back to store

800.625.8238

Craft Beer Blog from The Beer of the Month Club

A craft beer blog written by the experts of The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

Beyond the Bottle: Do You Cellar?

March 15, 2020 by Ken Weaver

Photo by junjie xu from PexelsA number of beers recently featured in the club have been vintage bottles, picked specifically because they’re drinking at their prime, and it’s had me thinking a lot about cellaring overall lately. I’ll start by saying, despite writing about beer professionally for about a decade, I tend to feel pretty out-there when it comes to discussing beer cellars or beer collections… I have (I checked) literally one bottle of cellared beer right now. It’s in our kitchen cupboard, and I didn’t buy it. Our little wine fridge is focused on younger Pinots and Tablas Creek releases.

This is very much personal preference, and it’s evolved a bit over the years. When we lived in DC and I was trading beer regularly, we at least had a closet full of ageable beer—but that was functionally more of an on-deck circle for the regular tastings our DC crew was hosting. I’ve had some wonderfully aged examples from Hair of the Dog and De Dolle over the years that remind me there’s absolutely positive potential in cellaring beers. But I’ve accepted I just don’t have a taste for oxidation… Nine times out of ten I’m going to prefer that beer fresh.

Same for vintage flights of Pinot. Ditto for aged sherry. Just how these tastebuds are wired.

As such… I’m always curious when people do keep a beer cellar (and not just of IPAs they forgot to drink… you folks know who you are). Where do you fall when it comes to aging beer? Do you keep a cellar? What styles do you like to age? (I’d totally accept a cellar full of lambic…) Have your habits evolved over time? Chime in on Twitter at @RareBeerClub.

Related Posts:

  • Beyond the Bottle: When This is All OverBeyond the Bottle: When This is All Over
  • DIY Craft Beer Advent CalendarDIY Craft Beer Advent Calendar
  • Beyond the Bottle: One Long-Ass YearBeyond the Bottle: One Long-Ass Year
  • Beyond the Bottle: One Long-Ass YearBeyond the Bottle: One Long-Ass Year

Posted in: Beer Education, Interesting Beer Info, Notes from the Panel

About Ken Weaver

Ken Weaver (@KenWeaver) is a beer writer, consultant and cartoonist based in Petaluma, California. Check out his project Massive Potions, a weekly post-apocalyptic beer comic, at massivepotions.com.

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Check out our Beer Clubs

  • U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club
  • U.S. and International Variety Club
  • Hop Heads Beer Club
  • International Beer Club
  • Rare Beer Club

Beer Lovers’ Pages

  • Beer Naming Contests
  • US Brewery Directory
  • Craft Beer Styles

Beer Topics

  • Beer Education
  • Beer Events
  • Beer Humor
  • Featured Selections
  • In the News
  • Interesting Beer Info
  • Member of the Month
  • Notes from the Panel
  • Recipes and Pairings
  • Uncategorized
Join our Beer Club or Give a Gift Membership

Recent Posts

  • Beyond the Bottle: When This is All Over
  • DIY Craft Beer Advent Calendar
  • Beyond the Bottle: One Long-Ass Year
  • Beyond the Bottle: One Long-Ass Year
  • The Lost Abbey Special Offer Rare Beer Club
Sign up for our rss feed

Archives

Beer Bloggers Conference

The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club | 1-800-625-8238 (Outside USA call: 949-206-1904) | P.O. Box 1627, Lake Forest, CA 92609