Hello everyone; I have been a craft and import beer lover for several years now. I have recently began collecting beer and this is something I am not very familiar with. Typically I just go to a place and try anything and everything So my question is for you more seasoned collectors...what are some standard beers that should be part of a collection? What should every collector have? What should I strive to get? What are the hard to find beers? Thanks
Try reading the cellaring and general trade forums along with the top beer lists to get a feel for what brews get talked up for being incredible. Breweriana refers to collecting glassware, artwork, beer accessories, etc. But my best advice is to remember that beer was intended to be consumed and enjoyed...plenty of beers are wonderful for tucking away for years, but they won't do you much good unless you intend to drink them. Can't really comment on what you should strive to get because I don't know what styles you like.
Well I love everything but sours. Any suggestions would be appreciated. But I will check out those forums. Thanks
I agree with the first reply -- read these forums and read what beers are being hyped. But picking up beers to cellar does not need to be the hyped beers. Getting started in your craft beer experience means getting a good base knowledge of various styles from multiple breweries so that you can see the different nuances that each brewery puts into its beers. Find seasonal beers, one-offs, etc. that you like, and consider cellaring them. A rough rule to use is if it is not a hop-forward beer (hop flavor fades over time), or has flavo additions such as coffee (coffee flavor can also fade) and if it is over 8% abv then it is a candidate for keeping to see if it improves with age. (There are exceptions to the 8% minimum guideline.) To me though, cellaring is basically finding a good beer and keeping it for a special occasion or simply when you want to immerse your self into a relaxing, good beer. I don't necessarily keep a beer with the intent to see it improve. Also, if you mention what state you live in when you post a question like this then the replies can be more specific for good brews that should be easily available to you.
You can check out the US - Great Lakes forum and check in on some of the topics there to get a better idea what is available in your part of Illinois.
If you are "collecting" these beers to cellar and eventually drink - rather than to put on a shelf as an unopened "collectible" - then you're in the wrong forum. As others have noted above, you're better off in the "Cellaring/Aging" forum for suggestions for beers that cellar well or, for other beers, the main "Beer Talk" forum or your regional forum.
