Favorite Cellar Beer

By a wide margin, Alaskan Smoked Porter. After a 3 year hiatus, it is finally back on the shelf.

 

For me it's Westvleteren 12 with 3+ years. I only wish I had more opportunity to enjoy them. 1 left in the cellar, 11 years on it, last one from Thijs Brabander (old timers will know who/what I'm talking about).

Agree with both of you!

 

Do you mean just in your area? If I'm not mistaken I've seen batches from the last 3 years.

 

Yeah, sorry, my area.

 

I had a 2017 FW Bravo a few months ago that was outstanding. It tasted an English Barleywine...I'll let my last 2 sit for a while longer. if you see any of these on the shelves, nab em.

 

Firestone BABWs of all sorts are great with some age, as is stickee monkey. What a treat.

 

Bigfoot. It's cheap and benefits so much from just a few years.

What age do you think is best? I have a three year old bottle. It's my first experience aging it.

 

J.w. lees harvest ale.
Old stock ale
Royal oil
Mother of all storms

 

That's the thing. Different years seem to age differently. There's no rhyme or reason to it and that's the beauty of it. I have this year's in town and a couple of 2005s.

 

Bells Old Ale. I had a 2011 bottle recently and it was sublime.

 

GI Matilda, Orval, basically wild beers

Bells Expedition cellaring was fun out to 8 years, but found ~1 year is right for me

 

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is great aged. Founders Imperial Stout. BCBS. BCBW.

 

Was just saying similar in the related thread under this forum. Although that might not be my top-top favorite to age — I'd have to say of the lambic collection, but I don't know what to say about ages because the things that are 10-12-14 years (thinking mainly of my oude gueuzes) and on are still evolving and fantastic.

 

Westvleteren 12
Pannepot (and most BSDAs)
Hair of the Dog - Fred, Adam, etc. (Strong Ales)
Most english barleywines in the 3-5 year range
Rodenbach Grand Cru & Vintage, most in the 3-10 year range
Expedition Stout (FIS, Ten Fidy, Narwhal are good too)
Founders Old Curmudgeon (most Old Ales ~3-6 years)
Aventinus, Kulmbacher (I love aged Eisbocks up to 10 years)
Stone Old Guardian (up to 5-6 years tops)
Avery foil-tops
Black Tuesday

(aside from lambics of course)

 

They are stellar! I did reach my max with a 7-year old Sucaba where the oxidation came through pretty strongly, aside from that they normally have enough residual sweetness to remain great for years!

 

Your cellar must be pretty damn full!

 

It is full, I think I'm at >150 lambic, but down to single-digits of most of those other's I've listed. I am trying to drink it down somewhat while maintaining a few of my favorites to age. Some of the Founders and things like Black Tuesday & Hair of the Dog aren't distributed in CO, so it limits those.

 

Stone IRS is a great cellar candidate. Had one the other night from 2013 and holding up extremely well.