Do You Save Your Better Beers Longer?

That's funny, great minds think alike

 

I don't save my better beers for special occasions - drinking them creates a special occasion. I will, however, wait until such a time when I have the time and proper conditions to drink them. I was planning on having a Chimay Tripel tonight, but held off because we had really potent pasta sauce for dinner and I didn't think the two would mix well. I'll have it tomorrow. I had a nice Ipswich Winter Ale instead. Good beer, but cheap and comes in 12-packs.

So yes, I save my better beers longer. I like to give them the time and conditions that they deserve.

 

You're telling me. I flew home from Billings, MT to New Jersey recently with a checked bag full of microbrews unattainable in the Northeast (Deschutes, New Belgium, and some local MT brews), and yet the two friends who claim to like good beer weren't all that into sampling them with me. Hence why I joined this fine website.

 

Yeah, but usually I just live six pack to six pack.

 

I have only recently (the past couple years) gotten into seeking out those really special limited brews that are hard to come by. If I only found one I would hold onto it. If I was able to find 2 I would have one right away and save the other one.. It's gotten worse, though.. Now I feel like I need 3 before I feel it's okay to sacrifice the 1st one.. Talking of course about imperial stouts and barleywines... I decided starting in 2014 to take a step back before this spirals out of control.. Either that or I'll have to go back to just IPAs -- which are all about fresh and now!

 

I typically end up saving beers that I don't feel a particular exigence to drink (fresh IPAs and the like) for special occasions (I have a Rose de Gambrinus for my anniversary tonight and a Utopias set back for my graduation in May, for instance) or bottle shares or meet-ups with friends who also appreciate good beers and what it takes to get them (because I feel intense guilt for killing unicorns alone).

 

I drink them quick. If it's something I want to share I wait for the first chance there are people around. There is no point in holding on to something you are dying to try. I've come back from releases where the first thing I do when I get home is open it.

 

Hell no. I buy good beer to drink it!

 

one week is admirable. Some of mine don't make it a whole week...then I have to drink to a fallen comrade.

 

I agree completely. My most "hard to finds" are best when your best beer friends are enjoying them along with you, so special occasions call for special beers. Sometimes though I'll down a really nice brew by myself that's a little easier to find but is still world class just to enjoy.

 

it's so messed up... this is my biggest challenge because I LOVE beer, but also love the hunt. I try my hardest to get 2, but sometimes even when I do, I find myself waiting to even pop the first one! I look at my cellar and I'm impressed, but I get sad at the notion that the whales will be gone, and no matter how amazing the beer is, doing what it takes to get it is just as much fun for me.
The irony is that I hate people who hoard beer, but then I look in the mirror, and releazing that I'm basically doing the same thing. Kind of depressing. Internal struggle for me I guess. On the flip side, I get to experience so many amazing beers by being in the beer industry (on tap, shared by another rep or retailer, bottle share, etc etc) that I only try and hunt down stuff that I don't think I'll ever get a chance to try. But then, have to battle myself to open them and try them!

 

What is this - confessions of hoarders anonamous - okay I have that problem too
Letting go of my precious not just anytime will do
Better be a special time - wait, isn't all our time here special?

 

I do. I love drinking a great beer but I hate to finish it. But...there's always something else coming.

 

I used to do this until I looked up and saw 70 beers just sitting in my cellar/fridge, when I was never planning on building a "cellar" in the first place. It just kind of happened. Like some others have stated, I love the hunt, I love finding and having new/different/great beers...and then I get it, and it sits around.

So this year, my beer "resolution" is to stop just hunting and start drinking. It'd be easier if my wife was into beer, but unfortunately our beer tastes don't always overlap, especially with stuff that is good to cellar. I have some friends that are really into beer but unfortunately, we just don't have a chance to get together often enough to enjoy them. So looks like I'll be drinking lots of good beer on my own this year...and I'm ok with that

 

The worst is when you wait for that and you vet to that perfect time and then you just dont like the beer its such a horrible zfeeling

 

Yup......I have a bottle of Flying Mouflan sitting in my fridge this winter staring at me every time I open the door. I guess I have not had it because there is no more to be had unless its bottled again this year.

Enjoy

 

Been sitting on a lot for 2 years now, just waiting! There is plenty to drink in the mean time.

 

I get beer so I can drink it, not look at it for months on end.

 

totally. Abyss, Serpent's Stout, Adam I'm all holding onto.

I also have some Jai Alai that I reallyyy like, but I know if I drink it will be all gone. drink it I must

 

I have the hardest time consuming exotics. I had a sixer of westies and gave 3 away at Christmas time as gifts. I have not had one yet. I work in the oilfield so I can afford to accumulate quite a collection, but I have no social life to interact and share with friends. One day....