Bells Saturn

Yes opened one the other day and it was not good

 

So by your logic, all beers, without regard for how a person prefers a beer of a certain style, need to be drank IMMEDIATELY or else the beer goes to waste? That's an unbelievably simple and short-sighted point of view.

Do people 'cellar' beers unnecessarily? Absolutely. Happens WAY too much than people realize- and they only realize it after opening that one (or 100) beer(s) that they have been 'waiting for that special occasion' to open, when the beer is a shell of its former self.

I can think of countless beers that have gotten exponentially worse with even a little bit of age, but I can also think of (admittedly fewer, but many) other examples where after some time passed, off-flavors were muted or a little time produced a more desireable result (last year's Blushing Monk immediately comes to mind - far too sweet when first released, and it's already drinking better with just 6 months or so of time).

 

Everyone knows what opinions are like, so we won't go there. We had a Saturn last week and it was amazing. Definitely not as boozy as it was when it was released. I'd put it alongside Mars as the best in the Planets series now since it's mellowed out. The comment about wasting beers when cellaring is just that, a comment. If it weren't for cellaring, Expedition Stout, Third Coast Old Ale, KBS, BB Plead, and even Bourbon County wouldn't be as great as they are when time gives the ingredients a chance to gel together as well as they do when time allows it. Craft brewers often recommend to cellar some of their beers if you have the opportunity. Sure, we often get caught up in demand overriding supply, but this craft beer thing beats the heck out of stamps and baseball cards any day of the week.

 

Took a 6 pack to my in-laws for Christmas and really enjoyed it, drank 4 of the 6 myself and was filled with Christmas cheer.

As far as if it has improved, I remembered liking it fresh and thought and really enjoyed it with age. Think personally I might have enjoyed a little more with age but don't think it was night and day. That said I wish I had more.

 

So I've checked-in two previously and gave it a 3 1/2. I just cracked another one open and would give it a 3 1/2 (before I checked what I gave it previously) again. Tastes and smells boozier than I remember. I'll let the last 3 age for awhile longer. Barleywines aren't my favorite though.

Cellar aged, constant temperature.

 

All this talk is making me put a Saturn and a Neptune in the fridge.

 

Recently had one that was stored in back of fridge for about a year (?). Was fabulous. Also Was excited when I came across some at a local restaurant that was good but not quite as flavorful as the one kept at home.