Avery the Beast Grand Cru Ale

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by tx_beer_man, Feb 17, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. tx_beer_man

    tx_beer_man Pundit (902) Jan 22, 2013 Texas
    Trader

    Fellow BAs, I just found three Avery Demons of Ale Series The Beast Grand Cru, released July '12. They were sitting in a liqour stores' beer fridges. I estimate 40 degrees. My money's on these bottles being here since July.

    Question is, do I place in my cooler @55F or in my home fridge? I figure leaving in my closet would be too extreme a temperature change. Thoughts?
     
    #1 tx_beer_man, Feb 17, 2013
  2. tx_beer_man

    tx_beer_man Pundit (902) Jan 22, 2013 Texas
    Trader

    Probably colder. Same fridges as all beers including buds, coronas, lagunitas, Abita.
     
    #2 tx_beer_man, Feb 17, 2013
  3. Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky

    Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2013 Minnesota

    Congrats on the find!

    As I understand it, it depends on how quickly you want them to age. Colder temps slow the aging process and warmer ones speed it up. A fridge is usually around 35F, which is too cold to see much change. According to BA (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30/15619), the ideal cellar temp is 45-50F. Is this only a beer fridge or is there food in it too?
     
    #3 Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky, Feb 17, 2013
  4. Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky

    Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2013 Minnesota

    Oh sorry, I need to learn how to read... you have a cooler. I don't know from experience if 55F is too much for this particular beer, but I'd think you would be okay. The high ABV will help.
     
    #4 Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky, Feb 17, 2013
  5. tx_beer_man

    tx_beer_man Pundit (902) Jan 22, 2013 Texas
    Trader

    Yeah 16 ABV, and no food just a wall long beer fridge. And gracias, the find was legit! It's the reason why I drop into these suburban liquor stores.. You just never know. I popped a Grand Cru when I got home and it is drinking like candy now warmed up.
     
    #5 tx_beer_man, Feb 17, 2013
  6. tx_beer_man

    tx_beer_man Pundit (902) Jan 22, 2013 Texas
    Trader

    So you don't think the temp change in this beer that's been around 35F for half a year to my beer cooler that's at 55F? I have an extra small cooler...maybe keep that one for brews ageable at 45. I presumed 50-55 would be great for all beer cellaring. What beers are good for 45?
     
    #6 tx_beer_man, Feb 17, 2013
  7. Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky

    Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2013 Minnesota

    My rule of thumb is that 50-55F is good for big dark beers (e.g., imperial stouts, porters, some strong dark ales) but lighter colored beers (e.g., saisons, tripels/quads, barleywines) need to be at 45-50F. Light colored beers tend to only be good in their first 3 yrs because the hop flavor fades first, but if they have a high ABV it makes them more like dark beers that often can go past 5 yrs. You can probably age any beer at any temp between 40 and 55, just know that lower temps slow the change and higher temps speed it up.

    If you really want to experiment, buy two of the same kind of beer and store each at a different temp for a year. Then crack 'em both open and see if you can tell the difference.
     
    #7 Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky, Feb 17, 2013
  8. tx_beer_man

    tx_beer_man Pundit (902) Jan 22, 2013 Texas
    Trader

    Thank you sir!
     
    #8 tx_beer_man, Feb 18, 2013
  9. drgarage

    drgarage Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2008 California

    Definitely don't let this one go too long -- I had a 5-year-old bottle that tasted like paint thinner.
     
    #9 drgarage, Feb 18, 2013
  10. tx_beer_man

    tx_beer_man Pundit (902) Jan 22, 2013 Texas
    Trader

    Very good to know. Thanks. The one I had the other day reminded me of a Houston favorite, Saint Arnold Divine Reserve '12, except a whole lot better.
     
    #10 tx_beer_man, Feb 18, 2013
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.