How old is your oldest beer? (And is it drinkable)

[Johnnyhitch1]

Someone told me that there are brewers that age their beers for years. To me, that sounds crazy for a low ABV that is common to beer.

So what's your oldest beer? Is it still drinkable, or is it poison?

Provide pictures if possible!

"Low ABV that is common to beer"

Not sure i understand what that means?
Ive had 19.5%abv Chocolate Rain, 18.5%abv Rumpkin, 15%abv Bois

Much higher abv of wine, unless your talking about spirits??

 

[IJesusChrist]

I tried to age out a batch of an oatmeal stout, I thought it would help with age but ended up being my water was too hard, so they never got any better. The good taste was really good, but the iron was just tepid and terrible. That was about 14 months.

I also tried to age out a wine my girlfriend made. I didn't know too much about wine making at the time and it ended up with probably an extremely low OG - probably around 1.05, and fermented drier than a desert with a noxious amount of H2S. 12 months did help, but it was going to take another 4 years to mellow out that H2S... and I didn't want to move it so I dumped it.

 

[Agate]

Sounds scary I hope it's sealed properly!
It's worth the risk, of course

Well now I'm inspired to try one of these. They were both poorly made in '98-99, back when I thought I knew something about brewing. The bomber on the left is an attempt at an RIS, and the one on the right is a pilsner. I'm sure they'll be delightful...

If I don't reply back, it was nice knowing y'all.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Well now I'm inspired to try one of these. They were both poorly made in '98-99, back when I thought I knew something about brewing. The bomber on the left is an attempt at an RIS, and the one on the right is a pilsner. I'm sure they'll be delightful...

If I don't reply back, it was nice knowing y'all. View attachment 187087

Worst case, a combination of vinegar, mustiness, skunk piss, cardboard, and soy sauce.

 

[insanim8er]

I have seven 1/6 kegs that I've been planning on using to age barley and sour wines in, but I've yet to get to that. I thought i could brew one every couple months then within a year the first one will be ready to go... etc.

My oldest beer now is a month or so and just about tapped.

I do have an apple wine that's a bit over 2 years old and a pear cider that is just about 2 years.

 

[Dynachrome]

Rumor has it that there is a bottle of this left at my wife's office: Mai Bock

I'll probably never get it back tough.

 

[Walzenbrew]

My apfelwein is going on a good 8 months...that's the longest I can last!

 

[tjmac5071]

I have 7 bottles of seven month old winter warmer. One is being held for my wife to try after the baby is born and the other six are for next December. It's just under 8% so I hope it is fine after 1.25 years. So far it has continued to evolve although I think it may have peaked a month ago for my tastes..

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[Jmarsh544]

I have a bottle from my first brew ever, a fat tire clone, brewed 7 years ago, that stares at me every time I open the fridge. It mostly likely will taste so-so, but I can't bring myself to pop the top and get rid of the last bit of evidence of how far I have come.


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[BigPerm]

I just opened a Foreign Export stout that was brewed in ~ 2003. I was a novice back then, and thought a pint of red raspberry juice would be a good idea. It completely overpowered the beer, and we would only open a bottle to use in brownies. Now, its much better than before, and the raspberry has mellowed enough to bring out some of the stout flavors. Only minimal oxidation. Still have about 3/4 case left...

 

[greyghost]

I have a Smoked porter and Smokey Oyster Stout that I brewed that are a year old. But my favorite is a 1994 Sam Adams triple bock open a bottle every year around Xmas. Yes it is drinkable some of my brewing buddy's will fight to get a taste. I tend to cellar a bunch of different beers for an extended time.

 

[pkrath84]

I've got a dryhopped coffee IPA that's almost a year old. I cracked one open for St. Patty's day. It doesnt have the in your face dryhop aroma anymore but the coffee is still there, its still pleasantly carb'd and it tastes fine.

Surprisingly, this is the first time I've noticed a significant difference in aroma specifically after aging. Taste was still fine though. I could still tell that there was a firm presence of citra and coffee. This actually makes me skeptical on the urgency to drink IPAs. I think with proper handling you can keep beer for a long time, and keep it fairly "fresh." I was REALLY surprised the coffee didnt fade more than the hops.

 

[VaBrewer]

I have an 11% Gulden Draak clone that I brewed back in 2008. It keeps getting better and better.



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[Hello]

Dogfish head 120 from 4/2011. It sure the heck is still drinkable!

As for home brew, 8/2012 and yes, it's a pumpkin and it's still good.

 

[CarbonTom]

Dogfish head 120 from 4/2011. It sure the heck is still drinkable!

As for home brew, 8/2012 and yes, it's a pumpkin and it's still good.

It is!! I had one of my 2010s last year. Keep holding on, it gets so good and so much more complex



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[CastleHollow]

When my daughter was born, I gave out homebrew. For some reason, my father-in-law never opened his bottle and when he passed away, we were able to reclaim it from his house:

I plan on opening it with my daughter when she turns 21, but not looking forward to it still being very good.

On the other hand, I have a number of high gravity holiday homebrews from 1995

and a coffee imperial stout from 1996

that I open on special occasions. Surprisingly, all have been aging very well.

 

[Darkness]

I have a Bourbon Barrel BIIPA made Feb of 2011. Opened one last weekend any it is freaking great. The Barrel notes are coming through now and I like it better now than when it was fresh.

I have multiple verticals going back 5-7 years. How well they age is all on ABV and storage conditions. That's what I have noticed. Also Barrel aged beers hold up well maybe cause of tannins picked up from the barrel. Can't wiat to try my beers in another 6-10 years, you guys that have been brewing a while with beers set back make me jealous.

 

[kh54s10]

A winter warmer ale. 2 years and 3 months. It was really harsh after 6 months, was getting good but foamy at 9 months through 1 1/2 years. After that it did not foam over any more but the taste has peaked. It is still quite good.

 

[Dynachrome]

Rumor has it that there is a bottle of this left at my wife's office: Mai Bock

I'll probably never get it back tough.

...wifey surprised me and brought it home.



I'm torn about opening it. Should I save it?

 

[Meadiator]

...wifey surprised me and brought it home.







I'm torn about opening it. Should I save it?

:S I would have no self restraint. Good luck

 

[Meadiator]

Well, it's decided. I'm gonna brew some of Geer's T.A.M.B.A.S. When ingredients come in and hide some from myself.

Does anyone have advice on bottling technique to prevent oxidation?

 

[Beernik]

I have some two year old imperial hefeweizen still.

It's still awesome.

 

[Calichusetts]

Well, it's decided. I'm gonna brew some of Geer's T.A.M.B.A.S. When ingredients come in and hide some from myself.

Does anyone have advice on bottling technique to prevent oxidation?

CO2 purges for everything that will contact your beer after fermentation. To be honest, I've never done this and my beer has held up fine for a few years, dont know about longer. Also, maybe wax the bottles after you cap them.

 

[solbes]

Agree that if you have kegs, they make for an excellent brite tank for secondary since you can purge with CO2.

I have little actual evidence, but I have not had an oxidized homebrew that was aged when capped with the silver oxygen absorbing caps. They are activated when I dunk them in Starsan and then immediately cap. I usually keep a bag around and bottle 1-2 twelve packs using these for my bigger brews. Those twelve packs get consumed last.

I also waxed a few bottles for holiday gifts, but that was mostly for show. I suppose if you were to age for 2+ years it may provide some benefit.

 

[morticaixavier]

Well, it's decided. I'm gonna brew some of Geer's T.A.M.B.A.S. When ingredients come in and hide some from myself.

Does anyone have advice on bottling technique to prevent oxidation?

If you bottle condition oxidation is not really a concern. the yeast activity will use up any o2 that might be introduced during careful racking.

I like to put my priming sugar in a purged keg, rack to the keg and seal. Then I can shake the keg to evenly distribute the sugar and push to bottles with co2. makes for an easier bottling day for me (when I bottle a whole batch which is rarely)

 

[Codfishhead]

Well my oldest beers? I have 6 kegs from when I stopped brewing about 20 yrs ago. Anyone want to do a test? Think there’s an oatmeal stout, double Bock I iced, and not sure of the others. I’ll be opening them soon to clean them out and get them ready for new beers from my new 3 keg system I’m building.

Besides that I have some beers from 1982 to 1992 Thomas Hardy's. Last one I open was about 10 yrs ago. Tasted like scotch.

 

[Meadiator]

I'd be willing from what I've heard, as long as you legged correctly, it should still be fine, right?

Well my oldest beers? I have 6 kegs from when I stopped brewing about 20 yrs ago. Anyone want to do a test? Think there’s an oatmeal stout, double Bock I iced, and not sure of the others. I’ll be opening them soon to clean them out and get them ready for new beers from my new 3 keg system I’m building.



Besides that I have some beers from 1982 to 1992 Thomas Hardy's. Last one I open was about 10 yrs ago. Tasted like scotch.

 

[Tarks]

I have some Belgian ales that are a couple of years old now. They are fantastic!

 

[Agate]

Holy ####! This stuff is incredible! Why did I only save one bottle for this long??

I remember this being fairly mediocre when it was made. Now, it has a nice aroma of molasses and a good toasty malty flavor. And smooooth... I'm going to have to make some more and forget about it.

 

[MaxStout]

I have a few bottles of Midwest's Trappist-style ale (extract) that I bottled in Oct 2012. Had one last night--not bad for a beer almost 1-1/2 years old.