Your first cellar beers

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by gillagorilla, Apr 30, 2013.

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  1. gillagorilla

    gillagorilla Pooh-Bah (2,691) Feb 27, 2013 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah

    I was just wondering what were the first beers that you cellared, because I am about to begin with 5 Bigfoots. I plan on drinking them at 6 month increments. Recently, I had it for the first time and I loved it. Actually, I had it either the same night or the night after I had a 2-3yr old 120 (I prefer it fresh). I love DFH and they got me into beer, but a fresh Bigfoot tastes like an amazing hoppy IPA to me, whereas the 120 was more of a BW.

    I also have an Orval that I am only aging because I want to open it on its bottling date of 6/10/11. I might got back and get some more to age a bit longer up until 2016 (best by). I don't plan on aging my 5 Golden Rings or Lower Class Barleywine, but I want to save them for my first bottle share.

    Also, what is the oldest Bigfoot you have had (BA or regular)? Anyone with preview flavor notes for me?
     
    #1 gillagorilla, Apr 30, 2013
  2. Phillyz

    Phillyz Initiate (0) May 20, 2010 Pennsylvania

    You're going to go back in time and opening it on 6/10/11? Tell me how you're doing this.

    But honestly, the first beer that I had that was cellared was a 2004 Lou Pepe Gueuze, and it was divine. The first beer that I, myself, threw in my cellar was a 2011 WWS, and it wasn't too shabby. Here's what I'm cellaring right now: http://www.cellarhq.com/cellar/philly
     
    #2 Phillyz, Apr 30, 2013
  3. gillagorilla

    gillagorilla Pooh-Bah (2,691) Feb 27, 2013 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah

    I knew I was going to get that. I figured I would just leave it as is. My first cellared beer was unwittingly a DFH Fort, which I didn't like but that was months before I was into craft beer. However, the first one that I had as a beer fan was a 2008 Double Bastard that my Stone rep ordered for me at a Stone Enjoy By 4/1/13 event, when I told her that I didn't like it fresh due to the burn but had enjoyed the other Bastards. I kind of wish I had gotten a flight of the 08, 10, 11 and 12 versions though.
     
    #3 gillagorilla, Apr 30, 2013
  4. Ahappyhiker2

    Ahappyhiker2 Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2013 New Jersey

    Funny that you experimented early on with aged 120 Minute. I too had a 3 year old 120 Minute as one of my first aged beers and I wasn't too impressed, definitely better fresh! My first beer that I threw in my cellar was a 2004 Schneider Aventinus, which I actually still have cause I'm going to drink it with 10 years on it. But after that I basically just tried everything I could get my hands on, and decided for myself whether to try and acquire it again and if so, whether to age it or not. Some beers are fantastic but you might only want it once a year, or even less than that.

    King Henry is a great example of a beer I had fresh that was probably the best beer I've ever had. After having it 6 months and a year after though, I personally believe that it's falling off and I've had enough of it that I'm ready to share the wealth and acquire other things. I traded a good amount of King Henry away recently to be able to try more rare beers that I've heard of. I would listen to others on here and gauge for yourself whether something will honestly improve with age or not. Bigfoot isn't a big deal, if it isn't good with age you can always buy more fresh, but it's been around long enough that we do know it improves. Good luck.
     
    #4 Ahappyhiker2, Apr 30, 2013
  5. Beerandraiderfan

    Beerandraiderfan Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2009 Nevada

    I beg of you to age your 5 golden rings. Unless you're a big fan of drinking gasoline and tabasco, then I say drink now. (Sorry Bruery, they can't all be winners. But a grand cru of nottenroth, smoking wood & 5 golden rings would stroke my morbid curiosity . . . but I digress.)

    '87 Bigfoot. Sweet, smooth, boozy, caramel & toffee. And nowhere near as oxidized as one might expect.
     
    #5 Beerandraiderfan, Apr 30, 2013
  6. BarrelAgedBrian

    BarrelAgedBrian Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2013 Massachusetts

    Sucaba 2012 and 2013 for me. Going to wait a couple years and do a vertical.
     
    #6 BarrelAgedBrian, May 1, 2013
  7. traPISSED

    traPISSED Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2013 Brazil

    Cantillon Lou Pepe Kriek, I used to not like lambics so it wasn't really cellared on purpose...I just didn't want to open it as I didn't like the style. Now I adore lambics, my favourite style by far!
     
    #7 traPISSED, May 1, 2013
  8. gillagorilla

    gillagorilla Pooh-Bah (2,691) Feb 27, 2013 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah

    Thanks for the suggestion. I will be aging it then.
     
    #8 gillagorilla, May 1, 2013
  9. HighWine

    HighWine Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2010 Illinois

    Good question. I think it must've been a 3-pack of North Coast Old Stock that tasted really hot fresh so I stuck it in a downstairs closet to mellow with my wine bottles.
     
    #9 HighWine, May 1, 2013
    inchrisin likes this.
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