At What Point Does one have TOO many?

Dude, let me be the first to say, "You've gone over the edge."

 

I've struggled w/ this too, in fact you've described my situation very accurately. A year of irrational exuberance led to a "cellar" (a bunch of boxes in my garage) full of beer plus a fully stocked beer fridge - totaling up to around 330 bottles, now around 280. I've managed it carefully, always moving the more perishable beers into the beer fridge and drinking them before they head downhill. I have an Excel spreadsheet with every bottle listed, complete with vintage, bottle size, quantity, etc. But yes, a balancing act is a great descriptor. I keep buying the new releases as they come out, although instead of six or a dozen I'm now buying two or four.

To answer your question though, I'd say you have too many when you feel compelled to drink just to stay on top of it all. It has taken some effort, time, and discipline, but I'm finally at a point where I can take a break for a while without worrying that any of this beer will go to waste. I've reviewed an average of more than 1 beer per day since June 2011, but that has slowed down considerably of late. At this point most of what I have, like you, is good for a couple years or more. And I have about 60 bottles that need to be consumed over the next year or so. Just try not to go overboard on the collecting and you'll find a manageable level.

 

Let me know if you need some help with those! Cheers man ~

 

if I have more than 50 bottles on hand it's time to open 'em or pass 'em off. I don't have my cellar here in RI though, so those beers are separate. About 60 bottles in long term storage in CT.

 

If you're having excess beer problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but too much beer aint one.
Seriously, first world problems... I don't even know what to say.

 

Honestly though. Name one thread ever on BA that was more than a first world problem.

 

I think for me one too many is having beers you look at and realize you know that particular one is past its prime. Couldve been a case of ill open it then or at this tasting. However that reason happened and now that bottle is a waste. Afterall, its just beer.

Cheers!

 

Ya you got a point.

To the OP. There are many starving BA's in America (many of which cannot even purchase more than a couple KBS due to bottle limits.. just sad). Your donation of just one beer a day can be enough to feed one of these poor, helpless people. Please donate now. We'll send you photos of the BA you choose to adopt enjoying your beers in their proper glassware. You can watch him/her grow as they are nourished by your properly cellared brews. Act now, operators are standing by.

 

start drinking....one a day keeps the bad beers away...

 

This is why I'm only aging a few beers, and I try to keep my buying rate at my drinking rate. Sometimes you just have to stop yourself from buying new beers until you drink some down, but it's worth it to make sure it doesn't get out of control.

 

You, my good sir, sound like the tipping point

 

I am in full support of this statement, if you will allow it, I will happily by the poster boy for this campaign.

 

Here's an extract from a conversation I had with my wife last weekend related this topic.


Me walking in the house with my latest mini haul.

Wife: Wait a minute. Stop right there. Is that beer in your bag?
Me: Aw.... let me look. (sticking my head in the bag) Seems like beer.
Wife: More beer? Do you need anymore beer? There's beer in virtually every cupboard in the kitchen. It dominates the fridge. Its in our bedroom. In your wardrobe.
Me: Well....
Wife: Right! Right now I want you to sit down and drink some of that beer. A couple at least. Right now. Don't argue. And I want to see you drink that beer.
Me pulling out a class from the cupcoard and opening a Rothaus Pilsner.
Wife: And I want some more drunk tomorrow. Do you understand?

Now that is the point where just have too many. Its a tough life.

 

The detailed Excel spreadsheet is hardcore, actually not a bad idea for one feeling overwhelmed.

Priceless!

 

Start drinking. Give some bottles away, invite some friends over, get bombed a couple of times a week, etc. Don't buy anything else.

 

When you can't find a bottle in under a half hour, or can't get to some at all because too many others block them, or you run out of energy before moving cases to get to the case you want to open, then you have too many. Also, if you don't have an actual cool dark cellar to store them, or DBF, however many you have is too many. I am approaching the stage of can't get to some due to others blocking.

There is a solution however, an easy and fun solution at that, and it is...

Invite some friends and drink them!

 

when you start forgetting what you even have and letting bottles get past their prime. have some people over and start opening 6+ bottles at a time to thin the collection.

 

I only hang onto a few beers to age, and most of them are beers that I really loved in the first place; the others are a few that came in 4- or 6-packs, of which I wasn't a big fan, but figured they'd have some aging potential so I figured I'd just stick them away. While this limits the overall amount in there, if I find something in there that I really just forgot about, I usually drink it soon after. I figure that if I didn't care enough about the beer to remember it was in there, it probably didn't need to be in there.