Dark Lord aged vs. Dark Lord fresh?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by zombiedust3030, May 3, 2012.

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  1. zombiedust3030

    zombiedust3030 Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2012 Ohio

    I have had the opportunity to drink Darklord once in my life. It was 1 yr aged and i believe it was aged right (in a dark, cool closet). I drank it and not only was it NOT good but it taste like crap! I am big into huge stouts and it was the worse one ever. And now i have another fresh one and i am thinking about diving into it? So to anyone out there who has had both variations could you chime in? Do u think maybe my aged one was just bad or should i give the aging thing another try? Or do i just smash this fresh one like there is no tomorrow?
     
    #1 zombiedust3030, May 3, 2012
  2. FosterJM

    FosterJM Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2009 California

    I didnt like my 1st one. Aged 1 year.
    You kinda just answered your question. You are huge into stouts, didnt like it with age so drink it fresh.

    Cheers!
     
    #2 FosterJM, May 3, 2012
  3. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    For your own perspective, drink this one fresh and report back.
     
    #3 Bitterbill, May 3, 2012
  4. Jparkanzky

    Jparkanzky Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2011 Ohio

    It's just beer.... drink it.

    I've had a few years in a vertical, and I've had fresh.... I just don't care for the beer. If you thought it was a little "off" then perhaps you'd prefer it aged vs. fresh or vice-versa.... if you 'hated' it, you probably won't have some miraculous moment of clarity.

    And before the obvious is mentioned: "A dark, cool closet" isn't necessarily "properly cellared"
     
    #4 Jparkanzky, May 3, 2012
  5. jeonseh

    jeonseh Maven (1,307) Oct 14, 2007 Indiana

    I think it depends on the year. The 11, i didn't like fresh or aged. The 12 seemed to be pretty good fresh and will be curious to see how it ages. The 09 was (IMO) much better with a couple of years on it.
     
    #5 jeonseh, May 3, 2012
  6. claaark13

    claaark13 Maven (1,412) Nov 29, 2007 Indiana
    Trader

    OP,
    There are a lot of people who don't at all like DL and would advise you to smash your bottle on the cement as soon as possible. Not all of those broken DLD bottles are accidents.
     
    #6 claaark13, May 3, 2012
  7. claaark13

    claaark13 Maven (1,412) Nov 29, 2007 Indiana
    Trader

    I enjoy it most in the first year. '08 is a beautiful anomoly.
     
    #7 claaark13, May 3, 2012
  8. zombiedust3030

    zombiedust3030 Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2012 Ohio

    I personally think there was something actually wrong with my 11 darklord. after this fresh one i will be the judge .
     
    #8 zombiedust3030, May 3, 2012
  9. pest

    pest Savant (1,039) Sep 2, 2007 Ohio
    Trader

    I've had better results with aged DL. 2 years seems to improve it in my book.
     
    #9 pest, May 3, 2012
  10. FUNKPhD

    FUNKPhD Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2010 Texas

    If you don't want to risk not liking it, you can just send it my way and I'll report back to you.
     
    #10 FUNKPhD, May 3, 2012
  11. drabmuh

    drabmuh Initiate (0) Feb 7, 2004 Maryland

    Most beers are better fresh and not intended to be aged, Dark lord included.
     
    #11 drabmuh, May 3, 2012
  12. Knownfactor

    Knownfactor Initiate (0) Feb 20, 2010 Colorado

    2007 was amazing.
     
    #12 Knownfactor, May 3, 2012
  13. Grohnke

    Grohnke Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2009 Illinois

    06 aged 1 year was much better than 06 fresh

    11 aged 1 year was just as bad as 11 fresh
     
    #13 Grohnke, May 3, 2012
  14. mjohnson17

    mjohnson17 Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2012 Illinois

    Zombiedust3030 - waiting for a report on the fresh DL '12. I'm contemplating opening a fresh one or wait a bit to put some age on it.
     
    #14 mjohnson17, May 4, 2012
  15. rjacobs6

    rjacobs6 Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2010 Illinois

    Had a 08 -12 vertical at DLD. 08 was great, 09 was awesome, 10 and 11 were so so and the 12 was pretty damn good. A completely different beer though fresh vs having 3-4 years on it.
     
    #15 rjacobs6, May 4, 2012
  16. Kevlee722

    Kevlee722 Initiate (0) Apr 6, 2011 Washington

    I always like to try a beer fresh so I have a baseline on what happens to it with age. I do this with The Abyss every time it comes out. The fresh version always gives me and idea of where the beer starts. I think fresh is the way to go, then toy around with some aging if you happen across another one. I say just drink it.
     
    #16 Kevlee722, May 4, 2012
    bpgpitt10 and StoutFest like this.
  17. ineva

    ineva Initiate (0) Jan 14, 2009 California

    haven't had it yet. happened to have got a bottle('11 vintage). I've heard that the sweetness mellow's out after aging it. ill maybe age it a few more months...
     
    #17 ineva, May 4, 2012
  18. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    I have never really enjoyed Dark Lord fresh, but then again I have never really enjoyed Dark Lord. I keep holding out hope I will find a bottle at some point where I can see a glimmer of the greatness others see. This is the only reason I advise aging.
     
    #18 kzoobrew, May 5, 2012
    fargoth likes this.
  19. StoutFest

    StoutFest Initiate (0) Dec 15, 2009 Illinois

    Some years have been good fresh others not so good. Overall the real sweet spot regardless of the year is between 2-3 years.
     
    #19 StoutFest, May 5, 2012
  20. AutumnBeerLove

    AutumnBeerLove Initiate (0) Oct 16, 2010 Vermont

    Had 2005 and 2006 a few months ago. 2005 is in my top 5 all time probably.
     
    #20 AutumnBeerLove, May 8, 2012
    ucsdmuiron1986 likes this.
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