Be it a 1,000-bottle temperature-controlled commercial cellar, the crisper drawer of a refrigerator, or a hole in someone’s backyard, just about everyone has a beer cellar nowadays. However, it’s been only a few short years since the average craft-beer drinker has even been aware of the concept of aging beer or the notion that sitting on particular styles will let harsh aspects mellow while vintage complexities develop. Yet, as the craft-beer movement skyrockets, so has its disciples’ eagerness to explore its ever-expanding boundaries.
The problem is, if you look into the makeup of the average beer cellar, you’ll see that many have fallen prey to the classic trap: they are made up mostly of pricey, rare beers selected more for their “whale” status than for their cellar-worthiness. You should choose a beer for cellaring because of its potential to develop into something great, not because you’re waiting for a special occasion to open it. Luckily, there are plenty of easy-to-find, time-tested options that won’t break the bank the way that a whale can.
So rather than creating a cellar solely for displaying the family jewels, create a cellar of bottles that you won’t need an excuse to open—or a loan to replace. Here are some excellent options, both in quality and price, around which to build your cellar.