plenty to do! Here's our selection of the best plans in Buenos Aires. Schedules are packed with events, farewell parties, celebrations, and gatherings. Whether each guest brings something or the host is in charge of the drinks, keeping everything cold for the toast is a common concern for most hosts.

If your menu includes a charcuterie board or fresh dishes, there will likely be plenty of beer to pair with it. Here are some pairing suggestions: apart from the classic cheese and beer combo, for smoked tenderloin, a light beer like Imperial Golden works well. For Iberian ham, try an Imperial Lager. For deviled eggs or vitel toné, an Imperial IPA is a great match.

How to Chill Beer: Simple Tricks

Once you've chosen your menu and beer, the question arises: what's the best way to chill it? While the automatic response is "Use the freezer!" there are faster methods that help preserve the beer's flavors.

Why the Freezer Might NOT Be the Best Idea

Beer is about 90% water, and when chilled rapidly, it can freeze, causing it to lose some flavor and carbonation. The risk is ending up with a beer that tastes very different from what you initially placed in the freezer.

One of the best methods is the traditional approach: place the bottles in a bucket (preferably metal) with ice, add water, and a few tablespoons of salt. The salt lowers the freezing point, allowing the liquid and solid to reach below zero degrees. This cools the bottles in about 15 minutes.

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Another less conventional option is wrapping the beers in damp kitchen paper with a little salt and placing them in the freezer. In about 15 minutes, the temperature will drop by 10 degrees, and they'll be ready to enjoy. Key tip: Don’t forget the bottles in the freezer!

A classic bar trick is serving beer in a frozen glass. While this helps cool the drink, it can affect its flavor and properties. On one hand, it can get contaminated from the glass being stored with other freezer items. On the other, the ice layer causes the beer’s foam and carbonation to dissipate faster.

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A final method is using gel packs often used to keep medications cold. First, freeze the gel packs until they’re cold, then place them in a container with the beers. While this works, it’s a slower method.

Got All That? Next time you’re hosting or bringing Imperial cans to share, remember: with 15 minutes, ice, paper, and salt, you’ll have perfectly chilled beer with its flavor intact.