Can I age a beer for 19yrs??

[Bobby_M]

By the time that kid is 19, you'll be looking for a bottle to bust over their head. Don't waste the good stuff. I'm kidding, sort of. ;-)

 

[Toga]

I agree with staying away from aging beer. Personally I would go for a good liquor. Cognac ages quite well. A bottle of Courvoisier VSOP would be my first choice as it is an excellent cognac and not too pricey. Second would be a bottle of Remy Martin VSOP or if you want to buy a really nice bottle to age a bottle of Remy Martin XO would be superb.

 

[MikeRoBrew1]

.... sorry but i find that very weird. Just make beer. It doesnt really have anything to do with having a kid. I would be embarrassed if my dad did that. Sorry to seem negative.

 

[Blackgaurd_Brewing]

I wouldnt, I would love it if my Dad had the foresight to do something like this for my 21st birthday.
My input is Mead, Red wine, or good Whiskey.

 

[steinsato]

I think it's a great idea, My mother was given a bottle of Crown Royal in 1976 when she graduated college, she gave me that exact same bottle in 2002 when I graduated college. I have still not opened it so I have an unopened 34 year old bottle of Crown Royal. Not sure when I'll open it. I don't think whiskey changes much once it's bottled, so hanging onto it isn't really helping it anymore but it does have quite a bit of sentimental value to it.

 

[bknifefight]

I like the suggestion to age several things and see how they turn out.

 

[buzzkill]

Dude.. this is great. when I was about 19 my dad had a beer with me. It was Coors,but hell, I was 19 and not old enough to drink yet. how cool would it have been if it wasnt Coors. I will always remember my first fizzy swill with dad at the races.

 

[SeaBass512]

Whiskey, or any hard liquor, won't age at all once bottled. My great-uncle passed away a few years ago, and as we were cleaning out his house, we found his liquor cabinet. He wasn't really a drinker at all, as the 30+ unopened bottles told us. My uncles and I each walked away with a number of whiskeys, gins, and a few random wine bottles. There was one opened whiskey bottle, a decorative bottle with a glass "cork" in the top, and even that was still good. The oldest bottle I got was a Seagram's from 1958 or 59. I have a few Canadian Club's from the early 60's, and the one we opened is great.

While on a winery tour last year, I told the owner what I had. He said liquor that is that old is as good as it was the day they bottled it: it doesn't get better with age like wine does. Also, being that old, it was before the time the FDA stepped in with their requirements, so its exactly as the producers intended.

As far as a gift for your kid goes (congrats btw!) you could try aging a strong beer as suggested, and also get a vintage bottle of something stronger and hold on to it. My friend's dad supplied the booze for his 21st b'day party with friends, a party that is still a legend in their circle. It means even more to him now that his father has passed away. He'll never forget what his dad did for him that day, even if he can't remember the night!

 

[vinyl_key]

Why stop at 1?
Do a whiskey, a mead, and a beer!

 

[Megascottydemon]

I also just found out I am going to be a father, and thought that would be a fun thing to do. I think something simple like a STRONG, single malt barley wine would be perfect.

 

[conpewter]

I would buy some port to age, that would be nice. As for something to make though, I'd go for a burnt mead. When bottling I'd wax the bottles to help even more with keeping oxidation at bay. The nice thing I've found about the burnt mead is that you don't need to go hunting for some special honey, you can use what you buy at the store since you'd be boiling off any subtle flavors anyway the star of the show is the caramelization.

 

[Runyanka]

Do wine. A nice Port.

 

[stageseven]

I think it's a great idea. You've heard the concerns of others on the board, and they all seem pretty much centered around oxidation and lack of carbonation. I don't see either issue as unsurmountable, oxidation can be combated by being careful with your beer, using oxygen-absorbing caps, and waxing the bottles. Losing carbonation really doesn't seem like much of a problem to me, with a good barleywine or imperial stout that's meant to be consumed a little warmer, I prefer to have it very lightly carbonated.

You could even make it a little bit of a ritual for yourself - every year on their birthday you open a bottle and see how it's coming along, then when they finally turn 19 you have a bottle or two to share. Worst case scenario then is that you have to drink it all early by yourself and figure something else out.

 

[malkore]

I too vote for a big mead, proper aging, and probably a little sulfiting to keep off oxidation.

I've made mead that stood the test of time for 11 years without going 'bad'. Past its peak maybe...but it was still tasty. 750ml wine bottles and standard 8.5 corks. No waxing, and actually no sulfites either.

 

[tnvol]

A nice guitar

I agree. I have a couple Les Pauls that will be given to my boys when they are old enough to appreciate them. The beer is a great idea though. I hope it works out for you!

 

[AnOldUR]

Brewed a RIS to celebrate my granddaughters birth last November. We'll be drinking it in a couple of weeks for her first birthday. It's kegged, but I did bottle half a dozen bombers that will be cellared. The plan is to brew a big beer every November in her name and give a bottle of each to her for her 21st birthday. This year it will be an Old Ale.

Now I just have to live long enough to complete the project.

 

[tnvol]

Brewed a RIS to celebrate my granddaughters birth last November. We'll be drinking it in a couple of weeks for her first birthday. It's kegged, but I did bottle half a dozen bombers that will be cellared. The plan is to brew a big beer every November in her name and give a bottle of each to her for her 21st birthday. This year it will be an Old Ale.

Now I just have to live long enough to complete the project.

What a great idea! Long live you sir!

 

[AnOldUR]

Long live you sir!

Her name is Eva.
Long live the EvaLution series!




Thinking about dipping the tops in wax to help reduce oxidation. Think this will help?

 

[tnvol]

Her name is Eva.
Long live the EvaLution series!




Thinking about dipping the tops in wax to help reduce oxidation. Think this will help?

lol Then yes. Long live the EvaLution series!

 

[Megascottydemon]

I had a Saison de Pipaix, 6%, 14 years old, that was amazing. Funktastic and spicy. I'd much rather have that than an old ass wine.

I agree with that. I had a 1996 vintage a couple of years ago and it was very nice. A little oxidation, but that may be because it was kept at 70 on a store shelf. Cellar temps would have done wonderful things.

 

[HerotBrewer]

Just echoing what many have said. I looked into the "long term aging" question when I got married. If you're going commercial, I'd get a case of good port.

If you're making it, I'd do a big mead. But if you want, go for broke and do the barleywine too. You have nothing to lose, as others have said. Either way I think it's a great idea.

 

[chuckp]

I have some 15 year old triple wheat that I found and it is quite good. I forgot about it and found it in a move lately. It was bottled in ceramic bottles and in a cold cellar at my parents. I was quite shocked. It changed flavor a bit and lost some hop flavor and aroma but was extremely drinkable. I am trying to see if I can age beer longer and have good results. After this I think beer can be kept for a long time if stored properly. Also this beer was bottle conditioned.

 

[Kokopuff829]

That would be a very nice special gift.

 

[PhelanKA7]

I've thought about this myself as I'm about to be a father for the first time as well. Personally I have decided to wait and see if they show any interest in my brewing and then make something that can age up till their 21st bday from there. It'll give me some breathing room to get into AG brewing so I can make a good ageable beer anyway

 

[devils4ever]

I had a barleywine in my attic for a long time. I think it was over 15 years. Even under these extreme conditions, the beer was very good. Very drinkable. I would say, "Go for it!" :rockin: At worse, you loose a couple of bucks and some time.

 

[nos33]

just wait till your kid is 19 and then pass the trade on. or make one when it is 18 and keep it till their 19th birthday