A catch-all for beers intentionally matured for a year or more so that age becomes a defining character — developing oxidative, sherry-like, dried-fruit, or mellowed notes. The base can be any style; what unites the category is the deliberate effect of extended aging.
Origin
Long before reliable refrigeration, some beers were brewed strong and stored for months or years, mellowing and taking on vinous, sherry-like depth. The practice of deliberately aging beer survived in traditions such as old ale and vintage barley wine, and this category recognizes any beer in which extended maturation is the defining character.
Notes
Look for this on vintage and cellared releases where time in the bottle or tank is the point. It is distinct from barrel-aging (those beers fall under the wood/barrel categories) — Aged Beer covers maturation in glass or stainless.
Defining examples
(varies — intentionally long-aged ales or lagers)