Beers that you HAVE to age

I feel like any first-use barrel beer tends to need some aging if it's had liquor/wine in it. That said, always worth a side by side before devoting the time/space to aging.

 

I could not disagree more on Backwoods Bastard, I have never seen much benefit with age.

I am not sure I have a beer that must be aged though I think Expedition Stout benefits from age more than any I have come across. I like it fresh, though admittedly it can be a bit rough, with age I believe it goes from rather good to excellent. I do not believe there is a beer that ages better, definitely the best Imperial Stout from three years on.

 

Personally, Cantillon Classic. Just way better with a few years on it. Most Cantillon have a sweet spot of 2-3 years in my experience, though I've had some that were aged for 6-7 years and were amazing.

 

I haven't had a single beer that HAD to be aged.

However, DFH Olde School most definitely benefits from a year of age.
Weyerbacher Insanity and North Coast Old Stock Ale are another pair I will drink fresh, but prefer after a year.

 

Deschutes The Dissident. I had one right after their enjoy by date. It was rough. I think 2-3 years on that beer will make it better.

 

According to Deschutes... all their bombers need aging.

 

Het Anker Cuvee van der Keizer Blauw really benefits from aging. When it's fresh the grape soda quality is too dominant for me; a few years brings all of the flavors into balance.

 

That 2011 sounds, awesome.

 

for me ten-fidy it does not has to be aged but wow when aged it is sublime had a 2009 so good

 

I know 2011, and 2011 is no Kate Upton. I thought it was like high fiving Katy Perry. It makes for a pretty cool story but its not something I care to repeat everyday.

 

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and Bell's Expedition Stout, I find both good when fresh but much better with one to three years aging.

 

Most people think JW Lees Harvest Ale is undrinkable until it has about 5 years on it. Lots of people can't stand fresh Samichlaus Classic or Helles. Though Laffler completely changed it for the better, there was a time when fresh Goose Island Bourbon County Stout tasted like someone dropped cigarette ashes in a $5 handle of whiskey and called it beer. You youngins' whining about how boozy it is today have no idea how spoiled you are.

I pretty much ignore Old Stock Ale from North Coast until it's 2 years old now. Occasionally I'll try it fresh to remind myself why I aged it in the first place.

 

Dark Lord is the fist one that comes to mind.

In regards to Backwoods, I actually like it fresh.

 

Did not know this. I had one yesterday and I thought it was good. Boozy and malty with a slight hop finish. The other 3 are coming out of the fridge and into a dark corner...

 

Pretty much any barleywine benefits greatly from at least one year of aging.
DFH Immort Ale
Founders Old Curmudgeon
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Lots....

 

I agree, except I had a 2009 last year and it brought up very similar flavors. I had fresh 2012 and it was damn good it just wasn't quit up to Kate Upton level :-D

As just mentioned totally Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, although that one I do love fresh (so much so I have to buy a case just to have any decent amount left to age) it ages better than any stout I've had.

BCBS I think with 3+ years on it is incredible. Any Deschutes bomber bottle at least a year past the drink after date with a few exceptions I do like fresh like Dissident I thought was unreal fresh, aged it's surreal. OH and Deschutes Collage even though a few months past the drink after still needs another 6 months I think.

 

Agree with kzoobrew re Expedition. Dig it fresh when I'm into a bit of a rough edge, and like to put some back too. Wws too. Like it fresh but love it aged. 3rd coast is a different brew with bout 3 years behind it. Depends on whether you prefer a hoppy edge or that buttery thing (put me down for the latter, but nothing wrong with the former). Beast (definitely prefer with some age) and Samael's develop into something very different with time. Backwoods is straight up bad-ass IMO, wonderful fresh with all the in your face barrel character, or aged with a mellow complexity. Can't wait to try the 2013. Some beer geek pals also bemoaned 2011 as too "boozy" fresh but I loved it.

 

How so much we think what is we go into not for knowing there cannot be unto us for the time....
World wide stout gets mo betta