Starting a Cellar

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by IACanMan, Dec 22, 2014.

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  1. IACanMan

    IACanMan Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2014 Iowa

    Hey everybody, over the Christmas break I am going to be creating my first cellar. I have previously kept some beer in my basement closet, but I decided I wanted to do it right. I am going to be buying a chest freezer and a ranco to store at the temp I desire.

    I have a BA Mexican Cake & a TG Assassin I wanted to start the cellar off with, but I was actually thinking of drinking the Mexican Cake over Christmas this year. How do you guys stay patient when you have good beer in your cellar. And most importantly, what beer should I be targeting in my cellar?
     
  2. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Pooh-Bah (2,303) Sep 4, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Fun project. Every time you go on a beer run buy an extra bottle or something affordable that's cellerable. Soon you will have a few cases and I tend to find when I have a decent amount of stashed away it's easier to not touch.
     
    Phoam likes this.
  3. Wiscobrew

    Wiscobrew Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2011 Nevada

    This is great advice.

    I try to buy a 4 pack of cellerable beer on my beer runs. This way I can drink a couple save a couple and build up my stash.
     
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  4. TurkeyFeathers

    TurkeyFeathers Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2014 New York

    IMO Drink that Mexican cake for Christmas.
    Imperial Stouts, barleywines are a good start to cellar.
    Bells Expedition Stout
    Brooklyn Choc stout
    Dogfish WWS/120
    St Bernardus ABT12
    Chimay Blue
    Trappiste 8 and 10
    Ten Fidy
    BA Narwhal
    Rum aged Pumking
    Allagash triple
    Bigfoot barleywine
    are a few I have in cellar
     
    Jnashed likes this.
  5. CraigP83

    CraigP83 Initiate (0) Dec 19, 2014 Minnesota
    Trader

    After browsing this site I considered cellaring beer, But I realized I drink beer entirely too often to be able to start and maintain a cellar. Plus the space under my stairs in 68*F so I'd have to figure out a way to lower the temp and stabilize it.
     
  6. IACanMan

    IACanMan Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2014 Iowa

    Awesome, thanks for the info guys.
     
  7. MykeJ

    MykeJ Zealot (719) Oct 6, 2013 Minnesota

    My biggest mistake was only buying one of a beer. If you can, buy two or more so when you are tempted you still have one more. My favorite to cellar that is widely available here is Bells Expedition Stout, it ages nice and comes in a six pack.
     
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  8. TurkeyFeathers

    TurkeyFeathers Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2014 New York

    ^
    This
     
  9. BobBarker

    BobBarker Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2014 Louisiana

    The one I would add that is easily acquired, when released, is stone russian imperial stout which ages fantastically and is like $7 a bottle.
     
    elkabong likes this.
  10. TurkeyFeathers

    TurkeyFeathers Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2014 New York

    When is that one released ? So I've been looking for it prematurely ?!
     
  11. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,388) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    as others have said buy 1 and drink 1 to see how it changes with age... its easy to cellar some brews 10-fidy ,narwhal Brooklyn chocolate stout Bigfoot are all easy to obtain and age great
     
  12. Ruderaven52

    Ruderaven52 Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2013 California

    Stone IRS. Releases on tax day (or that week leading up or afterwards). The name of the beer makes it easy to remember. Enjoy!
     
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  13. IACanMan

    IACanMan Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2014 Iowa

    Thanks, I would love to get a few Brooklyn chocolate stouts. What do you think would be a fair trade with some Toppling Goliath pale ales? 4 Chocolate Stouts for 2 TG bombers?
     
  14. TurkeyFeathers

    TurkeyFeathers Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2014 New York

    A 4 pak of Brooklyn chocolate stout here is $9 so figure the cost and rarity of Topping Golaith to compare
     
  15. atone315

    atone315 Initiate (0) Oct 8, 2008 Wisconsin

    If you are new to aging beers, start with cheap ones, i.e. Bigfoot, Expedition. If you don't like the results, not a big loss.
     
  16. Jwale73

    Jwale73 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Aug 15, 2007 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I am not a cellaring expert by any means; however, generally speaking, my biggest disappointments have been cellaring big ticket beers (think Dark Horizon, KTG, etc.) and my greatest pleasures have been from shelf beers (e.g. Old Stock, Samichlaus, Chimay, Rochefort, Brooklyn Black Chocolate, Oerbier). I think where you need to be most conservative is with the nuanced beers - coffee, fruit, spice, etc. (high abv and sours inclusive). While a year or two can be the sweet spot for some beers (I like BCBS with 2 years on it to smooth out the alcohol heat), it can be the kiss of death for others. As previously mentioned, if you can afford multiples of something, that is the route to go; however, that's not always feasible given rarity and price. In these situations, it's good to try to spread the love out amongst your tasting group so you can test bottles out over time - each person takes turn popping a bottle from their cellar. Another helpful element to consider is periodically monitoring reviews, especially for one-offs, to see what's happening.
     
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  17. Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky

    Ol_Johnny_Skippelwicky Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2013 Minnesota

    I opened a 2012 Unibroue Trois Pistoles today and it was fantastic. I would say most of their brews (but especially Trois and La Fin Du Monde) are great candidates for cheap cellarable choices. Though more costly, Expedition is a must in any cellar. Cases worth IMO
     
  18. elektrikjester

    elektrikjester Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2008 Georgia

    The best way to stay patient, in my experience, is to cellar relatively common beer. @Jwale73 has the right idea. Limited beers (usually those where you can only obtain one) tend to create the most heartache: "Do I drink now? Do I cellar for later" (Hint: The answer is almost always "drink now.")

    Instead concentrate on creating verticals of seasonal beers worth cellaring. Bell's Expedition, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Founders Imperial Stout, and Stone Russian Imperial Stout are all fine examples. Relatively cheap and easy to obtain when in season and perfect for creating verticals given their track records. And since they're so easy to obtain, you'll always be able to have extras on hand to drink now and maintain your patience.

    I don't give advice, but I'll throw one thing out there. Beware the "accidental cellar." There's my "intentional cellar" of things I mean to age, which only about 30 bottles or so. And there's the "accidental cellar" of beer that I bought over the past year, which includes an additional 50 bombers and 50 bottles. Most of it is ageable, but it's far more beer than any sane person can manage. I'll be spending much of 2015 drinking down all of this beer.
     
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  19. elektrikjester

    elektrikjester Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2008 Georgia

    I knew it was April, but I didn't realize there was an intentional reference. Ha!
     
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  20. Ironstutz

    Ironstutz Initiate (0) Aug 12, 2014 New York

    Great info guys! I just bought a wine cellar and am also trying to figure out what is worthy and worthwhile to age. i am sure the info is out there a few hundred other places, but any recommended temps for STOUTS (55?) and SOURS?

    thanks!
     
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