What beers can age for 20+ years?

I'm thinking well made Barley wines.
Thomas Hardy ale if you can find it.
Huge Russian Imperial Stouts. AleSmith comes to mind.

Can't wait to see other suggestions.
I may have to do this myself. Hmmm, I'll only be 78 then...

 

Check this out first:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/store

I'd go with samplings of Goose Island Bourbon County line. Maybe a Dogfish Head World Wide Stout.

 

Wild Ales/Gueuzes/Lambics all age really well. The interesting things is that they change with age, so you may not be able to say it will get better or it will get worse, but it will be different. Pretty much every other style just gets less flavorful after that many years.

 

This. Depending on how expensive you're looking to get, or how hard to find, grab something like a Cantillon classic gueuze or a Tilquin gueuze. Probably your best bet to last that long and still have a chance at being good.

 

These articles are worth reading. Not all beer needs to be consumed straight away

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1536396/Beautiful-beer-lost-in-the-vaults-since-1869.html
http://zythophile.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/an-1875-arctic-ale-tasting/

 

Eisbocks are worth a shot as well. I could see aging one for 20 years. I do recommend wax sealing any non corked and caged bottles asap if you really do this just to be safe.

 

The label on the backside of Bois says that you can age it for decades, so possibly bois or any high abv beer from the bruery

 

Thomas Hardy is worth looking for. If you're looking for "birth year beers" stick to Belgium Gueuzes, Russian river sours (no one has done it, but suspect very good things), JW Lees (good Thomas Hardy replacement). Few beers hold up 20+ years. Stick to non-sours if you plan on having cigars involved. Excellent post, thanks!

Obligatory Cantillon bump

 

I agree with all of what has been contributed. Cantillon, JW Lee's, Thomas Hardy's, Gueuze, Lambic, etc. Stous, Barleywines, Old Ales, Strong Ales with high to very-high abv (8-12% or higher) and traditional Sours (though I would stay away from Berliner Weisse) could all age well. An Eisbock sounds like a good idea. I would avoid IPA, IIPA, etc., or other beers that showcase the hop profile.

Waxing is a good idea to ensure that no air gets in and no beer evaporates.

Courage Russian Imperial Stout is known for aging well into it's later years.

 

I think those beers in your profile pic would be an interesting choice.

 

Agreed with all these examples, but I'm chuckling at the fact he we probably sneak into your beer fridge and steal these around age 17, take one sip, and pour them out.

 

DFH World Wide Stout with 21 years on it has got to be damn interesting.

Great idea OP. Good luck. Here's hoping that he doesn't find the brew when he's 14 and pass it around with his buddies in the basement.

 

Bcbs I would not recommend. I think it's prime age is around 3 to 4 years and a lot of people confirm this.

Old stock, curmudgeon, Fred, Adam, Thomas hardys, random assortment of barley wines, a handful of lambics and geuze, a few gose, and lots if bigfoots is what I have cellared for my kids right now.

Also I'm ISO 09 Alaskan barley wine and 2012 for that matter (the year of my kids births)

Get a kvass, who knows those malt bombs might hold up really well especially if they're not in plastic

 

I think Utopias would be a solid choice. And definitely an impressive gesture and a great experience as you mentioned earlier. I've recently had the privilage of trying Millenium (1999) and 2002 and 2003 Utopias, and they were all fantastic.

 

It will be before year-end.