Beginning a Cellar

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by bizmarky13, Jan 29, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. bizmarky13

    bizmarky13 Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2010 Illinois

    Due to a recent beer buying binge, Ive decided to try cellaring. I believe i have a pretty decent start, and was wanting to get some opinions of which of these should aged well and what i shouldnt even bother storing. Any feedback would be great.

    Avery The Beast 09,11
    Avery Mephistopheles 06,09,10
    Avery Samaels 05,08,09,10,11
    Avery Rumpkin
    Avery Uncle Jacobs
    Alesmith Speedway Stout
    Bells Expedition Stout
    DFH Bitches Brew
    GI BCBS 2012
    GI Big John 2011
    Founders Breakfast Stout
    Founders Imperial Stout
    Founders Backwoods Bastard
    S/T Creme Brulee
    S/T Choklat
    S/T Pumpking
    St Bernardus Abt 12
    Gulden Draak
    Skull Splitter
    Schlafly Imperial Stout 2011
    The Bruery 5 Golden Rings
     
  2. benetoh

    benetoh Zealot (536) Feb 2, 2008 New Jersey

    Most BA s would probably tell you to drink the founders breakfast fresh. Also, I have never aged. Some of the ST . You may want to drink the pumking fresh.
     
  3. Lambocalrisien

    Lambocalrisien Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2013 New York

    Founders Breakfast is one of the best stouts as is and fresh, no need to cellar that one IMO. My rule of thumb is if the ABV is above 10% it will probably cellar nicely. I'd be interested in finding out how the Southern Tier Choklat would be after about a year. BCBS for sure.
     
  4. GRG1313

    GRG1313 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,974) Jan 15, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I could make an argument that many on the list will not improve with age. However, at the same time, I can see the argument on the other side and reasonable minds do differ. However, the foregoing having been said, I would urge you to refrain from aging the S/T at all. JMO
     
  5. tehzachatak

    tehzachatak Initiate (0) Sep 19, 2010 Massachusetts

    I would not age any of the Southern Tiers, the FBS, or the Speedway Stout (although I know some folks will disagree with me on the latter). I'm not sure the Skull Splitter will really benefit from any age, but I guess why not try? Haven't tried 5 Golden Rings but it takes a special belgian strong pale to stand up to aging.
     
  6. Boonedoggle

    Boonedoggle Initiate (0) Nov 30, 2011 Nebraska

    IMO Avery Meph ages really well. I had a 3 year vertical at the brewery at the 2011 release. It blew me away and really opened my eyes to cellaring beers. That being said, it's up to each person's individual tastes.
     
  7. founder26

    founder26 Initiate (0) Sep 9, 2009 Michigan

    speaking from experience, I can say bells expy, bcbs, and founders RIS age really really well.
     
  8. stupac2

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

    I think that the question that's more important than "do these cellar?" is "What's my goal in cellaring?" If you just want to see what happens for curiosity's sake, then you can age whatever. If you want something that you'll enjoy more than you would if you drank it now, you should cellar only a few of those. Of course, to know for certain if you'll like it more with age you need to try it first with age, so it's a bit of a guessing game.

    But I'm going to echo some people above and say "Don't bother cellaring coffee stouts." I've just never had a positive experience with that. It seems like every coffee, no matter what, turns into a weird peppery flavor for me. YMMV, but I think it's a pretty common experience.
     
  9. evilc

    evilc Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 California

    I "cellar" Coffee stouts in the fridge. Not to age, just to have available.
     
    icefisherman likes this.
  10. Bay01

    Bay01 Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2008 Illinois

    I've found that most coffee stouts are best fresh. Expedition ages wonderfully, cellar as much as you can and start tasting it at a year.
     
  11. Davl22

    Davl22 Maven (1,341) Sep 27, 2011 New Hampshire
    Trader

    All the Avery ages well, I've had bottles aged over 3 years and they still had some abv heat. I would also drink the GI Big John within a year, it loses a lot of flavor after that.
     
  12. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    All of the avery demons age well, I have had them with three years on them and they get better and better. I HATE rumpkin, so I can't help you there, and my case of uncle jacobs didn't even make it six months. Its a phenom of a stout that nobody outside of CO seems to appreciate for some reason. Stash that bastard for a year or two and let me know how she was!
     
  13. tx_beer_man

    tx_beer_man Pundit (902) Jan 22, 2013 Texas
    Trader

    Any thoughts on aging the Bitches' Brew?
     
  14. benetoh

    benetoh Zealot (536) Feb 2, 2008 New Jersey

    I don't remember what one tastes like fresh, but I had one of the 2nd releases on New Years Eve. It tasted fine, but not great. I guess if you really, really like it fresh don't sit on it, as I could not tell you if it improves.
     
  15. fineout

    fineout Crusader (499) Apr 23, 2010 Rhode Island

    I actually like letting pumking sit for a while, I'm not sure about aging for an extended period of time but IMO after a few months it mellows out a bit and is super smooth.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.