1 beer to cellar almost forever

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by anteater, Jul 29, 2013.

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  1. anteater

    anteater Pooh-Bah (1,936) Sep 10, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    So I had the opportunity to chat with the owner of a truly excellent beer bar and restaurant. He mentioned that he had a 1993 Cantillon Gueuze in his cellar.

    This got me thinking... if I want to have a 20 year old version of any beer I better get it soon so I don't have to wait even longer. I'm 23 right now and I like the idea of holding onto something very special for a very long time. Not forever, but maybe in 20+ years for a very special occasion.

    So my question is what beer would you buy right now to hold on to for that long?
     
  2. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Gueuze. Probably 3F, but Hannsens and Cantillon hold up too, I would assume Tilquin does as well. Beersel doesn't seem to but I've only had old ones once.

    Outside of gueuze either a quad (Rochefort or Bernardus are all over the place) or an English Barleywine/Old Ale, like JW Lee's.
     
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  3. TNGabe

    TNGabe Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2012 Tennessee

    De Dolle might be an option. Oerbier, Stille Nacht, or the reserve versions.
     
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  4. jedwards

    jedwards Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2009 California

    Lambic is a great answer, if you like aged lambic. It changes less than many other styles, but well-aged old lambic really is sublime.

    For a non-lambic answer, I absolutely second De Dolle, especially Stille Nacht. The new vintages have a great slow souring and seem to be following the path of the pre-2000 bottles, turning into a really sublime balance between sour and sweet. Other good options for aging in that timeframe include the better quads that stupac2 mentions, along with the J.W. Lee's harvest ale. I personally think that North Coast Old Stock will go the distance, though there aren't any 20-year old bottles yet... Bell's Third Coast Old Ale is another accessible American option. A few wildcards that I'm optimistic about are A. Le Coq (by Harvey & Sons), Upright Billy the Mountain, the barleywine/old ale vintages of Alesmith Decadence, and the Bruery anniversary beers.
     
  5. anteater

    anteater Pooh-Bah (1,936) Sep 10, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for the great suggestions everybody! I actually have a few of these aging already - Hannsen's Oude Gueuze, 2006 J.W. Lee's, Rochefort 10, 120 Minute, World Wide Stout, and Bruery Bois (which says right on the label that it can be aged for decades) are all candidates for extensive aging right now.
     
  6. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,096) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Agreed with Gueuze. I'm going to cellar a couple Cantillon 100% Gueuze from this year if I get my hands on some more. I get married this year, I graduate medical school, etc. etc. so this will be a good year to remember.
     
  7. Dupage25

    Dupage25 Savant (1,044) Jul 4, 2013 Antarctica

    I've not had any with serious age on them but Courage imperial stout and its predecessors are routinely opened with 20 or more years on them. Ditto with Thomas Hardys. I third the JW Lees recommendations. Rochefort 10 is a beer that barely changed in 2 years for me so I could see it lasting a while.
     
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  8. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    If your goal is to just hit the 20 year mark or more just grab a '94 or '95 Sam Adams Triple Bock. Though don't ever actually consume it on purpose.
     
  9. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    No Thomas Hardy fans for the win on your deathbed?
     
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  10. jedwards

    jedwards Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2009 California

    It's great stuff, but you can't buy it anymore!
     
  11. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah


    I guess I should buy my liquor store out of the stuff then. :slight_smile:
     
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  12. CowsandBeer

    CowsandBeer Initiate (0) Sep 24, 2012 Nebraska

    I just graduated and will be paying back for about 20 years. Been thinking of saving a few beers for that one day when I've paid them off. Hopefully I don't end up with some oxidize mess.
     
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  13. TNGabe

    TNGabe Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2012 Tennessee

    I think Rochefort 10 goes downhill after 5ish years. Not that I've aged cases, but the couple I've had that old have been too old.
     
  14. yojimbo1

    yojimbo1 Initiate (0) Feb 26, 2012 Kansas
    Trader

    I haven't had any Hotd that old but the 2008 and 2009 Fred From the Wood I had recently were fantastic. The brewer claims that Adam and Fred will age for the long haul.
     
  15. AndrewK

    AndrewK Savant (1,123) Oct 20, 2006 California

    I had a six year old Adam a few years ago and it was delicious. I meant to hold on to one for a decade, but I think I accidentally sent it as an extra right around that ten year mark.
     
  16. Cubatobaco

    Cubatobaco Pooh-Bah (2,057) Jan 27, 2013 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sam Adams Utopia - I hope I can find one very soon!
     
  17. bylerteck

    bylerteck Grand Pooh-Bah (3,167) May 17, 2009 Canada (ON)
    Pooh-Bah

    I've had 7 year old Rochefort 10s that were pretty damn good. If that's downhill, I wanna be at the bottom.
     
  18. futura123

    futura123 Initiate (0) Jul 29, 2010 California

    No beer you can cellar forever. Even very old Cantillon/3F show oxidization and cardboard flavor. Especially the cork didn't hold that well and it's very hard to take all the crumbles out. I had the 05 Cantillon Gueuze last week and it's one of the best. I'd say 8-10 years are the best for gueuze.
     
  19. beercanman

    beercanman Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2012 Ohio

    I plan on some long term for old stock, 120, Wws and Bigfoot.
     
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  20. mikecharley

    mikecharley Savant (1,214) Nov 6, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Hotd adam is a champ. I had an 03 bottle about 2 years ago, and it was superb. All tobacco and leather.
     
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