Old beer is terrible

Not every beer ages well, some very poorly - such as IPAs. Stouts and porters usually fare much better, often still good - or even better - years later. There are exceptions to stouts though, as coffee stouts sometimes gain a green pepper taste in as little as a year - had this happen with FBS.

 

Only drink fresh.

 

Beer and bread are both best fresh.

 

Sorry - meant to quote the OP. I agree that trying a fresh one is a good idea. And you should never pick on an unarmed sour.

 

Disagree to fresh beer is always better. Here is a list of beers that improve with age:

Blue Chimmay

New Holland Incorrigible Reserve with berries ( a 4.5% abv that gets more sour with age because fruit gives a 2nd fermentation)

Every barleywine except the collab with Sierra Nevada and Avery in World 12 pack, that one just tasted amazing fresh so right away you know not to age.

120 IPA

SN maple Scotch Ale

And there are others but can't testify due to still in the process of aging. Aging depends on the beer and Conditions of how it's stored. Now if you like harsh alcohol booze flavor then sure aging will not do you justice. But perhaps this particular sour is not a sour to age although I've had success with aged sours. Also never age coffee stouts or super hoppy IPA'S everything else can be a fun trial and error.

 

Recently had a 2011 cascade noyaux. Was still as tart as ever

 

Try a vintage gueuze and get back to me

 

Hoppy barleywines.

 

OP must be trolling. Saying "every aged beer is bad" is just as silly as saying "every aged beer is better". Some improve, some hold steady, some decline, & some will be all three to different people.

 

This is a message board...we only deal with absolutes here. You must pick a side, and will be judged heavily.

 

Thanks for clarifying. I love to be judgey!

 

Curious as to what the specific beer actually is, as the organic acids in question do not break down quickly.

 

That depends on the beer. Some beers are clearly NOT better when fresh (of course, it depends upon one's individual taste buds).

 

Oh sure, some are designed to age, or so I've heard, the thought causes me to shudder.

 

Have you ever had this beer? Or this one?

Both are designed to be aged, and are sublime at 5+ years old.

 

Is this a thing? Are we all just gonna let that go by without insisting on a little clarification, or am I out of the loop on this term?

Anyway, seems like you're arguing two different things -- maybe one for clicks and the other for real. Is "old beer" A) "terrible," or B) "never better just different"?

 

My experience with aged beer (ale) is somewhat limited. About 30 years ago I got my hands on some Thomas Hardy Ales and found them almost vinous, like an aged dry Oloroso Sherry, with a complex character but didn't take notes so that's all I can say.

Of the two you mentioned I have tried the Samichlaus when a friend gave me a bottle some years back. I don't recall much about it either except remember it as a bigger brew than Thomas Hardy.

My comments on this thread really apply to the majority of beers that are not brewed for aging. Frankly, at my age I'm only interested in those made for immediate consumption and in that case freshest is best. My current favorites are German type lagers which oddly is where I started this journey 50 some odd years ago.