I think it’s safe to say that most of the general public is well aware that most wines can greatly improve with age. I know several people who not only age wine, but have custom temperature controlled wine cellars to do so, but did you know the same goes for beer?

Like wine, not all beer improves with age. Some, in fact, are only best when consumed within a few weeks of being bottled. And no, I’m not talking about the BMC’s (Bud, Miller and Coors). The beers that are great for aging advertise it right on their bottles. Take Goose Island’s Bourbon County Brand Stout, for example: “Ages Up to Five Years” is printed right on the front of the label. I recently had a bottle of it from 2007 and 2011. The 2007 was absolutely amazing while the 2011 lacked the characteristics and maturity that the 2007 had even though it was “fresh.”

Another fun thing done by those who cellar beer is “vertical tastings,” where they take one specific beer that comes out as a release each year and taste four or five different years of that beer to compare how the exact same beer changes over time and usually in a very positive way. Some beer lovers even have their favorite vintages of a specific beer.

Lastly, if your a wine connoisseur you know that the ideal temperature for aging red wine is around the 55 degree F mark. The same goes for aging beer,  so make a little room in your wine cellar and start a new collection.

It’s a whole other fun side in the world of beer…and I love it!!!

Cheers!