Is your beer cellar well-stocked?

Do you even have a beer cellar?

Did you even know that there was any reason to have a beer cellar?

Well, this guy does -- and he might have the coolest beer cellar you'll ever see. It's located in a former gold mine, a tunnel stretching 3,000 feet into the side of a mountain, with a stream running through the middle and remaining a steady 50 degrees year round.

Okay, that might be a bit much for most of us, but don't dismiss the idea of having your own little beer cellar at home. You see, despite everything you've heard about freshness dating on your beer, many beers actually get better with age. I knew that high-alcohol beers often improve with age, but the story explains that many people also cellar bottle-conditioned beers, lambics, barley wines, imperial stouts and other strong, bold ales.

So clean out a corner of your basement, dust off that old wine rack and, next time you decide to try something big, or bold, or just plain funky, pick up an extra bottle or two and stash them away for six months, or a year, or even a couple of years. Imagine the anticipation of pouring it into the glass, checking the color, taking in the aroma and then savoring that first tentative sip.

Careful, though, someone might accuse you of becoming a beer connoisseur. If that bothers you, just keep a six-pack of of something with a "born on" date handy. Your secret will be safe.