I'm feeling froggish

Basements are usually a very optimal cellar, just find the darkest corner you can and see what the temp does but you should be fine

 

Never had a basement but Ive heard they stay pretty cool and if it does fluctuate a little it wont be fast enough or a big enough increase to make a difference. Good Luck! Stick a Stone RIS, a Stone Old Guardian and a Rogue Old Crustacean down there and drink them in 8 years. Some of the best beers i have ever had.

 

Might I also add.... Jolly Pumpkin stuff ages nicely... and I haven't touched my recent one, but everyone claims 3 philosophers ages well also!

I am not lucky enough to have a basement so a fridge in my garage does the trick... but like others have said, you should be safe with the basement plan. the temp fluctuation shouldn't be too extreme to do any damage. Just keep an eye on it with a thermometer like you mentioned, as to avoid any oh shit moments.

 

I'm not sure Chocolate Sombrero is a good candidate for cellaring. With the chocolate and spices in there that might fade, it's probably better fresh. Also Zinneke and Sgt. Pepper aren't very good beers to begin with, but aging couldn't hurt them, right?

Good luck!

 

I would 2nd the opinion that Chocolate Sombrero isn't going to age well. The beer itself is rather thin for a stout so as the heat and spices fade I feel like you will be left with something rather underwhelming. With that said I have never had it with any age on it so feel free to experiment and report back.

 

You should really drink the BCBCS fresh. It is fine after a year or two, but the coffee slowly fades and it basically becomes standard BCBS eventually. Instead, I suggest tossing a 4pack of BCBS down there and wait 4 years. You can thank me then. Cheers.

 

Beer at it's prime

 

Sounds like a fun experiment. It is funny, the most common cellar advice that most people give is to drink it fresh first and keep it in a cool, dark place. You did both these things and people are still giving you a hard time.

After my first couple years of experimenting with aging, I've learned a lot about my preferences and I haven't always liked the results. But now I know. At some point, you will too.

Have fun with it!

 

Relax, don't worry, cellaring is so easy a caveman could do it.

 

Sounds like you have everything in the "how to cellar properly according to BA" manual of how to cellar properly according to BA posters: 1) a place to cellar- check; b) you have tried the beers you are going to cellar; 3) people have begun to argue over what you are cellaring and why- check.

All systems go my friend! Put on your socks and hat, cuz this is going to be boring waiting for those beers to get old. You may as well begin hoarding now, that way when these beers are well and aged you will have another set ready to drink shortly after, and so on.