I recently decided I should start cellaring some beers. Even if only for a few months. Here's what I have so far, what do you guys think? (Keep in mind I am very new to this) Arcadia Ales Barrel Aged Shipwreck Porter 2015, 2016x2 Ballast Pointe Victory at Sea 2016x2 Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier 2010x4 Founder's Breakfast Stout 2015x4 Founder's Imperial Stout 2016x2 Kuhnhenn Barrel Aged 4D 2015 Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine 2015 Kuhnhenn Dark Heathen Triple Bock Lager 2015 Odd Side Ales Hazel's Nuts 2016x2 Perrin Brewery Lil' Griz 2016x2 Prairie Artisan Ales BOMB! 2016 Saugatuck Brewing Co. Blueberry Maple Stout 2016x2 Stone Brewing Co. Imperial Russian Stout 2014x2, 2015x2 Weyerbacher Brewing Co. Sunday Morning Stout 2016x2
Don't age these: I haven't had the Shipwreck Porter, but based off of Carton's version I don't see what you would get from aging them. Samichlaus is a great choice without a doubt. Kuhnhenn is another that I don't have experience with but those are styles that definitely age. Stone's IRS ages so well and looks like you'll have fun once you can make a vertical. SMS has only been out for a year, but so far a year does great things to that beer.
More or less, all of those beer are cellar-able. The ones mentioned above as not to age are better when consumed fresh, but won't see terrible decline for a year or so.
From what I understand the Samichlaus could go for decades (I'm going to age one I have until my grandson, will will be born this summer, turns 21). The Founders IS and the Stone IRS get a lot of love for aging and I have both in my cellar. I'm unfamiliar with the others.
Thanks for the responses. Some are just down there so when summer comes I can still run down there and grab an out of season breakfast stout or whatever. I'm definitely looking forward to a Stone vertical...I randomly found two 2014 bottles the other day so that was just a bonus year.
I had a 2014 v@s on tap the other day and was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it was good but had lost the balance it has when its fresh. In general, I like to drink stouts with added flavors fresh unless those added flavors are too strong. I have read a lot of people saying the spice in bomb! is overpowering and a little time in the cellar makes that better. I also opened a couple Stone RIS 2014 bottles recently and those are amazing. I haven't had one fresh in some time so I can't say for sure whether aged is better than fresh but the flavors it gains in the cellar is worth it.
If you're new to this, my main tip is to be sure and understand how the beers you're choosing to cellar taste when fresh. I don't fully understand folks who cellar without knowing the fresh baseline flavors. Keep in mind that most beers will not be all they are cracked up to be after a few years; cellaring coveted whales can often lead to disappointment and a shell of, what was, a great beer. Speaking from experience.
I second this. Patrick Dawson's book Vintage Beer was really helpful to me and recommended by many on this site.
I echo getting the Vintage Beer book by Dawson. It's very informative and really fun to read. I refer to it quite a bit (and it only cost $2.98! on Amazon).
I third the Vintage Beer book... I'd personally age (since they're styles I like): Founder's Imperial Stout 2016x2 Kuhnhenn Barrel Aged 4D 2015 Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine 2015 Stone Brewing Co. Imperial Russian Stout 2014x2, 2015x2 I find that the Kuhnhenn beers you have there are the most similar in style to a Thomas Hardy's ale, and that beer is supposed to hold up forever...well, you get the idea. I think any type of imperial stout that has the "burnt" flavor will lose that as it ages - I've noticed in other beers (Bell's Jupiter) it has turned into toffee/sweet flavor after about a year. But I'm also pretty sure that Samichlaus was listed in Vintage Beer, so it's probably a safe bet.
As a fellow Michigander, take this advice: chuck a 6-pack (or more) of Bells Expedition Stout in there. Do this annually. The Kuhnhenn stuff is great to cellar. I enjoy Bomb! much better fresh than aged, although an aged one is still pretty good.
Dogfish Head's beers make for great cellar dwellers, especially their higher ABV ones like 120 Minute, World Wide Stout and even Palo Santo Morron. I had a 2009 Fort recently and 6 years did wonders for that one. I echo the Expedition stout recommendation and would also recommend Bigfoot and Narwhal by Sierra Nevada. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to find and age very well.
Old Stock and Old Raspy from North Coast are great ones for cellars, too. Inexpensive and easily found in 4-packs.
Basically the Russian Imperial Stout, Barleywine (American or English), Old Ale, Gueuze, lambic, etc. are all wonderful choices. This is a wonderful site for all the great cellarable choices in each collective style. I'm well on my way to getting a 10 year vertical of Expedition Stout going and I think that may be the greatest tasting I could be a part of. I also echo Old Raspy, Founders Imperial, Stone IRS and Great Divide Yeti (the closet flavor profile next to Expy). Have fun and take notes! Cheers, Jake.
