Bells Expedition Stout

This will age with the best of them. Get a fresh one and try it, you will know a beer needs age when you get a lot of warm alcohol notes or strong bitterness. Anything 8 percent and over can pretty much develop more, but there is no real science to this. It's all personal preference. If say, hold onto it for one more year, get a fresh one next year, and do a side by side. Cheers

 

People say that this is a beer that can age for many, many years.

 

One if the most age-able stouts around. I find three years old to be the best. I did a four year very one night with my wife and that is what we came up with.

 

Many imperial stouts age for 2-2.5 years then start to fall off but this one goes for ages and still is phenomenal. It's ready to drink now but you could age Expedition for several years more or more and still be pleased with the end result, which makes it somewhat unique in the landscape of American RIS. Stone can go the distance, too, I'm not aware of affordable others. Maybe Plead the 5th from Dark Horse? Have only had it at 2-3 years though.

 

There are bottles still being aged from '94 and '95, which mulitples were opened recently and claimed to be the best beer they ever drank. Did not get the chance to try them, but point being, keep aging.

 

I bought a case of it in 2010, and have been drinking a few bottles each winter. It's only getting better.

 

agreed, just did a 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. 2010 was the best. Age does this beer some good

 

I live a block from Bells, so if it ever gets released and you need someone to get you some let me know. I have family in Tampa, and Tallahassee, so we could work something out.

 

It only gets better my man. Drink some hang on to some.

 

Since you're new to aging beers (OP), I just want to offer that "it only gets better with age" is the prevailing opinion in a subforum about aging beers, however it is a subjective opinion of some and not a community-wide consensus. I have experimented with aging quite a few beers and in my opinion very few of them improve with age, even the ones most people tend to agree on, such as expedition stout, bourbon county stout, and other big imperial stouts. I prefer them fresh, and you might too, so I think you should get an idea of how the beer tastes fresh before you start experimenting with aging.

 

I agree with the sentiment of your post, I believe that an extremely small percentage of beer improves with age. Some beer develop new and interesting characteristics, though may not improve, most should be consumed relatively fresh. Percentage wise 1% improve, 4% are worth aging and 95% should be consumed sooner than later.

With that said, you prefer Expedition fresh? I have been accused of being the biggest Bell's home ever, hyping them at every turn, and I cannot even support that statement. Honestly, the beer is a bit rough when fresh. Give it a year and it starts showing promise. I truly believe this is one of the 1% worth aging, it will improve for several years, and be very enjoyable for a couple decades.

 

That's how I feel about North Coast Old Stock Ale. Its basically undrinkable to me fresh, but delicious with a good amount of age. What can I say though? I'm right now drinking a bourbon county barleywine and all I can think is I wish it had more bourbon barrel and less oxidized plum flavor. I think I'm just not a fan of that aged taste.

Speaking of Bells though, the Third Coast Old Ale is one of the few that I think gets better. I have a 6 pack from last year getting better as we speak

 

TCOA and Expedition are my two favorite beer to age, coincidentally they are the two beers I have had on multiple occasions greater than 15 years old. If you want a dark horse candidate from Bell's, look at Cherry Stout. This past December I had a sample from 1988, it was not awe inspiring but held up remarkably well, drinks great between 5-7 years.

 

i have had 6 year old bottles that were amazing. it ages fantastic.

 

can you please tell me if it is ok to cellar Expedition after it was refrigerated ? I am concerned about skunking. I bought a case to cellar today but it came from a fridge at my local store. Thanks take care

 

Temperature change will not cause a beer to skunk, exposure to light will. Higher temperatures can accelerate the aging process but that is your biggest concern here. Cellar away, I would not have any concerns in this instance.

 

When does Expedition come out? We don't get Bells here.

 

It's out now, as is TCOA. Which is not good for my wallet, as I've already bought about 6 sixers of Expedition, and 1 of TCOA. I think the Expedition has a bottling date of 8/22/14, and the Third Coast is 9/5/14.