Beers gone bad while aging?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by bmquin, Jan 12, 2013.

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  1. bmquin

    bmquin Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2011 Illinois

    I recently went to the basement to pull out a few beers i have been aging for a year. 2012 Bigfoot, 2012 Expedition, 2011 Founders Imperial Stout, Palo Santo Marron...

    After tasting them all i was very disappointed. They all had this same strange sour smell to them and the taste was just like the nose. I could barely taste any flavors from the brews themselves. It was dominated by this sour musty taste and aroma. How could all these different beers have the same sour musty note to them? Oxidation? Did something go wrong while they were aging?

    Just looking for some answers. I have about 40 more bottles of various beers i have been aging in the basement and now i fear that they all could be ruined.
     
    #1 bmquin, Jan 12, 2013
  2. PGHbeer77

    PGHbeer77 Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2012 Pennsylvania

    Wash your hands before you drink.
     
    #2 PGHbeer77, Jan 13, 2013
  3. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Pooh-Bah (2,303) Sep 4, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I highly highly doubt it was something in common with all those beers. Maybe your palate or as said above something on your hands.
     
    #3 Eriktheipaman, Jan 13, 2013
  4. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    A good argument against cellaring.
     
    #4 UCLABrewN84, Jan 13, 2013
    GRG1313 likes this.
  5. PGHbeer77

    PGHbeer77 Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2012 Pennsylvania

    I remember reading in a thread some time back about someone tainting their palate for a period of time and having a metallic/musty taste for an extended period of time no matter what they drank.

    As a test, have some friends over to taste your cellared brews along with you. If they also perceive the funk, then at least you can rule out your palate.
     
    #5 PGHbeer77, Jan 13, 2013
  6. maximum12

    maximum12 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,686) Jan 21, 2008 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not a good argument against cellaring at all.

    I'd suspect that it was something on your palate or in the environment for all of them to have the same foulness.

    I've aged three of the four for several years & while I honestly didn't enjoy any of them, it was for different reasons: too much oxidation in Bigfoot, a fruitiness that came out of the Expedition, & a while Founders is still good after a year it hadn't improved, & after two years begins to taste like stale Folger's.

    Agree with PGH above. Ask a friend to come over & see what they taste.
     
    #6 maximum12, Jan 13, 2013
  7. atone315

    atone315 Initiate (0) Oct 8, 2008 Wisconsin

    Another possibility could be the glass(es) you're drinking from.
     
    #7 atone315, Jan 14, 2013
    maximum12 likes this.
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