2014 beers worth aging for DECADES

Sucre should last that long? That's exciting. Got my hands on one bottle. Any recommendations on ideal aging time?

 

American and English Barleywines. Although the American barleywines will turn into English barleywines by year 10+ as the hop character fades away. Mother of All Storms, Sucaba, Central Waters BBBW, Bigfoot.

 

bud light is know to slightly improve with about 63 years on it.

 

This one may improve or at least hold up to age, but that's only because when you start at rock bottom, there's nowhere to go but up.

 

As a lot of folks have pointed out, lambics are probably the way to go for 10+ years. Most stouts and barleywines top out at around 3 years, maybe 5 for the best contenders. Some really rare exceptions that can go a bit longer are Fred, Adam, JW Lees, and North Coast Old Stock, but most of these will probably only go 10-20 before dropping off. Smoked beers are another possibility. Alaskan Smoked Porter (as Bitterbill mentioned) holds up etremely well. I've had 15 year old bottles that have been good. I was talking to a professional brewer at a bottle share that included many vintages of this beer and he said that smoked malts act as a preservative. Maybe he was full of crap, but my limited anecdotal evidence is in line with this suggestion.

Another idea that might be cool is getting one beer (either current vintages of the same beer or different beers) at each major anniversary or milestone and doing a huge vert at, say 25 or 50 years.

Best of luck finding some good candidates!

 

Expedition and Third Coast Old Ale. Both can go 15-20 years and remain very enjoyable

 

Honestly, i would do your same idea but with wine. I know this is a beer forum but when your talking about 5-10 years out i think you are definetly taking a risk with anything you choose.

I've heard of a lot of couples doing this same idea but with wine. Find a style and vintage you both love....buy a case and crack one open on anniversaries. I mean, maybe you both dont like wine....but thats just my personal advice

 

I know I am repeating myself but I truly think the only answer for the 5+ years is lambic.

 

By reputation alone I am going to recommend Courage Russian Imperial Stout, Sam Adams Utopias, and Sierra Nevada Bigfoot. I can vouch for J.W. Lees Harvest Ale out to about 13 years.

 

This is actually a great suggestion (albeit very pricey), I'm shocked it took this long for it to come up (and that I didn't think of that earlier).

 

Hel & Verdoemenis Bourbon B.A. - Brouwerij De Molen

Bottle says it can be aged 25 years

 

Can't say for sure but I would suggest any of the big Bruery beers (BT, CR, Anniversary Beers, Holiday beers). With the 16%+ ABV on these beers plus big bottle format I imagine they will last for up to 10 years and be great bottles to split for a special occasion. I'm in the Reserve Society and have been stashing a few bottles of each vintage with the purpose of aging them for 5-10 years.

 

Found a case of MGD backpacking a while back. Brought a few home to look up the date codes, they were around 8 yrs iirc, tasted salty and gose-like, actually really good and improved.

 

I didn't see this post when i made the exact same post. Sorry for anyone who read mine and thought i was being redundant.

 

I've aged a ten fidy for a year. Pretty tasty. I plan on doing it again.

 

I think I'd do this:

- Imperial Stouts for 1st, 2nd, 4th anniversaries
- Barleywine at 3rd, 6th, 9th anniversaries
- Old ale at 7th, 11th, etc anniversaries
- Gueuze at 5th, 10th, 15th anniversaries
- Belgian quad for 8th anniversary
- HOTD Adam anytime after that... the stuff will go 25-30 years no problem, depending on the batch

None of that takes into consideration weather though... if it turns out hot and sunny that day, probably would rather sub in a gueuze in place of the stout etc.

 

Given that HOTD has only been around for 20 years, and that there have been a number of unfavorable reviews of early Adam batches in the last couple years; I wonder what you base this on? I say this as someone whose cellar is 25% HOTD, but who still considers gueze a better long term aging bet.

 

That stuff is like motor oil already, how'd you get it out of the can?