Why did you start your cellar?

My cellar consists of two wine coolers with shelves at home and a larger space at a wine cellar that I rent that is kept at a constant 50-55 degrees F and 60-70% humidity--perfect cellaring conditions. I don't do a lot of experimentation to "see what happens." I started my cellar to properly store the bottles I've invested money in and, for the most part, to age styles with a history of aging (lambics and other belgian styles, old ales, barleywines, and to a lesser degree RIS's) or brews that the brewer has recommended for aging.

 

I started because of Deschutes and GI with their "best after" and "develops for up to 5 years" shit. Shouldn't have ever subscribed. Now I've got a butt-load of beer, and I'm starting to think the majority of the beer I'm aging is not the profile I'm going for. I can only hope the beers I love fresh continue to arrive annually, and don't get the midwest-beer-shelf-****-a-thon that my favorite regional breweries generally avoid.

 

I see mine as less of an aging cellar and more of a being able to drink something when I want to cellar. What I mean is, while there are a few bottles in there that I'm holding with the intent on seeing what aging will impart, the majority of my cellar is limited or seasonal releases that I grabbed at their release or through trade that I thought I'd like to have in order to share with friends or just drink for a special occasion. It's kind of a holding cell for good beer.

I realize a lot of the beer I like doesn't see shelf life very often or for very long, and contrary to a lot of opinions here, it will stand up to a few months of sitting without changing drastically (not talking about IPAs here people).

I feel like a lot of people think of their cellar as a long term aging device. I have some aspirations like that for a few of the beers I have (WWS, Stone IRS, BCBS, etc) but mostly it's just to make sure I have what I want when I want it. I'm not overly worried about a couple little hints of changes between what I taste and what 3 other people tasted 5 months ago.

Also, it makes my e-dick look huge!

 

Just have way more beer than I can drink at the moment and I want to see how some of them develop over time.

 

I found that I prefer lambic with a few years on it. Finding older bottles was becoming more difficult so I decided to just buy the gueuzes I like and let them sit for a few years. A lot cheaper and easier than trying to get multiple bottles already aged.

 

I started mine because it's nice to be able to go downstairs and pick a bottle of something good, decent ,excellent at any time of the day without having to run all over town trying to find something of equal quality .
That and I'm a beer hoarder -

 

To see what will happen to the beer.

 

In general, what beers do you find age better than others, then?

 

Because Minnesota liquor stores are closed on Sundays.

 

I'm the same way, starting buying too much for the fridge, bought three small fridges, still was buying too much beer. Aged a few, loved it, went full boat into the cellar. Sold one of the fridges to buy more beer for the cellar.

 

simple bought 3 and drank one....

 

I too blame Deschutes and Goose Island. I mean they are just calling me out with those "best after" dates. Basically challenging me to wait to drink their beer. I've done a pretty good job at keeping my 170 bottles to styles that are "ok" to age. Haven't totally regretted building up my cellar yet as I am one for experimentation.

 

I'm not sure yet. I just started it a few months ago. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to the DFH Olde School especially.

 

Roommate bet me 20 dollars I couldn't resist drinking my last pumpking of the year. He owes me 20 dollars, plus a shitload for all the bottles in my cellar...

 

Started because I wanted to see how some beers I enjoyed fresh would age, namely brews like DFH Olde School Barleywine and WWS. Have continued because I just started buying way too much beer that has 'cellarable' qualities and have little time to drink it all.

 

To safely store brewerly only local homer releases until they reach a point of scarcity and desirability such that I can maximize their trade value.

 

My 'cellar' is really just a shelf where I store my beer. I only keep about 20-30 at a time, with the intent of aging about 3-4. The rest are just for me to have when I'm in the mood.


......but I drive a really big car.

 

I started it to see what time does to beer initially, as well as to build verticals. That being said, I have found that aging mellows beers, forms a more unified flavor profile, and adds a touch of oxidation occasionally. With a relocation looming, I am drinking through what I have and am only cellaring a couple types of brands or styles of beers (DL, Darkness, BCBS, OSA, and a modest collection of Lambic, Gueuze, and American Wilds).

I have generally found I wrapped up too much money to have beers sit in boxes, but then again it's pretty awesome to pull out an '07 BCBS when I am looking for a barrel aged beer to drink and I can't wait to try some of the gueuze I have stashed away 20 years down the road.

 

I simply buy beer faster than I drink it. When my wife got tired of me taking up space in the fridge in the house, I had to go out and buy one for the garage. And my purchases continue to outpace my consumption (probably bought 30 bottles this month, via travel to CA and family travel to MI), so my "cellar" keeps growing.

Unfortunately, I dont have regular drinking friends (my geographically closest friend who drinks beer thinks Leinenkugels is craft beer), and my wife doesnt drink beer, so I'll never catch up.....

 

It was all a dream,I used to read word up magazine.Salt and Peppa and Heavy D up in the limosine.

Nah,seriously....I started beer trading after getting on this site and started to build up bottles and learn lots about this here craft beer movement.Locally, I also started buying some of my fav. cellar brews that I esp. love and before I knew it......BAM! I've got a cellar.Haven't looked back.

Cheers and Enjoy........