[dons]

In latest Zymurgy, the recipe for Bell's 2 hearted states that you should "cold age" for a week.
My latest attempt at a "clone" (NB Dead Ringer) has no such aging noted.  

Presuming that I can figure out a way to cold age:

1.  what would be the temperature to shoot for?
2.  is this the same as lagering?
3.  what is the reason for doing this and what will I lose if I do not do it?

[gordonstrong]

Just guesses, but:

1. 40F
2. Pretty much, except you aren't using lager yeast so the yeast isn't really doing as much.
3. To smooth out flavor and maybe clarify the beer.  Not much.  Might be a touch 'rougher'.

It's pretty much what you'd do with a Kolsch or Alt.

[narvin]

Any (well, most) beers benefit from cold aging.  I wouldn't do it with a Hefeweizen but many others could use a week or so at 35 - 40 to drop out sediment.  It's not as aggressive as filtering, but I think it really helps remove unwanted flavors that come from flocculating yeast and hop sediment that gradually make their way to the bottom of your keg and come out in the first few pours.

I don't filter at home, but I've tasted a hoppy beer at a local brewery right before filtering and then after, and you really do get a crisper, more prominent bitterness when you remove the yeast.

Bottle conditioned beers will clear on their own in the fridge, but it's easier to pour when you don't have a big cake of junk at the bottom of each bottle.