"Honey, I want a beer cellar" was the phone call I made today. My husband responded that we already have a beer fridge in the garage and that was just going to have to suffice. But today I read an article about a man in Pasadena who has a beer cave in his backyard. He raids it only twice a year showing much more restraint than I would have (thus the reason why my fridge will do). Read the full article from the LA Times here.
Believe it or not, there are many beers that could do with a little aging and there are beers that are made specifically to age.
Turning basements, garages and bedroom closets into beer caves is the latest twist in L.A.'s growing beer culture — one that increasingly revolves around collecting, trading and, yes, waiting, with patience once ascribed only to wine drinkers. Some of the collections cost several thousand dollars too.
This year alone, dozens of California brewers will release specialty beers that crank up the alcohol percentage and punch up the spices (everything from figs to juniper berries) to create flavors that age. Many sit for months in the same oak casks used for whiskey, wine or brandy, earning followings among even Scotch drinkers. Brands with names such as Decadence, Old Stock, Angel's Share and Consecration hit the market in small batches, only to be snatched up for private collections, as if they were Impressionist art.
Just like wine, Stone Brewery launched a 12 year campaign of beers to do just that with one special beer released each year ready to be cellared. I HIGHLY recommend you check out their story at the Stone Brewery site here. I love the initial video they did on the project. I've written about these beers before because, they're great! The problem is of course that I keep buying Stone's Vertical Epic beers and then they last about a month of me storing them before I have to open it up to try.
See honey - that's why I need a beer cave!
Posts
