Hi ABV beers need aging.

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

I'm having a bottle of a strong ale I brewed at least 18 months ago. It's really not that bad. It's been in the bottle all that time and, brother, it really needed that time to mellow. Initially all I could taste was bitterness and really nasty (to me) higher alcohols (winey type taste). After all this time, I'm finally getting a taste of the malt. It's a real shame I've only got a handful of bottles left. But it does go to show that sometimes you really just have to set them aside and forget about them.

[Eoin]

What percentage is it Andrew?

Sent from my HTC One

[Padraic]

With the exception of a DIPA I have to agree 100%.

Even the ones that taste great when young, taste much better a couple of years down the line. Quads are definitely better aged...

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

What percentage is it Andrew?

Sent from my HTC One

I'm not sure exactly because I'm on a different notebook from when I brewed it (and by 'notebook' I mean a pen and paper job), but I remember it being up around 9%.

[Jonnycheech]

Interesting article here on bottle aging from Zythophile which you may find interesting Andrew.

http://zythophile.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/bottle-ageing-beers-the-donts-and-dos/

[RichC]

The only high ABV beers I make are IPAs or accidents. Recently had quad by these guys and it was amazing despite the high alcohol http://www.bdbrewing.com/Beers/BarrelAgedDroughts/TheTwelveQuad.aspx
Must brew up a quad or a RIS or something that lends itself to long ageing

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

Interesting article here on bottle aging from Zythophile which you may find interesting Andrew.

http://zythophile.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/bottle-ageing-beers-the-donts-and-dos/

Thanks for linking to that. It was great. That site is a real goldmine.