When to drink limited beer releases?

The great Universal Question on Beer Advocate!

 

somewhere in between these

 

I have one my daughter brought me back from Denmark Mermaid Porter that was only sold at the brewery, we had it when I visited her there and she brought one back. I think we will have it over Christmas when she is home.

 

When you feel froggy, jump.

 

Some I am trying to wait for at least a 3 part vertical. Others I want to try them at a different age then when I first had them to see the difference. Sometimes I just want to look at it and smile OK?! Don't judge me ;P Actually JUST went through my cellar yesterday and reorganized/took some out for my upcoming birthday. Gonna be a long weekend.

 

Definitely echo the "when someone is available to share it with me who will appreciate it" sentiment. I'm accumulating faster than I am drinking, so I need more beer obsessed friends that are appreciative of this stuff.

 

Just pulling this out of my ass, cause I'm still pretty new. I'd check BA, check the bottle, Manufacture's website, and drink them according to style and everyone's general recommendations. How's that for an obvious answer? How about if somebody like Russian River bottled PTY for a one time run? (don't even know if that would or has ever happened). I think I wouldn't ever drink something along those lines.

 

Great topic! I always speculate on this as well.

If possible, i try to buy limited releases in 3's. One to drink shortly after purchasing (i.e. the day of), one to drink on a special occasion (I sell real estate, so generally the day of a closing is reason enough for me), and one to hang onto long term (age for a year or so).

However, i too am acquiring quicker then im consuming.

 

That sounds like a good way to go about it, unless it's THE LAST bottle of (insert whale here) on the shelf, and it's not coming back.

 

Immediately. I prefer fresh beer

 

Does this include the likes of bourbon barrel aged imperial stouts, barleywines, quads, etc..?

 

everything

 

When the moon is in the seventh house

 

^^^^^Ditto.

 

I have a coffee stout that I have in the cellar. I want to save it, but I dont know if i'll ever be able to share it with whom I want to share it with. And I've heard coffee notes die fast. I am between a bottle and a hardplace.

 

I tend to accumulate beers in general and have a good heapin' handful of "special releases" that I'm gonna drink someday. If someday never comes and I end up taking the long dirt nap before I drink these things, I am gonna be royally pissed and my spirit will haunt BA forever... (Just try imposing a "buy no beer" embargo on yourself...tell me how it works for ya...)

 

IPAs/hoppy brews = enjoy as "right away" as possible
everything else = stretch those puppies out

 

It's quite simple. Buy two. For any limited release meant to be aged, keep both until you get the same beer the next year. Drink one and save one for a special occasion. For any limited release not meant to be aged, chill [the beer and yourself] and drink.