Woodcut No. 1 - Oak Aged Ale
Odell Brewing Company

 

i should say that i get to taste this beer by the amazing generosity of a buddy of mine, who has more patience and cellar ability than i ever would to save this one for so long. amazing to try this one after all this time. the beer has held up expertly well, as promised, and is certainly not on the decline at all, at least i didnt think so. bare minimum oxidation on this. caramel colored brew, with a lot of haze and a mature appearance with some head but not much carbonation really. the nose is more of a memory than anything else. my grandfather used to have this old brass canister with green felt on the inside that he kept walking canes in. there were canes from all over the world in there, all different types of wood, different styles, all very old, all collecting dust, for he did not walk with a cane. i remember being a little kid and my brother and i were fascinated by his canes. we would go over to the canister and look at them all, finally pick one, and not let go of it all day. this beer, honestly, smells exactly like that container of canes. a mix of wood and old people smell, musty, storied. thats what i get form this beer, it takes me to that place. weird how the brain works. anyways. it tastes pretty awesome too. tons of oak on this, i mean a whole ton, its incredible. the malt body has mellowed substantially i think, seems a touch thin now, but has a long finish of wet wood and caramel sweetness. the yeast is all tired out, but still has a cool influence on the flavor, and i bet this was hoppier back in the day, although i dont wish for more hops. its a whole experience, drinking beer this old, hard to compare it to anything, but where it brought me mentally is how i will remember it. i would love to get my hands on numbers two and four, this series is a thing of beauty! so lucky to have tried this.