My beer collection - any I should drink?

KW1 · Post by **KW1** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:54 pm

I have amassed a bit of a beer collection over time. I used to be in Ontario, but no more. It is harder now to get craft and international beer.

I'm not into IPA much so you won't see a lot. My current faves have been belgian styles. Got volume there. More recently I really started to enjoy sours and lambics such as Cantillon (not so much Linemans). I have to see what I can find for that style.

Recently a private liquor store has opened in my area so some selection is definitely coming again.

Some has been stored for a while now. Are there any in my collection that I should get to sooner rather than later?

I have volume of a few beer so I posted #'s with them.

Ola Dubh 40
Westvleteren 12 - 84
Ithaca Flower Power
Aventinus Weizen Eisbock
Aventinus 2003 Wheat Doppelbock
Ayinger Celebrator
Delerium Nocturnum
George Gale and Co Prize Old Ale
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
Scaldis
Scaldis Noel
Scaldis Prestige Cuvee Speciale
Stille Naht
De Dolle Stille Nacht
Thomas Hardy's Ale
St. Bernardus ABT 12
Left Hand Brewing Co Milk Stout
Great Lakes Brewing Co Edmund Fitzgerald
Reel Ales Monkfish Belgium Tripel
St. Austell Admirals Ale
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Porter
La Trappe Quadrupel - 75
La Trappe Tripel
La Vache Folle Imperial Milk Stout
Ayinger Weizen Bock
Maredsous Blond
Maredsous Brun
Maredsous Triple
Red Racer IPA - will drink next summer
Dieu Du Ciel Peche Mortel
Dieu Du Ciel Aphrodisiaque
Dieu Du Ciel Rigor Mortis
Howe Sound Pothole Filler Imperial Stout
Les Trois Mousquetaires Doppelbock
Les Trois Mousquetaires Weizen Imperial
Les Trois Mousquetaires Porter Balique
Westmalle Dubbel
Westmalle Tripel
Rochefort 8 - 50
Rochefort 10 - 50
Gulden Draak - 48
Lindemans Framboise Lambic
Lindemans Cassis Lambic
Konig Ludwig Weissbier
La Chouffe
Kwak
St Ambroise 2009 Vintage Ale
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter
Unibroue 17 Grande Réserve
Tripel Karmeliet
Cantillon Vigneronne Beer
Cantillon Cuvee St Gilloise Beer 750ml - 13
Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus 750ml - 12
Cantillon Grand Cru Bruocsella 750ml - 12
Ooude Gueuze Tilquin A L'Ancienne 375ml
3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze 375ml
3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze Golden Blend 375ml
De Ranke Kriek 750ml
De Ranke Cuvee de Ranke 750ml
Verhaeghe Duchesse De Bourgogne 750ml
Oud Beersel Framboise
Oud Beersel Oude Kriek
Oud Beersel Oude Geuze Vieille
Rodenbach Grand Cru
AleSmith Grand Cru

nickw · Post by **nickw** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:02 pm

Westvleteren 12 - 84

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:12 pm

nickw wrote:
Westvleteren 12 - 84

The timing of this post is interesting, to say that least.

cmadd · Post by **cmadd** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:13 pm

Let's all post what we have in our cellars!

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:20 pm

cmadd wrote:Let's all post what we have in our cellars!

I don't want to make the OP and his 84 Westy 12's feel inadequate...

boney · Post by **boney** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:23 pm

cmadd wrote:Let's all post what we have in our cellars!

Colt 45. That's it. Enough of it to get me through the upcoming zombie apocolypse, mofos.

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:27 pm

cmadd wrote:Let's all post what we have in our cellars!

beer, wine and whiskey

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:29 pm

matt7215 wrote:
cmadd wrote:Let's all post what we have in our cellars!
beer, wine and whiskey

I have beer that is aged in wine and whiskey barrels. Same diff...

KW1 · Post by **KW1** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:44 pm

nickw wrote:
Westvleteren 12 - 84

TheSevenDuffs wrote:The timing of this post is interesting, to say that least.

LOL. It definitely stands out, but the timing is coincidental. I've been lurking for a few years, but waiting for the past 3 months for user activation.

I posted back at the beginning of the month on the Westy LCBO thread that I had the westy's. I got them in SK and AB months ago. I was able to pre-order and there was no limit. I ordered also from a few places to make sure that I would receive some and all of them came in for me. I got 15 packs total (almost 4 cases) and gave one pack to a friend as a gift. I could not believe that we were getting Westvleteren 12 and by all means it appears to be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Since they also age and store very well I purchased for the long term.

Back to my original post...

While I have been into the craft/international beer scene for about 6 years, I don't have much experience with long term beer storage. I'm pretty good at storing and not drinking, to the point where I've over-aged a fair share of wine.

I don't want to do that with my beer. So I'm looking for any advice on beer that I shouldn't store for the long term. I'm guessing much of it is safe, but a few probably should be drank. Any help is appreciated.

I also posted this list as it may serve a dual purpose in the future here. Next summer I will visit TO and may use this list to set up some trading.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 6:01 pm

KW1 wrote: While I have been into the craft/international beer scene for about 6 years, I don't have much experience with long term beer storage. I'm pretty good at storing and not drinking, to the point where I've over-aged a fair share of wine. I don't want to do that with my beer. So I'm looking for any advice on beer that I shouldn't store for the long term. I'm guessing much of it is safe, but a few probably should be drank. Any help is appreciated.

I also posted this list as it may serve a dual purpose in the future here. Next summer I will visit TO and may use this list to set up some trading.

A general rule of thumb...

Don't age:
IPA/DIPAs
Any beer below 8% ABV (aside from wild ales, lambics, etc)
Stouts with coffee added unless you don't mind a diminishing coffee profile

General rule of thumb: hops fade considerably in a short period of time, so don't age hoppy beers unless there is also a substantial malt base (like American Barley Wines or American Strong Ales)

Good to age:
(generally 8% ABV +, the higher the ABV, the better aging potential)
Imperial Stouts
Strong Belgian Ales
American Strong Ales
Old Ales
Barleywines
Wheatwines
American Wild Ales
Lambics/Guezes

I may be wrong on the Wild Ales/Lambics because they are not a preferred style and I don't age them myself but I believe they are good to age even at low ABV.

I haven't been doing that for that long myself, but I think these are good general rules of thumb.

cmadd · Post by **cmadd** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:03 pm

Don't wait on the Red Racer IPA, it will be a shadow of itself come summer.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:57 pm

cmadd wrote:Don't wait on the Red Racer IPA, it will be a shadow of itself come summer.

I have even noticed significant differences in Red Racer after 3 months...

Torontoblue · Post by **Torontoblue** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:14 pm

TheSevenDuffs wrote: A general rule of thumb...
Don't age:

Any beer below 8% ABV (aside from wild ales, lambics, etc)

But you can age Black Oak's Double Chocolate Cherry Stout for a good few years. A 5 year old bottle has great soured cherry & cocoa flavours. The Nutcracker ages well, too.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:17 pm

Torontoblue wrote:
TheSevenDuffs wrote: A general rule of thumb...
Don't age:

Any beer below 8% ABV (aside from wild ales, lambics, etc)
But you can age Black Oak's Double Chocolate Cherry Stout for a good few years. A 5 year old bottle has great soured cherry & cocoa flavours. The Nutcracker ages well, too.

Good to know. I haven't tried aging too much below 8%.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:18 pm

I say don't drink any of them. Make an acrylic coffee table out of them instead. It's prettier!