Beer Shelf Life

[Bubba - NJ]

I was talking with a shop owner and he mentioned his wife gave him a 15 year old bottle of Chimay Premier (red label) . Best Belgian Ale he ever had ! The first Chimay Premier I ever drank was in my fridge for 2 years cause I was afraid to drink it . It was an amazing beverage . And now it's my favorite beer . I put a whole case away around November 09' to age . I have read that to age beer the bottles should be standing up as opposed to laying down like wine bottles . Good luck with your quest .

Originally Posted by volfan

The best beers to age are bottle-conditioned so that aging will improve flavor. IPAs tend to lose some of the hops freshness to me when they age so I consume them young but Belgian Doubles and Triples as well as strong ales and stouts/porters have the best chance to age and improve. With that said, a 6 year old Magnum of Chimay blue might possibly be the best beer I have ever had.

YMMV but caveat emptor that high temps and light are not friends of beer and yes, standing is the only way to age beer.

http://blog.beeriety.com/2009/07/13/...to-aging-beer/

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/store

scottie

missed scottie's post. Not sure that I agree with the part about IPA's though. IIRC IPA's were developed by the British to preserve the ale (through the extensive use of hops) on it's long trip to India.

Originally Posted by volfan

Correct, Vic. The issue is that it preserves the beer but the beer loses freshness. After a lengthy cellaring, the hops bitterness leaves the taste and you are left with whatever malty sweetness was there before. Sometimes good, sometimes bad but not what you put down for the nap.

My favorite IPA, Pliny, even puts it on the label to drink it fresh for the IPA flavor.

scottie

Thanks Scottie I learned something there.

In a different caragory but on the same subject, Mead also can benefit from taking a nap