If you’re anything like me, you’ve got (more than) a couple bottles of big stouts, funky sours, or even a nice barleywine lying around that you’ve convinced yourself you’re saving for a special occasion. Well, I’m here to suggest you open that sucker up and fill your glass this weekend.

Don’t just take my word for it. Several years ago, Allagash Brewing launched #DrinkitNow to encourage people to enjoy special beers for the best reason of all: no reason at all! This year’s Drink it Now Day falls on Sunday, Feb. 25.

There’s plenty of discussion about whether or not you should cellar beers or simply make a point to drink whatever you have as soon as you can. Lots of beers are held onto with plans to finally pop the cork or cap and celebrate some life-altering achievement. The truth is, your best bet is to make the moment yourself by opening that beer and enjoying it with some folks that you love. There’s never going to be enough of “those days.”

Now, I’m certainly not one to point fingers. I’ve got a basement corner chock full of stouts and sours that I’ve amassed throughout the years, convinced that they were some sort of sacred vessels filled with the most precious liquid. I realize this is completely silly but I still make a point to buy a second bottle of limited release stouts thinking I’ll have a bottle now and save one for later, only to not drink either and simply add to my ever-growing collection. (Honestly, I did this just a month ago when Buzzards Bay Brewing released a stash of 2018 Swamp Yankee Black IPA from their own cellar collection!)

Now, I’ve tried to work my way through my stockpile. But it’s not so easy to just plow through 10%–13%+ ABV beers on any ol’ Tuesday night! With 2-3 servings in most of these bottles, it’s a tall task for just one person. With some bottles in my collection now nearing a decade since they were filled, it’s time to start pouring.

So please join me this weekend — heck, every weekend! — and crack open one or two of those bottles in your own collection and just enjoy the moment.

Photo credit: Allagash Brewery