When do you drink that "Special" beer?

About the closest I come to this is saving favorite beers such as Abyss or Prairie Pirate Bomb/Noir for holidays. I don't wind up sharing them because I'm the only beer drinker in the family, though I do offer.

 

When I won the Central Waters Ardea Insignis lottery last spring, I only saved one bottle for myself out of the 4. I drank it solo last night just because why not. Sort of pre-celebration for a vacation that begins this coming Friday. The 'special enough' occasions to open those big bottles never seem to materialize for me, so I've adopted the more pragmatic approach of the opening of the special bottle being the special occasion. Some of the best beers I've ever had were the random "what the hell why not" bottles on a midweek night.

The uber boozy beers like Bruery stuff or anything over 14% I do hang onto until I have someone I can share with.

 

The only beer that I have sitting aside for a specific occasion is a 2014 Black Tuesday, the year my son was born. I plan on holding onto it until his 21st birthday, at which point we will drink it together. I don't have high hopes for how it will taste, but I thought that if any stout has a chance of being drinkable at that age, a ~20% version would stand the best chance. It will be a cool experiment and experience regardless of how it turns out.

 

I tend to put aside certain beers for certain days. I have a vintage Jester King pulled for my upcoming Birthday, a 2015 Abyss to be cracked for Christmas dinner, and 2015 Cascade Kriek for Easter. Since I'm the only fancy beer drinker, I can save those for holidays knowing I won't have to share even when I offer to share it.

 

I just looked at my checkins, and it seems like I drink them whenever. Most seem to be on a weekend when I can sit and relax, but I had Prop 13 on a random Monday and Rare on a Tuesday. I drink the vast majority at home, so at best I share a pour with family.

I did plan on a good one for my birthday this year, and I hope to save one or two for when my friend in Denver comes in.

 

My thoughts are that beer is meant to be enjoyed. If the bottle breaks or something happens, I would be a real disappointment. That being said I have few beers sitting around I want to try but they are in 750ml bottles and I can't bear the thought of drinking $20+ by myself. So they will have to sit until a good friend comes along to share the bottle with me.

 

When ever the mood strikes me. Or occasionally when a good friend of mine who knows what I have in my cellar requests we share something I've been saving for awhile.

Eric

 

I'd have to hunt down a 1988 vintage beer at this point. Bourbon is a more workable solution there...

 

I'm coming home from Afghanistan next month for 2 weeks on R&R in the middle of a 1 year deployment so I'll be drinking anything and everything I can get my hands on during that time. It's been a LONG deployment already. On the plus side, my liver is probably thankful for the booze hiatus! lmfao

 

That sure calls for some special beers!

 

I keep my special beers for an otherwise lousy day that needs to be turned in to special one.

 

Three years ago, I was at Hair of the Dog. They had a 1 litre Adam from the Wood - one of my favorite beers. I bought it. It cost me a pretty penny. But I'm saving it for my 50th birthday - in two more years.

 

Indeed it does!!!!! BUT, haven't had a beer in about 5 months now (it'll be over 6 when I go on leave), I'm sure those beers will be that much better.

 

There are a few occasions for my "special" beers:

1. When my girls were born. Each time I brought multiple "special" bottles for me and everyone that was around.
2. I like to pack a special bottle in my checked luggage when I go on a real vacation. My family and I love cruising, so I'll usually bring a bottle and drink it the night prior to boarding the ship.

Then weddings, birthdays, Christmas, etc. All good reasons to dig in! Beer is meant to be drank and besides for the couple of verticals I am putting together, I don't plan on any beer sitting in my cellar for more than 12 months.

 

Is this your first deplyment? Serious question-- only reason I ask is because it took me nearly 6 months to get back into craft after I deployed to Iraq. Was seriously scared that I wouldn't be able to have a palette for beer anymore lol. I guess my taste buds had gone feral in that time, or maybe it was all that drinking water kept in plastic water bottles left out in the blazing desert sun for months...

Glad to have ya back, make sure you keep your bearing and stay safe when you get back. Sad to hear of troops splattering themselves on I-5 at 100+ mph while wearing only shorts and flip flops while under the influence.

 

Not hardly man. I'm a 8 year Marine Corps veteran. Deployed a few times in the Corps. Now I'm a civilian deployer with the Department of Defense. I haven't deployed in quite a few years, but it's not my first. I'll get my palate acclimated again in NO time. lol

 

Right on man. Good on you, when I first tasted a RIS when I got back I couldn't finish it, and RIS is my favorite style. I remember thinking "dear god what Have I been doing collecting beer that no longer tastes good to me!" That changed after some time, but man it was scary for a bit

Of course you marines are the manly ones of the bunch-- have a great Air Force day!