Any reason to age biscotti break?

It comes down to personal taste preference on the aging question. It is a VERY sweet beer and also rather boozy when fresh (IMO) so a bit of age may mellow those factors... if that is something you desire than by all means sit on one. Thankfully you're in a position to have it both ways - drink one fresh and then decide if you'd like to age the second bottle.

As far as availability goes, the regular version sees pretty wide distro and the price is a bit offputting for some so in my experience it's pretty common to see on shelves.

 

I bought 2 bottles over a year ago, drank one fresh, and then have had the other aging. Not really intentionally, just have so much else to drink. It's about at the 18 month point and I plan on drinking it soon. Can't do any damage.

 

Had a bottle the other day and a draft last night. Drink now IMO

 

Living in Brooklyn am fortunate to be able to indulge in the IBB a lot and have found batches vary slightly from time to time. Had a draft last night that was magnificently balanced. That said was visiting my brother in Charlotte last summer and picked up a couple bottles that weren't. A bit heavy on vanilla, sour yeasty finish. I emailed Jepe (the owner) who replied later that afternoon & suggested that a little time would help settle the flavors. I will be revisiting those bottles in a couple of weeks making them 10+ mo's old.

I've read through a lot of these 'cellaring/aging' posts and it comes down to personal preferences/intent. While the Bourbon Barrel Aged bottle I have in my fridge doesn't list Charleston Coffee Roasters as I believe the un-barreled version labels do have to believe real coffee was used. In this instance expect those natural flavors to fade over time.

Drink one, see how it sits and then consider the other.

 

I'm pretty sure there's an expiration date on those bottles. Perhaps on the label.

I've had Biscotti Break numerous times. Fresh has always tasted the best to me.

 

This is true Chicago Nick, but a bit vague.

 

"Best before 2015. Store Dark and Cool"

Seems pretty clear to me. That bottle is not the best it can be anymore.

 

Have seen that same 'Best Before' on bottles the past year 1/2, including one I picked up Feb. '14, and one I just passed by earlier this afternoon on the shelf. That was in part was I was suggesting about the vagueness.

Either ET is playing a joke suggesting that recent batches should have bee drank 7 months ago, or they overlooked updating the label. Or perhaps I've ingested so much of the magnificent IBB in the past year I no longer know what year it is.

 

Fresh is sweet, lots of spice, vanilla nuance, smells of alcohol vapors

Aged it becomes more roasty, darker and complex from a beer point of view. The base beer Lil' B is an " imperial porter", and is less bitter than a RIS. I age Lil' B and IBB and enjoy the outcome. Both used to be rare in Upstate NY, so when I found some: I would by a lot. My bottles of Lil'B are over 3 years old and still improving. I have been drinking the IBB before it gets 2 years old and loses all the biscotti flavors. The beer is fantastic, but the Natale: cherry IBB is underwhelming.

I also age some Even More Jesus from Evil Twin: it's very good with@ 2 years.

I had one bottle of Bourbon Barrel IBB once, wow it was great. Drink that fresh, and if you find any Double Barrel Jesus: it's terrible and I will buy it off you ASAP ;-)

 

It is with great, heart-breaking disappointment that I must report that the 2 ETIBB bombers I'd set aside [roughly] a year ago were commandeered by my uncle and shared with a recent retiree. So while wasn't able to enjoy them myself am happy it was both shared and with a retiree who did make it a point to thank me and say 'wow it was great'.

All that said do now believe that the IBB is now so readily available in my hood that will again purchase a bomber to set aside for experimental purposes.

 

I've aged Bourbon Barrel Aged IBB and I prefer it to fresh. Never aged the non-barrel aged version.