I generally like to hold off as long as possible. If you can't wait to
crack on open just put ONE in the fridge. If that brew isn't ready yet,
you only downed one and not more.

You don't need to refridgerate your brew to extend the shelf life. As
long as it's stored at the same temp as it was fermented at and not in
any direct light it will last a long time. You only need to
refridgerate when you're ready to drink them.

When I used to bottle I would only chill a six pack at a time and I
always tried to leave a six pack stored for aging. But since I started
kegging it usually gets drank before it ever makes it to a bottle.