Oldest Beer You've Had?

[Rodolphe01]

I just cracked a Veltins Pilsener that was 4 years 4 months past its best before...

The cap was rusty and it had about as much carbonation as a Mild with just a slight hiss when I opened it. It was surprisingly pale still, until the sludge plopped into the glass, I was expecting it to have darkened considerably. I had 2 sips and I think it might have been a good beer, 4 years ago!

So this makes me wonder, what's the oldest beer you've had that was still OK? Obviously some beers age well.

 

[Cortez The Killer]

A bottle of 1991 Thomas Hardy's Ale was opened at the last IBU Beer Fest

It was most excellent

Cheers

 

[srcossens]

Last year when I was in Antwerp, I had a 1984 Courage Russian Imperial Stout. It was lovely. Nothing wrong with it at all. Obviously that's a beer that can age well. I had many other beers that were old as well, but that was the oldest by about 10 years.

 

[haysie]

One of the very few dining places........ lets say Lake Eildon way that didnt survive the GFC had a 2 year spell. The new chef cleaned out the coolroom and among other things were lotsa beers :icon_cheers: left behind. The malt you get from a refridgerated 3 year plus Crownie was good, very good.

 

[white.grant]

A bottle of 1991 Thomas Hardy's Ale was opened at the last IBU Beer Fest

It was most excellent

Cheers

It was indeed a beautiful moment!

 

[roddersf]

No way I can beat Scotty's one, but I cleaned out my old fridge and found a mates stout that had been forgotten in there for at least 2 years, cracked it immediately and it was sensational! :lol:

 

[jimmyjack]

I currently have 5 Chimay 1994 Grand Reserve collection which has a gold label. I drank 1 already and found past its peak but enjoyed it all the same.

Interesting read
Old beers

 

[adam]

I have a couple of bottles left of Hahn millenium ale. Wonder if that'd be any good 11 years later!

 

[pants]

A couple of years ago I had a Cooper's Stout of which the label was still in fluid ounces. Pre-dates the metric system, so pre-1966? It wasn't bad, either. I've still got one, and winter's coming...

 

[bum]

My oldest would be a 2006 Christmas Ale at Red Hill a few months ago. Was actually much nicer than the fresh stuff. Scored a couple bottles which I put under the house for later in the year.

 

[eureka]

A couple of years ago I had a Cooper's Stout of which the label was still in fluid ounces. Pre-dates the metric system, so pre-1966? It wasn't bad, either. I've still got one, and winter's coming...

The only metric system that began in 1966 was our currency, weights and measurements didnt come in till the early 1970s so i doubt your stout is quite as old as you think.

 

[Tiny_Tim]

I have a couple of bottles left of Hahn millenium ale. Wonder if that'd be any good 11 years later!

I can happily and confidently confirm that it is not.
But still a fun beer to have on the shelf, I've got one too.

 

[jyo]

A couple of years ago I had a Cooper's Stout of which the label was still in fluid ounces. Pre-dates the metric system, so pre-1966? It wasn't bad, either. I've still got one, and winter's coming...

The only metric system that began in 1966 was our currency, weights and measurements didnt come in till the early 1970s so i doubt your stout is quite as old as you think.

Even so, post a pic in the what's in the glass thread when you do, mate.
That's awesome!

 

[lczaban]

Winkle and I knocked over a bottle of Coopers Vintage circa 2000 a couple of months back - being the wine snob I am I also brought along a couple of stubbies of the current release as well for a side-by-side comparison. The 2000 was lurvely, smooth, still well carbed, not syruppy but a tad chewier than most beers yet still with a dryness that kept the beer honest. It held up a lot better than I would have anticipated, which was a surprise. The bottles haven't kept badly, but they weren't babied either. I still have another two stubbies of the 2000 to consume, which will happen at some stage (I bought those as an extended cellaring experiment if anyone is wondering).

FWIW - the current version was horrid and rough in comparison. The difference was noticable and somewhat surprising. I wonder if the brewing standards have been maintained over the years....

 

[Charst]

Kit and Kilo Wander Lager (ale) Old bloke who taught me how to brew and couldn't drink heavy beer anymore. he said it was a few year old and was smooth and incredibly drinkable.

 

[brett mccluskey]

Ooooooh for a slab of this :lol: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/153...since-1869.html

 

[bum]

Terrible head retention...SHIT BEER!

 

[brett mccluskey]

Not too bad for over 100 years i reckon :icon_cheers:

 

[bum]

Was a joke, mate. Would be amazing to have a taste something like that.

 

[fawnroux]

I bought about 90 tallie bottles off a bloke that gave up brewing long ago, He told me as I was putting them in the car "there might be a few unopened in there mate. If there is, they would have to be at least 10 years old". Sure enough, I found a few unopened homebrews. I put one in the fridge and chilled it. It was a dark ale of sorts. It wasn't horrible, but I wasn't too interested in finishing it

So mines an at least 10 year homebrew.