Pro tip: I used to hang beef quarters for 14 days, now I push it to 28.
My old boss in Omaha swore by two weeks max in the cooler. Said any longer was a waste of space and money. After reading some studies and talking to a guy who supplies high-end restaurants in Chicago, I tried a full month. The flavor difference is night and day. Anyone else experimenting with longer aging times these days?
What kind of setup did you have when it went bad? My first try was a disaster too, I used a cheap fridge without a good fan. Upgraded to a proper cooler with a small fan for air flow and a humidity monitor, total game changer. Keeping everything super clean and at a steady temp is the only way it works for me. That month-long age is worth the extra hassle for the flavor you get.