Best way to build up a cellar...

No real point to only buy one and cellar it. After all, the reasoning behind cellaring its to see how the beer changes over time, and you have to try it fresh to be able to appreciate the changes.
Chris

 

Win the lottery...

 

If its an expensive large-format bottle I generally buy 2 (one to drink, one to age). If its a cheaper or smaller format bottle I'll buy 4 or 5 to age and 1 or 2 to drink.

This is a perfect formula for doubling the amount of money you spend on beer.

 

I came here to say this.

 

I haven't bought new clothes in many years.

You bet your ass I bought a bottle of Fruet the other week though (had to try it).




.....as with most hobbys, you will have to invest some capital in buying the beer to start the cellar. You don't have to go chasing whales though, and can buy multiples of some affordable beers. Sure, they will add up over time, but your weekly/monthly beer budget won't be as bad

 

Stone IRS and Bigfoot. Cellaring doesn't have to be expensive to be enjoyable.

 

To add some cheaper options, I might say:
Old Ruffian
Yetti
Old Rasputin
Adam

 

Get a kegerator for your daily drinking needs. This will cut down on the temptation to raid the cellar.

 

I got started with like 6-9 each of a few different beers, with the hopes of drinking one of each every year to see how they age. Plus a few random goodies to drink whenever. It just gets bigger from there. So far its been awesome.

 

this touches on the point i came here to make: willpower. tough to build up a cellar when you're constantly drinking its contents.

 

I'm in the Buy 2 camp, so my "cellar" typically only has 1 of everything aging. But I also buy "daily drinking beer" too, so I have something good in there and am not tempted to open things "before their time." Works well so far

 

From Experience: I started a cellar and became obsessed with growing it...now my daughter can't go to college, my wife left me, and I live in a van down by the river (with my beer).

Not really, but seriously, I've learned that drinking the beer is the point. Stop putting massive amounts of beer in your basement cause there are a lot of people who want to actually drink it. I get trying to save so you can compare various years, but it gets out of hand...fast!

 

Same, the only "collection" I'm trying to grow is cascade bottles for which there is a relatively limited amount available...
I typically set aside times where the trading will stop (for a few months) and I can work down on the beer's I've collected...gotta make time to consume "special bottles." (special meaning they get to sit in your dank basement for some time.)

 

Just check out the "Cellar Pictures" thread for multiple examples. Damn beer hoarders....

 

1. Buy beers
2. Don't drink them

 

you on the wrong website bro

 

I quit drinking for about 6 months and traded my ass off!!, now I have a huge cellar! Will be posting pictures soon

 

Buy up some 6 packs of things that will cellar, many of the ones listed above are great. I would add Expedition Stout and Bell's Third Coast Old Ale. Buy 1 - 2 six packs a year and watch them grow.