What beers improve the most with aging?

Generally, higher ABV the better they age, if in right circumstances. Also, generally, darker beers age better than lighter. The couple exceptions that come to mind are Belgian Tripels, which are lighter but age well, and some lower ABV porters, doppelbocks, etc. IPAs usually do not age well because the hops fade very quickly, within a couple weeks. Most Imperial Stouts and Belgian beer over 6-7% age very well. Belgian Quads, Dubbels, Tripels, Strong Pale Ales, and Strong Dark Ales age well. Lambics/sours do some tricky things when the age, but most of this is considered good as far as I know. Anything over 10% that doesn't have a slew of hops in it is almost guaranteed to age well, too.

 

Bell's Expedition Stout.

I find that I prefer my beers fresh as well. I attribute that to being a hophead. I like the "crispness" that I find in fresh beer more than the muted/rounded/maltiness that aged beers have.

I would say that if there is one that is particularly "boozey" then I would let that sit for a while but that is because I don't drink hard alcohol.

 

Depends on what characteristics you like in your beer.. some Gueuze/other sours become more funky, some imperial stouts/barleywines will mellow out in terms of alcohol/more layers of flavor will develop.. it just totally depends on what it is you're actually looking for! The good news is, with beer, it isn't as expensive to sit on as wine. Try it out, see what happens, and if it doesn't work out, you know for next time!

 

Goose Island's Sofie.

 

I'd say Bourbon County is one of my favorite things to age. It's a little hot while fresh, but with 1-3 years on it, its sublime.

I also just had a great experience with 2012 Saison-Brett. Drank it side by side with the 2013 with RhyminBelmont.

 

I have found that Palo Santo Marron is one of my favorite beers aged (that isn't a barleywine or imperial stout). I had one with 3 years on it and compared it to fresh and the aged one blew it out of the water.

 

FMB. Damn near undrinkable fresh. Became delicious once it aged for a while.

 

I've had 2011, 2012 and 2013 Stone RIS and the older they get, the less heat is detected and the richer the body and mouthfeel. Lets hope that trend continues, as I want my (hopefully) complete vertical to be FAHKING delicious!

 

I had a vintage 2006 Westy 12 a few months ago....I reached beer nirvana.

 

DFH Worldwide Stout
DFH Palo Santo
Weyerbacher Quad

 

IMO and limited experience aging beers I think only beers that are very high ABV(11%+) will benefit from aging. I know not every one agrees with this and you can certainly age any beer you want. I've just felt stouts, porters, barleywines, and other beers in the 6 - 10% range will change with aging but usually not for the better. Again just in my limited experience. The higher abv beers tend to lose the heat that they have when they're young and are more likely to benefit from 6+ month cellaring.

Not too into sours so cant really speak to them specifically.

 

I had a 2 year old Smuttynose Baltic porter that was astonishingly good. I don't do much aging because if I'm buying expensive beers it's usually with an intent to drink them soon.

 

Alaskan Smoked Porter ages very nice

 

Much like Palo Santo Marion that has been mentioned, I think Burton Baton ages well. I love finding older bottles compared to fresh. Seems like it holds true for many oak/barrel aged beer.

 

DFH WWS is amazing with 5 years on it. Fresh I find the beer to be not that great, but once it hits three year old it is worth the big price tag and at five years old it becomes a steal at $10 a bottle.

 

definitely this. we did a vertical from 2001 to 2011 and the '01 was by far the best.

 

Except for sours,I can't think of a single that gets "better" with age in my opinion. All beers change with age, but wild/sours are the only ones that have remotely improved for my taste. This is all subjective and most people with large cellars would say I'm wrong. I stored my beers in optimal conditions...yet spent the better part of a year drinking $15-$20 bombers of stout that all tasted the same...old!! Flame away, but I also prefer 99% of beer fresh...

 

Please! That's beervana to you!