PATIENCE is a virtue that I am not overly blessed with. But – fortunately for me – we live in a time when instant gratification is easier than ever.

If I’m at a party and I hear a great song that I don’t know, I don’t have to patiently wait for it to finish and then politely ask the DJ what it was. These days I can just get my phone out and an app will probably tell me in moments and a VG+ copy will be winging its way to me from an exotic location before the final bars ring out.

Similarly it’s hard to buy a fresh batch of beautiful beers and not immediately tuck in, but grudgingly I have come to acknowledge that occasionally good things do indeed come to those who wait and that many beers will improve over time. It’s generally agreed for instance that Orval is best after about six months, allowing the 'brett' (a wild yeast that's known for creating funky, wild flavours) to work its magic and create a much greater depth of flavour in an already great beer. Depending on the ingredients and the techniques used different beers will age in different ways, with certain elements mellowing whilst others come to the fore.

I’m not for a moment suggesting that these wouldn’t be great to crack open today – although most are on the more potent end of the scale, so perhaps not all in one sitting – but maybe get a second bottle and tuck it away somewhere safe.

Founders KBS 2016 (£7.40/12.4%/355ml)

The bourbon barrel aged version of their already amazing Breakfast Stout, this has powerful aromas of chocolate, well fired coffee beans, boozy bourbon, vanilla, and warm treacle. More of the same in the taste alongside some woody and smoke notes and a warming – though not too much so – boozy sensation that will mellow over time in the bottle.

Almanac Peach De Brettaville (£8.30/6.5%/375ml)

A saison barrel aged with wild yeasts. Right now this has plenty of ripe and ready summer fruit aroma with juicy peaches, soft citrus and lemon and orange zest alongside light brett funk and classic saison spice notes (both of which no doubt grow over time). Very similar notes in the flavour, but with that farmhouse funk turned up several notches before a long crisp finish with a great balance of juicy peach and slightly salty brett.

Stone Enjoy After 07.04.16 (£15/7.0%/750ml)

Cellaring an IPA might seem like madness to some, but then again the sweaty sock notes that some people love in an IPA are exactly what puts others off. One man’s meat and all that. To me this was more like a hopped Orval with nice floral and herbal notes on the nose before a funky, fruity mouthful of wild yeast balanced with the more classic hoppy bitterness which you would expect from an IPA. The longer you leave this one the b(r)etter I think.

Brooklyn/Thornbridge Serpent: (£18/9.5%/750ml)

Two breweries probably more well known for their more standard fare get together and make something wild and funky and aged on cider lees for a tart, fruity, funky sour. I’ve had this twice now and even a few months of difference has mellowed out the tart sourness and pushed the funky fruitiness to the fore with almost champagne notes at points before a long dry spicy finish.

Fallen First Class Rendezvous (£7/8%/500ml)

This imperial porter brewed with chilli and dates for Valentine’s Day (hot date, geddit?) was very fiery and a little out of balance initially. Time in the bottle has married the flavours much more effectively, with smoke, chilli and dark chocolate on the nose which carries on in the flavour alongside coconut, marshmallow and dark fruits before the return of the chilli in a deeply spicy finish.

In association with The Good Spirits Co. Wine and Beer Glasgow

DAVID WRIGHT