Ideally Aging Beer

Not an expert, but there is a limit. Keep them cool and dark, I'd be leery of letting most slide longer than 4-5 years. I've never purposely let a non BA beer slide so there I have no real clue, but I'd expect they would age the same. My fridge is set to 50 degrees , so my aging beers sit.

 

A good time for Barrel Aged Impy's 3-5 years, and if you can, try one at each interval. A good time for Impy's 2-4 years, and again, try one at each interval.

Cheers!

 

There isn't a black and white answer for this and there is no right or wrong. Some beers age better than others, even within the same style and even then I hesitate to use the word "better" because it really is up to you. Personal preference plays a big part in it also. Some people think if its a big stout or barleywine that it will automatically turn into gold if they throw it in their cellar for a few years...that's fine if that's what they think but that doesn't mean you will feel the same. I personally think most barrel aged beers should be consumed fresh because to me I like to taste what the barrel did to the base beer and more often than not I find that the barrel character fades out with time. Again, that's just me. As a general rule, most beer is best consumed fresh. But there are many beers that evolve into something amazing with a few (or many) years in the cellar (many gueuzes come to mind). Good luck and enjoy the ride.

 

Very well put, I was thinking all this shit, but I did not want to write it all down. Still not to take away from what I said before, that is what I would do if I wanted to, that is.

Cheers!

 

Currently, I have a few brew's put aside, but they have only been their for a few months. I might try keeping some longer, we will see. Use to keep shit for years, had no problem, having a new brew every so often.

Cheers!

 

The higher the ABV, the longer theoretically a beer can hold up aging. Taste, however, is totally subjective, and I recommend visiting the cellar/aging forum for a more in-depth discussion.

 

A few examples that I have really enjoyed aged:
2010 Abyss consumed a few months ago
1993 Courage Imperial Russian Stout consumed in 2010
Some other less specific examples:
Orval
Rochefort 10
SN Bigfoot
Bells Expedition Stout
Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze
Thomas Hardy's Ale
Pannepot
North Coast Old Stock
JW Lees Harvest Ale
Bourbon County

YMMV
Cheers

 

Totally agree. It seems 1-2 years is enough to "smooth" most beers but pay heed to the style.

 

I agree every beer is different, I like Kbs fresh and hot, it ages well but I like it fresh better. I like Bc Coffee better aged, just depends.

 

OP, some very good opinions in this thread. I, for one, completely understand why you would ask a beer-related question on a beer-related website, but other's opinions clearly vary. Much like everyone's taste for aged beers.