The stuff justs tastes better the longer you wait...Even just holding off for 5 or 6 weeks as opposed to 3 can improve the brew immensely...
I brewed a small batch of Pumpkin Porter around thanksgiving..I couldn't find any recipes for P P's anywhere, just ales...so I didn't want to risk a full batch...I fiddled around with it til it looked like it's be a good recipe, then took it to one of my lhbs's and the owner tweaked it a bit more...
So I brewed it...and bottled it in some 22 ounce pet bottles leftover from the mr beer days... After the third week of bottle conditioning I popped one in the fridge for a few days... Tasted like ****e...
2 weeks later did it again...still tasted lousy...a couple weeks later and...."hmmm...not bad! I think I'll have another one just to make sure it was a fluke...nope, that one is pretty good as well."
I left them alone til last week...Nearly three months in the bottle and now the best descriptor is "WOW! I Made this!!! Too bad I didn't make a full batch!"
Sadly I have one little lonely one left...but I have enough now in the pipeline that I can leave it alone and see how it will be in another 3 months....or maybe longer.
I usually liken it to cooking...that certain leftovers; spagetti sauces, stews, chilli's taste better the next day or a few days after...like all the flavors marry together.
I've recommended to some n00bs to try this experiment. After 2 weeks in the bottle to chill ONE for 2 days...Taste it and take notes about the flavors, the aromas, etc. Don't panic if it tastes funny, just write down what you think.
7 days later do it again (at the 3 week mark).
Of course somewhere in here they should have brewed another batch of beer...Hopefully at the same time they moved their first batch to secondary...
Do it again at the 4 week mark, and if you're will power holds out do it for the 5th and 6th weeks... Then start drinking it, but leave one bottle aside and pull it out 3-6 months later along with the notes they took over the 6 weeks of bottle conditioning...Look over the notes they took while drinking this more mature beer.
I'm sitting here drinking a sweet stout that I brewed the day after Christmas...1 week primary, 2 secondary and it's been in the bottle since then. The bottle I'm drinking just hit it's stride, and it is amazing...The sweetness has mellowed some...and the hint of chocolate from the steeping grains have come to the forefront...both in the nose and on the tongue...This is the first time I've detected it...
Patience, young Jedi!