[rightasrain]

Is it possible to age too long? I have heard the longer the better. So I put in a double hops IPA and am planning to bottle for 5 months. The recommended minimum is 2 weeks. Is it possible the beer will go bad?

[alikocho]

It is possible to age too long, and you need to think about what you are trying to achieve through aging.

Your beer will have a bottled shelf life of at least 6 months assuming that it hasn't been infected or oxidised.

[chezteth]

IPA's are one style that are best drank fresh.  Some beers, such as a barleywine, definitely benefit from aging but others may or may not.

[rightasrain]

Thanks guys! This was for a birthday party and would of been a disaster. I think I'll brew another batch closer to the date.

[morticaixavier]

don't worry about it if you want to brew another batch do so. but I would bet that the 5 months would not be a big deal.

[anthayes]

IPA's are one style that are best drank fresh.  Some beers, such as a barleywine, definitely benefit from aging but others may or may not.

I think that you will find that English IPAs are better after 18 months. At that point the hops will have softened and melded with the malt.

Ant Hayes
Tonbridge, Kent

[denny]

IPA's are one style that are best drank fresh.  Some beers, such as a barleywine, definitely benefit from aging but others may or may not.

I think that you will find that English IPAs are better after 18 months. At that point the hops will have softened and melded with the malt.

Ant Hayes
Tonbridge, Kent

That's a good point, and truthfully I think it's one reason that I don't care for English IPAs all that much.  But it's horses for courses, isn't it?