Aging Cigar City..

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by kell50, Sep 18, 2013.

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  1. kell50

    kell50 Pooh-Bah (2,272) Jul 25, 2007 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I have a 750ml bottle of a 2011 Good Gourd in my "cellar." I absolutely wanted to age it 1 year and drink it the following year (2012), however I kinda forgot about it last fall season and didn't open it. Any idea if it will hold up? I do realize this is a high abv beer and should hold up, but with the spices I'm beginning to wonder if I waited too long.

    Thoughts? Comments?
     
  2. shand

    shand Pooh-Bah (2,166) Jul 13, 2010 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I've never aged a Good Gourd, but spiced beers tend to hold up pretty decently, and Good Gourd is higher up there in ABV. It's probably not going to get better though, drink it ASAP.
     
  3. BrettHead

    BrettHead Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2010 Nebraska

    Only one way to find out; what is done can't be undone.
     
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  4. LuisQ

    LuisQ Initiate (0) Jan 9, 2013 Florida

    Drink it now. I don't see how any more time will affect this is in a hugely positive way. Crack it and let us know. I have 2 sitting from this year that I'm planning on either drinking or aging dependent on your conclusions. don't let me down. lol.
     
  5. ehammond1

    ehammond1 Initiate (0) Jul 4, 2008

    How come?
     
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  6. kell50

    kell50 Pooh-Bah (2,272) Jul 25, 2007 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I had a buddy in Florida tell me to sit on it for a year. He told me a year did wonders to the beers flavor profile. I've NEVER had GG and going to be majorly upset if I ruined it. I'll keep you folks posted.

    Thanks for responding!
     
  7. BrettHead

    BrettHead Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2010 Nebraska

    It tastes superb fresh...
     
  8. ehammond1

    ehammond1 Initiate (0) Jul 4, 2008

    I'd always recommend trying a beer fresh versus aging it, as a default. If you think it needs more time in the bottle, then decide to age it. (This is my personal preference, but it seems to make the most sense, personally. Regardless, I hope you enjoy your beer!)
     
  9. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,502) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah

    I would think fresh would be better... It's good fresh.
     
  10. BAstoutsNsours

    BAstoutsNsours Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2012 Florida

    Most CCB beers were not built for aging.
     
  11. VladTepes

    VladTepes Initiate (0) Oct 18, 2012 Finland

    Most beers are not.
     
  12. Skrypt

    Skrypt Initiate (0) Mar 8, 2010 Florida

    I was on the tour at CCB this weekend, and Bob specifically recommended cellaring Good Gourd for a year.

    However, CCB force carbonates all their beers, so 2+ years will see some fall off in quality, from what I hear. I've never had anything from CCB aged 2+ years in the bottle.
     
  13. voodoofish65usf

    voodoofish65usf Initiate (0) Aug 16, 2013 Kentucky

    Should White Oak Jai Alai be cellared/aged? I know that IPA's should be consumed as fresh as possible, but was curious about this one as it is already aged on White Oak. I am also curious about The Last Spike. I have a bottle and wanted to wait to drink it with friends, but do not want to wait too long for fear that it might lose flavor.
     
  14. Skrypt

    Skrypt Initiate (0) Mar 8, 2010 Florida

    WOJA isn't really "aged" on white oak, and most beers (sours aside) with such a low ABV (7.5%) don't benefit from cellaring. Even when you age 120 minute IPA, it really turns into more of a barleywine; less and less hop character and more maltiness. Considering the huge role of floral hops in WOJA, I'd say even with a higher ABV it wouldn't cellar well.
     
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  15. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Drink those beers!!
    The only beers I'd considering aging from CCB would be high ABV stouts and BA'd stuff.
    So Hunahpu, Zhukov, Life is Like, Leon, Forgotten Island, and 110k batch 6.
    Maybe Sour Guava Grove to see if it would gain tartness.
     
  16. rc51sport

    rc51sport Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2013 North Carolina

    How beneficial is it to even age Hunahpu? I understand barrel aging it or cellaring a Zhukov. I have never sampled a Hunahpu with some age on it so never experienced the difference it would make.wouldn't the age just fade the spices and goodies added? Or is the idea just to soften the flavors? I've never had a Huna that wasn't barrel aged or treated on ghost chillies so I wouldn't know how overpowering the spices are. Just curious.
     
  17. jloomis

    jloomis Pundit (948) Jan 6, 2010 Florida
    Trader

    2011 and 2012 are drinking phenomenally right now (just had both within the last month, the last of 2011), but then again they were perfect when fresh as well. Time does diminish some of the heat from the peppers, but it really is a beer that holds up well.
     
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  18. shand

    shand Pooh-Bah (2,166) Jul 13, 2010 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    2013 Huna is probably in a sweet spot right now. I had a 2012 a few months ago and it was absolutely not better than it was fresh, the peppers had really fallen off and they're a big part of what makes Hunahpu what it is.
     
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  19. wiltznucs

    wiltznucs Initiate (0) Jun 27, 2013 Florida

    The El Catador keg of last years GG was fantastic. Better than the current release IMHO..
     
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  20. kell50

    kell50 Pooh-Bah (2,272) Jul 25, 2007 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society



    That's awesome to hear! I'm planning on popping mine this upcoming weekend with friends.
     
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