How do non-BA stouts hold up over time?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by lookrider, Aug 17, 2016.

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  1. lookrider

    lookrider Savant (1,208) Apr 22, 2007 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I'm getting a bit of a collection of these non-BA stouts. I have Buckley,Huna, Last Snow, Wide Awake and a couple more. I'm not going to age them - it may just take awhile until I get around to drinking them. So can anyone give me some advice on whether I need to drink these fresh or if they will still be as good in 6 months to a year?
     
  2. NDogg44

    NDogg44 Zealot (708) Oct 21, 2015 Texas
    Trader

    I had a 2014 Huna at Huna Day this year and it was amazing. Seems like it held up pretty well with aging.
     
  3. darktronica

    darktronica Grand Pooh-Bah (3,272) Aug 29, 2014 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    All of those you named should be fine with 6 months to a year on them. They're all big guns in the 10%+ category which typically age pretty well. You may find that some of the additives become more muted over time, like the maple syrup and coffee.

    That said, I've been surprised by how well the flavors hold up on some of those; I had a bottle of Last Snow's first batch that was a year old, and it was still bursting with coconut.
     
  4. stevesbeer

    stevesbeer Initiate (0) May 17, 2016 Washington

    We had a bottle share a couple weeks back and friends brought a 2007 Old Guardian and that was pretty darn good! I just wish I had a decent cellar space. No basement, just a tiny crawl space that I don't trust leaving things in.
     
  5. Samlover55

    Samlover55 Pooh-Bah (1,735) Oct 8, 2015 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    according to @PDawson in his book Vintage Beers crawl space is a perfect place to age beer
    Cheers!
     
    monkeybeerbelly and stevesbeer like this.
  6. IOccasionallyEnjoyBeer

    IOccasionallyEnjoyBeer Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2016 Florida

    Hunahpu holds up very well. Even the 2012 is still drinking great, the 2013 isn't but I didn't think that was a good year to begin with. With Hunahpu, you lose the pepper flavors but the chocolate and cinnamon notes are still there.

    I've had mixed experiences w/ aging stouts. Higher ABV stouts definitely hold up better. I've found certain flavors fall off more quickly than others. Any sort of fruit will be gone in ~6 months usually. Coffee will typically be gone after 1-2 years (Bourbon County coffee and BA Abraxas are exceptions).
     
  7. lookrider

    lookrider Savant (1,208) Apr 22, 2007 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Thanks for all the input fellas
     
  8. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've had Expedition in most every vintage up to 5 years and while it really hits the "sweet spot" (IMO) at 4 years, every year was still very good.

    Peche Mortel I've had up to 4 years and it is simply unreal at every year.
     
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