Comments on: Thoughts on aging beer like wine http://appellationbeer.com/blog/thoughts-on-aging-beer-like-wine/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:38:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stan Hieronymus http://appellationbeer.com/blog/thoughts-on-aging-beer-like-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-4334 Stan Hieronymus Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:01:07 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=130#comment-4334 I'm a serial offender when it comes to stashing beer so I agree - though it still ticks me off when a let a beer go over the edge. There is no exact science. A '95 Thomas Hardy might be totally disappointing and a '92 TH (that we bought at a Quick Stop in Amarillo, Texas, in 1999) that's been stored beside it will be great. So you're right - I should have noted the joy of opening a greater bottle, and that it can still be satisfying when a bottle isn't quite great. I'm not so sure, though, that I want to see too many "vintage" beers showing up on restaurant menus. Consumers may be disappointed, or worse, think they are supposed to be more for oxidized beer. I’m a serial offender when it comes to stashing beer so I agree – though it still ticks me off when a let a beer go over the edge.

There is no exact science. A ’95 Thomas Hardy might be totally disappointing and a ’92 TH (that we bought at a Quick Stop in Amarillo, Texas, in 1999) that’s been stored beside it will be great.

So you’re right – I should have noted the joy of opening a greater bottle, and that it can still be satisfying when a bottle isn’t quite great.

I’m not so sure, though, that I want to see too many “vintage” beers showing up on restaurant menus. Consumers may be disappointed, or worse, think they are supposed to be more for oxidized beer.

]]> By: Steve Beaumont http://appellationbeer.com/blog/thoughts-on-aging-beer-like-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-4239 Steve Beaumont Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:31:20 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=130#comment-4239 Fair enough, Stan, but I think what your story is missing is the thrill of not knowing what's coming up when you open a bottle of aged beer, good or bad. Case in point was a Niagara Falls Eisbock from 1995 I opened the other day, after discovering it in my cellar, much to my surprise. I fully expected it to be in poor shape, having had bad experiences with vintages of this beer in years following about 1993, but it was surprisingly sweet, rich and more complex than it was when put down. Was it a great beer? No, but the surprise and excitement of finding it in admirable shape made up for any failings it might have had. Aging almost anything, from Fuller's Vintage Ale to Cheval Blanc to Laphroaig, is a crap shoot, and to me, that's a good part of what makes it so much fun. Fair enough, Stan, but I think what your story is missing is the thrill of not knowing what’s coming up when you open a bottle of aged beer, good or bad. Case in point was a Niagara Falls Eisbock from 1995 I opened the other day, after discovering it in my cellar, much to my surprise. I fully expected it to be in poor shape, having had bad experiences with vintages of this beer in years following about 1993, but it was surprisingly sweet, rich and more complex than it was when put down. Was it a great beer? No, but the surprise and excitement of finding it in admirable shape made up for any failings it might have had.

Aging almost anything, from Fuller’s Vintage Ale to Cheval Blanc to Laphroaig, is a crap shoot, and to me, that’s a good part of what makes it so much fun.

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