Beer Shelf Life

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