Cellar Worthy: OLD ALEs

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Rollzroyce21, May 15, 2012.

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  1. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I think it'd be interesting to gather some hard data on what the BA community has actually aged, tasted, and thought some age on a particular OLD ALE is definitely better than it being fresh.

    If you experienced this with an old ale listed below, then copy/paste the list and +1 to each old ale you experienced. Let's consider "aging" to be at least a year old in the appropriate environment.

    Feel free to add a stout if not listed, but you experienced it to be cellar worthy.

    If you disagree with any listed, then just simply disregard. We'll let the numbers tell the truth.

    OLD ALEs

    (1) North Coast Old Stock
    (1) Hair of the Dog Adam
    (1) Dogfish Head Burton Baton (other half IPA, but I believe this still qualifies)
     
    #1 Rollzroyce21, May 15, 2012
  2. arambler

    arambler Initiate (0) Feb 10, 2011 Illinois

    I have had a few Burton Batons from '10 and '11 earlier this year and they do hold up quite well. They lost some of the hop character, but the other components were much more defined and bold. I could be wrong, but I really enjoyed it.
     
    #2 arambler, May 15, 2012
  3. thecheapies

    thecheapies Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2009 Pennsylvania

    I personally experienced Great Divide Hibernation Ale to be cellar-worthy.
     
    #3 thecheapies, May 15, 2012
    Fox82791, awdturboiv and Exiled like this.
  4. quirkzoo

    quirkzoo Initiate (0) Jul 7, 2011 Colorado

    Hibernation +1

    At a recent tapping I had 08, 09, 11. All were excellent but the '08 had transformed into a new beer entirely, the flavors really integrated
     
    #4 quirkzoo, May 15, 2012
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  5. OSUBeerStudent

    OSUBeerStudent Initiate (0) May 2, 2008 Washington

    Old Curmudgeon
    Third Coast (whether you classify it as an old ale or barleywine, it's amazingly cellarable)
     
    #5 OSUBeerStudent, May 15, 2012
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  6. ejeffer11

    ejeffer11 Zealot (646) Feb 15, 2008 New York
    Trader

    I've been cellaring old stock's for years and recently had a 2005 that was outstanding - this is one of the best beers that I have had experience with aging - also recently enjoyed a really old brown dog from smuttynose with a few years on it.
     
    #6 ejeffer11, May 16, 2012
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  7. hannydawg

    hannydawg Initiate (0) Apr 4, 2010 Illinois

    Third Coast Old Ale is amazing with 5+ years on it.
     
    #7 hannydawg, May 16, 2012
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  8. Exiled

    Exiled Initiate (0) May 30, 2009 Texas
    Trader

    Im not a big fan of Great Divide Hibernation fresh, but love it with some age on it. I had a Hibernation a while back with about 5-6 years age on it (cant quite remember), and it seemed like a totally different beer. It was amazing with lots of coffee flavors for some reason...

    North Coast Old Stock +1
    Hair of the Dog Adam +1
    Dogfish Head Burton Bato ?
     
    #8 Exiled, May 16, 2012
  9. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Count so far...

    OLD ALEs

    (3) Great Divide Hibernation
    (3) North Coast Old Stock
    (3) Dogfish Head Burton Baton
    (2) Hair of the Dog Adam
    (2) Bell's Third Coast
    (1) Founders Old Curmudgeon
    (1) Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog
     
    #9 Rollzroyce21, May 16, 2012
  10. quirkzoo

    quirkzoo Initiate (0) Jul 7, 2011 Colorado

    Interesting, I actually described it as having very "tea" like qualities. Black tea, slightly tannic, soft bitterness...
     
    #10 quirkzoo, May 16, 2012
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  11. pschul4

    pschul4 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2011 Illinois

    I had a 2009 North Coast Old Stock recently and I thought it was significantly better than fresh so I'll give that the +1. Can't speak on the others as I've never had them aged
     
    #11 pschul4, May 16, 2012
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  12. tendermorsel

    tendermorsel Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2006 Massachusetts

    Burton Baton is one of my favorite all time aging beers. It hits it's peak at 3 years in my opinion. I wouldn't classify it as an old ale however:slight_smile:

    Old Stock Ale has a near unlimited aging potental. I had a 2002 a few weeks back and it was still in ok condition. A bit oxadized but the bottle I had I had only been cellaring for a few years personally so I cannot vouch for how it was maintained before that.
     
    #12 tendermorsel, May 16, 2012
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  13. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Count so far...

    OLD ALEs

    (5) North Coast Old Stock
    (4) Dogfish Head Burton Baton
    (3) Great Divide Hibernation
    (2) Hair of the Dog Adam
    (2) Bell's Third Coast
    (1) Founders Old Curmudgeon
    (1) Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog
     
    #13 Rollzroyce21, May 16, 2012
  14. Thickfreakness

    Thickfreakness Initiate (0) Oct 2, 2010 New York

    NC Old Stock
    Bruery Coton
    Harviestoun Ola Dubh Reserve 12/18/30
    Fuller's Vintage Ale
    Bell's Third Coast

    I've had fresh DFH Burton Baton, and with about 6 months on it. I have one that's going on two years old in my cellar that I can't wait to try.
     
    #14 Thickfreakness, May 17, 2012
  15. thecheapies

    thecheapies Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2009 Pennsylvania

    Let's add Thomas Hardy's.
     
    #15 thecheapies, May 17, 2012
  16. BruceBruce

    BruceBruce Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2011 Texas

    Just got in a bunch of Crumudegen (not correctly spelled) Old Ale, is it good to age?
     
    #16 BruceBruce, May 17, 2012
  17. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Count so far...

    OLD ALEs

    (6) North Coast Old Stock
    (4) Dogfish Head Burton Baton
    (3) Great Divide Hibernation
    (2) Hair of the Dog Adam
    (1) Founders Old Curmudgeon
    (1) Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog    ​
    (1) Bruery Coton
    (1) Harviestoun Ola Dubh Reserve
    (1) Fuller's Vintage Ale    ​
    (1) Thomas Hardy's Ales​
    (3) Bell's Third Coast - I'm moving these points to the barleywine thread. I keep forgetting they're BW's​
     
    #17 Rollzroyce21, May 17, 2012
    CowsandBeer likes this.
  18. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    That's what I hope to see from this; how many people thought it benefits from proper aging.
     
    #18 Rollzroyce21, May 17, 2012
  19. wagenvolks

    wagenvolks Initiate (0) Sep 23, 2005 Texas

    In my experience, I would cellar these beers again:
    Great Divide Hibernation
    North Coast Old Stock (and Old Stock Cellar Reserve)
    Founders Old Curmudgeon
    HOTD Adam
    Fuller's Vintage Ale

    I would not cellar these again:
    DFH Burton Baton
    Bell's Third Coast Old Ale
    Victory Old Horizontal
     
    #19 wagenvolks, May 17, 2012
  20. MrFootstones

    MrFootstones Initiate (0) Aug 8, 2008 California

    I've had 4-10 year old Old Stock that was outstanding and perhaps one of the best examples of what age can do for a beer. +1 on Old Stock.
     
    #20 MrFootstones, May 17, 2012
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