Great Lakes Christmas Ale

i have done the same think in the past. The aging will bring out more of the spices and make it heaver beer you want to drink in the winter. I like the aged better because i like the spice in my Christmas beer

 

I found just the opposite as the previous post. I had a vertical of the past three years of Great Lakes Christmas Ale (2009-2011) and the older it was, less and less Xmas spices were present. IMO that's what makes the beer so good. I bought a whole case this past season with the inteniton of aging at least half of it, but after trying the previous two years, I drank the case fresh. The 2009 had almost no spices, and the 2010 had some, but it was definitely faded. I would suggest drinking it within 6 months of purchase.

 

Any more advice on this?

 

I've had it with a year on it, but I would bet my bottom dollar pmoney's opinion is money.

Edit: with that said, it doesn't mean it's not better with age. It depends on preference for the most part.

 

I Still have some from 2012. It mellows out a little. This is one of my favorite beers when I can get it on draft fresh. Aging is OK, depends on what you like, but the spices tend to melt together and mellow from what i can tell. Cheers, to wintry days and drinking awesome beer!

 

I concur.