Top 5 Beers to age!

i agree with jegross that all FW barrel-aged beers taste best fresh-6months. Obviously you could name any geuze. But in my experience, age has been ok to these beers in these time frames. These are just my opinions which are subjective to my taste. I generally like most non-lambics to be fresh. Going with easier to get beers here..

abyss / fresh-1year
black butte annys / 1 year
big foot / 2-7 years. Havent had older than 7 years
world wide stout / 2-4 years. Havent had older than 4 years
Stone RIS / 6months-3 years
adam / depends on the batch, but have had good and slightly less good experiences from fresh to 8 years
bourbon county / fresh-3 years
arctic devil / fresh-3 years
orval / fresh-5 years, havent had older
gratitude / fresh- 5years, havent had older
expedition / fresh- 3 years, havent had older

 

And the second question is 'For how long'?

 

I enjoy Old Rasputin and Chimay blue aged in addition to what has already been listed

 

Same question. I've got three bottles of 3F Oude Geuze and am curious what age points I should consider cracking 'em open at...

 

Totally forgot about Chimay, I'm really not much of a fan of the Grand Reserve when it's fresh, it's too hot for my tastes. That's a good one for the list!

 

Same problem here with my fonteinen oude geuze Armand & Tommy and especially that 750.ml bottle of Cantillon Saint Lamvinus with the December 2012 before date. Surely that could go for a few years yet.

 

Most that I would've mentioned are already posted above except one... Anchor Xmas Ales. I have these back to 87 and I have a buddy who has them back to 76. Back in 06, we did a vertical back to 78 and they were all very good except 89.

 

Stone RIS
Dark Lord
Bourbon County
King Henry
Pliny The Elder

 

While I have my own opinion (always changing) and my own experience (also always changing) this is a matter of taste for YOU to decide. For example, what car gets the best gas mileage? (Depends how you drive); what running shoe will last the longest? (Depends how, where and when you run). What region makes the best wine, or the best BBQ or the best anything? Again....depends on your taste and experience.

All of the people that have responded "are right." They are right since there is no right answer. They are right since they comment from their experience and their own taste and as it should be. (There are people out there, by the way, and who likely are not reading this or responding....that would say no beer ages "the best" or at all - it's all "best" fresh. Again, opinion, taste and experience).

I say experiment. Use all of the responses for guidance but taste things fresh and determine what YOU think may age. And, remember....aging just means "change." It doesn't necessarily mean better. Generally, flavor profiles soften. There can be or might be a greater integration of flavors. Remember, however, alcohol never changes; it's always there with the same abv as when bottled. Generally, aging is an oxidation and "softening" more than anything else.

Experiment for yourself; that's the fun of it. (At least for me. JMO).

 

I decided to stash a pliny away for a year, I'm excited to see how it turns out.

 

how can you age pliny the elder it only is served on tap and is not bottled?
this thread is getting a little ridiculous
let me tell you that i have pretty good knowledge of aging beers and keep them at a constant 45-50 degrees
i think that most big beers will age well but the key is to stand upright and keep a a constant temp
a regular refrigerator will be too cold

 

I have a 6er of Ithaca Flower Power, DFH Burton Baton, DFH 90min, Troegs Nugget Nectar, Harpoon Imperial IPA, and ST 2XIPA that I put away two years ago this Feb that I am seriously looking forward to trying. I have really high hopes for NN, BB, and 90min. I believe they have enough malt backbone to make these perfectly cellered brews shine... we'll see I guess.

 

I just drank a North Coast Old Stock Ale from 2007 tonight. It was sublime. Stock up on this stuff if you can, as it won't disappoint.

Cheers,
Jeff

 

If I had to pick 5, I'd say I was most impressed with vintages of:

Stone IRS
Bigfoot
BCBS
Expedition
Adam

 

Definitely. It's not a top 5 because there is none of it aged yet. But it will be great once there are.

 

I can't say what the "best" 5 are to age because that's subjective. However, what I have in the cellar and am looking forward to the most are:

Tilquin Oude Gueze
Stone IRS
Parabola
WWS
120
Mephistopheles
honorable mention to Oude Tart

Nothing too crazy. I will be adding Brooklyn Chocolate Stout, BCBS, Narwhal, and Expedition in the next couple months as they become available.

 

Almost anything from Avery.

 

Not sure about your knowlege of aging, but your knowlege of Pliny is lacking.

 

Oh, I forgot to add Mikkeller Black. I'm excited to see a little age tame it down into something delicious.