Found a beer months old

[oldjiver]

Looked in the back of a cupboard today and found a bottle of bitter I must have made months ago. Now beer does NOT normally hang around that long in my house, so I was intrigued to see what it was like. I cant remember what brew it was but my bitters are usually just 1kg pale malt 1oz crystal malt to a gallon with fuggles and goldings, and I think this was one.
Tasting.... I thought my beers were clear but this one SHONE! It was as smooth as silk but lacked the rich maltiness I normally get. The bitterness was fine but the aroma (never a strong point with my beer for some reason) had faded. I have concluded that my beer does have a peak at 4-6 weeks, and while you gain clarity and smoothness something of the freshness is lost. Anyone else had similar experience?
(PS. I hope you purists will not tell me off for not keeping records,)

 

[ScottM]

It's all a tradeoff IMO. Exactly as you have found the longer you leave it the purer the clarity, and the smoother the taste. The earlier you try it the hoppier it is and the fresher and crisper the notes are.

Finding the middle ground that suits you is what its all about. Every recipe will be different, obviously, but that's where the fun is

 

[PD]

I've just had a kit one from June. a Betterbrew IPA.
Very clear and bright plenty of hop taste but the bitterness replaced by a silky mouth feel.
The hop aroma was not as pronounced as my beers that are usually drunk around the 6-8 week period, but was still evident.
To say it was an IPA I feel the hop aroma was not enough and will consider dry hopping a little in future, but it was certainly a fine drink and was well inside its " best " period.
This was well worth leaving the length of time to mature.