Beginning aging/cellaring.

Of all the ones that I know this sounds like a great start to me. I live in AZ so I don't know much about Founders. But you pretty much can't go wrong with stouts or anything high ABV. I had a year old Olde School once and it didn't seem to change much so I'd recommend holding it for a bit. I have a 2009 right now.

 

Great list. Creme Brulee doesn't do much with time. Most of the others evolve one way or the other.

 

dont forget Brooklyn Black Chocolate.

 

From what I understand Breakfast Stout is a no go for aging. It's got so much coffee it'll just take like stale coffee with age. I'm surprised you thought KBS was great with age. I had a 2012 last week and it fell off a cliff compared to when fresh IMO. Less coffee, more stale coffee. The rest of it was fine. The rest that I've had should age nicely though. I've got some BW bastard, BCBS, and and stone IRS in my cellar.

 

Great Lakes puts an absurd expiration date on Blackout but no one knows why. The only people that adhere to that advice are likely the same people that drink Heady from the can.

 

idk about the Bells. The hops will just go away.

Ive had an aged Blackout, and I wasnt a fan (but thats just me). It loses it sweet fudge characteristic that I love so much and gains a dry graininess.

 

Avoid regular Breakfast Stout. The beauty of that beer is the coffee, and coffee fades kind of like hops. It really should be drank fresh like an IPA with a slightly longer shelf life.

I also think KBS doesn't improve, but it still drinks nicely after a couple of years.

 

Try to add North Coast Old Stock and Weyerbacher Insanity to this cellar.

 

That's a good start. Keep accumulating, make a spreadsheet of what you have, and keep track of your bottles to predict when you might want to consume them (or trade).

 

I would go with stuff you can easily get multiple vintages of, or at the very least multiple bottles of.

I've narrowed down the beers I age to beers I can easily get every year. The only reason to age beers is to see how they progress or differ with some time on them. If you can only get one bottle of something, just drink it.

 

I agree with most of this. I also live in Michigan, and reg Breakfast Stout has always been one of my top, favorite beers. I aged a few and was not impressed... KBS, I haven't had aged that much yet, but I have a couple in reserve to see how that ends up. Have fun and enjoy!

 

Would definitely drink that Bells 11(000) right away. Amazing hop character.

 

I would add Stone Old Guardian to the list. Can easily locate it around Michigan and ages quite nicely IMO

 

You may want to try aging a few lambics too (in addition to the Vivant Escoffier).

 

Maybe a quad or 2. Rochefort 10, St Bernardus abt 12 or holiday. I'd suggest Green Flash Rayon Vert. I can already tell that beer is going to be ultra complex with 1-3 years of aging with all the brett it had in it.

 

kbs ages amazingly, don't let anybody fool you. im not sure about a couple years but this years kbs is so much better then fresh, IMHO. other beers I can think of that you can get to age are S/N bigfoot, Dogfish WWS, Founders RIS, ect...

 

jolly pumpkin! i just had a luciernaga vintage reserve 2011, with one year age it was MUCH better than fresh, bought 2 more going to open one a year and see!