Starting a Cellar

Bells Black note will age well. I have had it fresh and it is awesome and I have had it with 1 year and it was really good still. Coffee beers I would not age over a year because the coffee flavor and aroma will be be depleted (KBS, Cappuccino stout). People do age KBS longer then a year but IMO they are better fresh.

 

Barleywines, imperial stouts, old ales and sours are generally a "must have" for cellars.

Really though, cellaring is all about your personal taste. Have a beer now, if you have a wonder of how it would be after sitting around for 6-12 months, buy a few more and put them away. Some people love 120 Minute fresh, others like it after 3 years. It's up to you. It's all about trial and error.

And never cellar a beer you've never had before. Doesn't make sense.

 

Don't do it it's a trap.

 

Most of the time, a stout will lose nearly as much as it will gain (perhaps more) with aging. I don't understand why it's such a popular choice. Not that there aren't plenty of stouts that are awesome with some age on them, it's just there are bigger fish to fry. My top three:

1. Barleywines - they will lose the 'harsh' edge and gain so much red or dark fruit and, if you're lucky, some leather and smoke. I love an old barleywine. Unfortunately sediment could become pretty nasty after a while, but nothing a tea strainer couldn't fix.

Must-have examples: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot... most of the others I keep are locals (Central City Thor's Hammer, Howe Sound Wooly Bugger)

2. Belgian Quads - The rich and fruity nature of a quad can take a few years to peak. These tend to be rewarding cellar beers.

Must-have examples: Rochefort 10, Westy 12, HOTD Pannepooch, De Struise Pannepot

3. Gueuze - The primary limit to aging a gueuze is your own patience and perseverance. The 'old' characteristic of a gueuze only gets better and better.

Must-have examples: Drie Fontenien, Tilquin, Cantillon

There are seven styles in total I choose to cellar; the other four are old ales, stouts, sours, and saisons. Old ale for me is pretty much just Hair of the Dog (any, really) and Fuller's Vintage - though there are other examples out there.