Dear Beer

"The concept of "aged" beer itself flies in the face of conventional wisdom that beer is meant to be drunk within a few weeks of its production (and almost all beer is). But aged beers -- many of them brewed with lots of hops and high-alcohol levels, both acting as preservatives -- have become a staple of what might be called the high-end beer market.
Next question: Can beer -- any beer -- be worth $16.50 a bottle?"

WSJ.com - Dear Beer