Beer style peak conditioning lengths

[The Goatreich]

Is there a reasonable method to work out the peak conditioning time depending on ABV or beer style? I've always thought about two months in the bottle is decent, but recently I tried a chocolate stout I made around 4 months ago and it's so much better than it was after two months. Conversely the APA I bottles 4 weeks ago I had a cheeky sample of last weekend and it was amazing then!

The clone brews book I have says for most beers that you can drink them as soon as they're carbonated, and gives varying peak dates, but I wondered what you guys thought.

Ideally I'd like to have labels on my conditioning shelves that say don't drink before x/x/xx and drink before x/x/xx.

 

[calumscott]

I don't think their are any hard and fast rules but...

There is the one that says 1 week per ten points of gravity drop as a minimum which so far I've found to be good advice. I actually go with this schedule AFTER the carb and clear process. So bottle, store and start counting from when they are fizzy and clear.

So start from there and modify with the darker the beer you want to add more time on top, lighter ones you can sometimes get away with less, wheats appear to have a schedule all of their own, extreme ABV's want a lot more time added on...

When do they start going off? Dunno. Never last long enough! Although I do still have bottles of my first ever brew which dates back over a year now, I deliberately set aside a few bottles at the bottom of the stash just to see what happens to them over time.

 

[The Goatreich]

I don't think their are any hard and fast rules but...
So start from there and modify with the darker the beer you want to add more time on top, lighter ones you can sometimes get away with less, wheats appear to have a schedule all of their own, extreme ABV's want a lot more time added on...

See, this is where my problem lies, there are too many options!!!! :lol:

 

[calumscott]

I don't think their are any hard and fast rules but...
So start from there and modify with the darker the beer you want to add more time on top, lighter ones you can sometimes get away with less, wheats appear to have a schedule all of their own, extreme ABV's want a lot more time added on...

See, this is where my problem lies, there are too many options!!!! :lol:

Then you are just going to have to do what I'm planning...

...brew so much beer that there is always something in perfect nick! :thumb:

 

[The Goatreich]

Yep, that's what I'm aiming for.