Longevity of bottled beer

[fretlessman71]

Is there such a thing as aging a beer TOO long? I recently saw two varieties of a harvest ale (can't remember the brand), and the 1997 was going for $4.99 and the 1989 was going for $2.99. This is an 11.5% alcohol beer! Could this store not know what they're doing? What gives?

[hopjack13]

depends largely on the beer, orval will keep for 5 years as well as some other trappist ales like the chimay grand reserve i believe.
also a lot of alesmith products recomend you age them at least 24-36 months before opening them. i have some stone verticle epics that will not fully mature untill around 12-12-12.
but the beer must be kept at an even cellar temp and in a dry dark place. im not sure how important the dry part is but we all know what light does. so if they're selling vintage ales that have been kept properly , i say "GO FOR IT!!!" hey it saves you the hassle of aging them your self, and every time you run out of beer and don't feel like going to the store to get more you can here them calling your name saying "help , help , get us out of here , it's dark and cold and we want to be in your stomach where it is nice and warm!" temptations hell sometimes. i just recently broke down and cracked a 2000 fullers vintage ale i was saving . but damn it was worth it! mainly because i don't remember the occasion i was saving it for.

[hopjack13]

also their good to barter with if they're up to par!

and i still think your avatar looks like my 6th anaversary porter!

[Beerconnoisseur]

My experience has been that many beers have a "sweet spot" when it comes to aging. Drink a batch of homebrew too early, and you have these "aloe vera-like" notes that come through in the flavor. Drink a batch too late, and you have a sharp, dry aftertaste, as the yeast consumes nearly all of the malt sugars. If you are shooting for that flavor profile, fine, but I've gotten the best results after 10 days of aging, typically.

However, if a beer is richer and more complex, like a Barleywine, some Scotch ales, or even a good lager, then additional aging can help. Play around and drink what you like. :cool:

[sallad]

so, for $8 total you can pick up these brews. whats the worst that could happen? its so gawd awful that you dump it. the best? you find a superbly aged ambrosia the likes of which will never be seen again!

[hopjack13]

true dat true dat

[fretlessman71]

I GOT it!

TWO of 'em, in fact.... J. W. Dee's Harvest Ale 1989....

...and here are my thoughts:

If you ever got to try Sam Adams Triple Bock, you'll have a vague idea of what this tastes like. It was much thinner than the 3bock, but had similar notes in it. Carbonation didn't hold up very well, and either did the yeast cake at the bottom (yeast was floating through the beer after just a few ounces were poured). It didn't seem to affect the flavor adversely, however. Grape, sherry, and soy sauce overtones (I know; you're thinking, "Wait a minute... I thought he said he LIKED this beer!") punctuate the malty character. Hops were present without being terribly omnipresent. Wow.... nothing like a 14 year old brew.

Think I'll have the other one when I come back from CO. Thanks guys!

[ray m]

Fretless...I was considering buying a bottle of 1998 vintage Harvest Ale, until the price came up at the register (no prices available on the shelf where I got it)---$8.49 for one 12 oz. bottle. I told the lady to put it back. You think the brew is worth that much?

[Beerconnoisseur]

Fretless:

The beer you're describing sounds just like the Oatmeal Stout I brewed recently (& left in the fermenter for 45 days!) It had the same flavor tones, but also a sharp, dry aftertaste. Less malt and nearly no hops flavor was apparent. But the alcohol content was something else!

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by ray m
Fretless...I was considering buying a bottle of 1998 vintage Harvest Ale, until the price came up at the register (no prices available on the shelf where I got it)---$8.49 for one 12 oz. bottle. I told the lady to put it back. You think the brew is worth that much?

Not when I can get it for $5 here! Same stuff. BTW, I think it's only a 9.5 oz. bottle. Even less of a deal!.....

If you really want to try it and arrange a swap let me know and I'll pick some up for you. Whereabouts are you? I'm in Colorado right now, and I'm planning on buying a lot of CO beer to bring back and trade. Let me know if there's anything you'd like! A good place to get ideas is www.arcticliquor.com . Talk soon!