I started brewing in Jan. After a dozen or so, mostly ales, three Pilsners, a porter and a stout, I have to say the porter and stout need age. At first they were barely drinkable but the complexity of mellow flavor has improved in just a couple of months. I just had a 22 oz. stout and now it is getting a nutty flavor as well as the caramel flavor it has developed over the last couple of weeks. I am gonna start working on some one gal. White oak barrels to age some things. From what I read one can accomplish in three weeks with a one gal. Barrel what takes three years with a lager barrel. Home brewing is the best skill I have ever acquired (and in 6 decades I have acquired quite a few!)
Spoken like a true home brewer.
Cheers,
knewshound