What is the oldest beer you have consumed?

I was just having a conversation fellow BA who told me the oldest beer he drank was a 1902 Bass Kings Ale. Seems like it would be quite an interesting experience to drink a 111 year old beer. What is the oldest beer you have ever consumed? Any from the 1800's still "floating" around?

I had one last year from 2006, does that count?

Im guessing there will be quite a bit Tom Hardys in this thread

'97 Triple Bock. An experience in itself.

A few years ago this happened - http://seattlest.com/2007/08/13/500000_for_1_bo.php

If the owner has still not opened it (I assume they would have no intention of doing so) then it is still the oldest known sealed bottle of beer.

Pfft. The 1902 sucked. 1901 was WAY better.

I bet it was an experience. The last review of this beer is hilarious! - "In closing, my friends, and I do call you, dear reader; my friend. I recommend you drink this beer, this beer is like attaining reverse-nirvana it is truly so vile and, if sentient, hate-filled that the experience cannot fully be explained and contains a level of beer enlightenment unattainable through any other method. In the words of Frederich Nietzsche 'That which does not kill you only makes you stronger' this beer is those words distilled, or fermented rather, into liquid form."

Haha, that is spot on! It definitely has some existentialism implications. One of those 'bucket list'-type beers!

Back in '10 someone 'extra-ed' me an Anchor Special Christmas from '96. I like some age on those guys, but 14 years was a bit much. Pretty poor tasting beer.

Yeah I tried a 1997 Triple bock too, vile. Oxized, cardboard, spoiled plum soy sauce. Also tried a 1964 wine once last year, also, vinegar. Not to say things can't age that long, but whose to say how these things were stored. Friend of mine also shared a 4 year old Four Loko last summer (poured into a Cantillon bottle) ...another experience, haha.

Oldest beer I had early last spring that I can recall as being great, was Wooden Hell, sublime, wow.

My oldest was a 1986 Bottle of Chimay Blue. This was in Belgium and I could have had an older one.

We opened up a bottle of 1959 3F geuze at this tasting last month. A couple of decades past its prime, no carbonation and getting a bit vinegary, but it was a lot of fun to open up and drink a 53 year old beer, and considering its age, it wasn't bad.

http://beeradvocate.com/community/t...your-tasting-events.13597/page-19#post-717559

About to get a 97 Triple Bock in a trade soon. Can't...wait...

1978 La Trappe Amber at Kulminator. I recently had an early '90s Bigfoot as well. More recently, I had a '94 Triple Bock and a '99 Thomas Hardy's. A while back, I had Westvleteren 6 at Akkurat. I've yet to have a beer older than five years that was better than it would have been with 5 years or less. If Thomas Hardy's didn't do it for me, maybe I just don't like vintage.

1996 Bigfoot at the EBF last year...still damn good!

Nothing too crazy, just a handful of those '03 (and another handful) Aventinus bottles that they age.

2003 Stone Vertical
2001 3F Lou Pepe

Thats about it.

Cheers!

Buddy traded his Loerik for a '63 for his 50th bday this year. Loerik was off the shelf from Binny's.

I had a '78 or '77 Old Foghorn in the early 2000s. Don't remember much about it, so it's safe to assume it wasn't terrible or great. It was pretty cool to drink. I was born in 79 and I don't know many people who have had a beer older than them.

In 2011, I had an 1985 Westmalle that Brabander was kind enough to send my way. It still tasted pretty solid though was certainly much more mellow then a newly bottled one.

This is mine as well.

Bourgogne de Flandres - at least 57 years old (that's when the brewery in Bruges shut down)

1987 Thomas Hardy's as of right now, but I have a 1986 I need to crack soon as well. Others include 1991 de Neve Gueuze (thanks Mrbubbler), 1996 Anchor OSA, early 90's Traquair House Ale, 97 Triple Bock (am I the only person who thinks this is a decent beer, especially given the age). I love drinking old beers-it's like drinking a piece of history, a cool connection to the past-and I hope I get to try lots more. Bass King's and Prince's Ale-you are both on my tradar.

2001 J.W. Lees Vintage Harvest Ale at the 10 year mark.

1953 john smiths coronation ale- brewed for queen Elizabeth's coronation. I brought it to a historic beer tasting with the owner of the avenue pub here in new orleans. Damn tasty for 60 years old!

I've had quite a few Thomas hardy's from the 70/80s in the last year. Those bottles (really every old beer) are so dependent on how well they were cellared. The TH I had were very hit or miss, but the hits... Oh man.... they were out of the park!

1992 Third Coast Old and and 1994 Expedition in December of 2011. Both were among the best of the respective beers I have ever had.

I had a 2007 Old Guardian last year, so it was close to five years old.

Not very old... 5 yr. old Raison D'Extra.

I had a 1971 (or 1972, I forget) Rodenbach a while back that tasted remarkably similar to fresh Rodenbach.

I can't even understand what this means.

The oldest, not drunk by me, that I can remember reading on BA was an 1869 Ratcliff Ale. Or at least, he has some. I can't truly remember which. Where the hell are you, Traquairlover????

I would refrigerate the thing for a few days, then pour slowly, and hope the sludge don't come out in chunks!! Alternatively, you can use a coffee filter! I'd still hit it!!

Good luck dude!!!

Found a couple of these at a flea market back in October. So naturally I had to drink one.

Got to try a '87 Goudenband recently and it was absolutely phenomenal.

All I have is an empty. It must be drinking gloriously by now.

It wasn't horrible. Still have a full can that I don't know what to do with.

Thanks! I know I probably shouldn't be as excited as I am to try this beer. I just can't wait though.

Find a can of Billy beer and mix 'em.

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/the-oldest-beer-youve-had.9769/
^5 page thread on the subject

Mine was nothing special (too a lot of you guys) but it was a 02 JW Lees and it tasted like apple butter

Somewhere around here there use to be a full can of Iron City Beer with the Steelers team picture for a label. I believe it was to celebrate the 1978 Super Bowl. Is that right? Too lazy to google if that is the correct year.