My local shop just showed up with a handful of these from 2001-2013 iirc as well as some aged in various barrels (sherry etc). What's the deal? Do they release from old vintages or is this something the shop has been sitting on for over a decade?? Also, should I have scooped some of these up? If so what years are best? Or are all they all worthwhile at $10/bottle?
They age well, depending on storage conditions. I'd buy one of the older ones to sample and then think about buying more. They are rich and malty and relatively sweet so one bottle at a time should keep you happy for a while. (Definitely a "sip-by-the-fireside-on-cold-evening" candidate. ) I suspect what you're seeing is some old stock from some other store, or maybe something they had in the back room and forgot it was there. But then I don't know the brewery well enough to know if they have their own aging program. I've enjoyed all, except for the Laguvulin aged one, and prefer the other cask/barrel aged versions both to the Lagavulin and the regular. Top on my list would be the Calvados. While I haven't bought one in a few years, since I don't see them often around here, my recollection is that $10 a bottle is not un-reasonable, given the beer in the bottle.
I love these barley wines, especially the Lagavulin version. I've seen this same situation where a bottle shop suddenly has some old vintages appear on the shelves. Not sure what the deal is but I suspect JW Lees releases older vintages at times. I bought a 2009 last year and wish I had purchased more. Never been disappointed with this beer.
I've only had the Lagavulin Barrel, man that was one lousy beer, and I love Lagavulin. I took 2-3 sips and poured it out.
The US importer of J W Lees is B. United and they maintain a vintage beer warehouse. http://www.bunitedint.com/information/collections/2/cellar/ See their list for just some of their in-stock J W Lees Harvest Ale vintages - http://www.bunitedint.com/information/brands/description/70/
I believe the brewery will release old vintages, or the distributor has a bunch of vintages they have access to. When JW Lees first hit Texas there was a lot of late 1990's bottles that hit most of the better beer stores. The stores themselves could not have been holding on to these as they have never been available before in the state. Anyway, all (except the Lagavulin) are among my favorites. I use to always get a mix case of these to bring back with me when I traveled to a state that had them. For sure worth the splurge, and one of the only truly good beers I have access to that really benefits from aging.
Same reaction as you, except that I did manage to finish mine, barely. That's why the second one is going to be aging in the basement for a long long time. Hoping it will improve.
Not necessarily. Don't know which company(ies) are the wholesale distributors for B. United in PA (they don't list distributors on their website but Brendon Kingston of B. United could tell you) but it could simply be the local retailer ordered those beers while they were in-stock at their local PA B. United wholesaler. I've seen the Lees vintages appear at various NJ liquors stores for the past couple of decades with no apparent organized "release". In NJ, B. United brands are distributed statewide by Hunterdon. I'd guess (since I don't have a printout of their catalog handy) that Hunterdon usually has some vintages of Lees Harvest Ale in stock and a retailer could order it whenever they desire.
Chicago land just saw a big drop of various vintages from 2001 through the present. I grabbed the 2001 because a 15 year old barley wine is too interesting to pass up. Also grabbed a couple other vintages and some of the BA varieties. Everyone I've talked to said they older vintages are delightful.
Good point. Might also be a combination if they do somethings like what Aventinus does. Each year Aventinus put a certain number of cases away in their Eiskeller and also pull out some of the three year old along withe the five year old which then becomes available for sale to us.
The central MN liquor store I frequent recently got the Harvest 08' 09' 10' ones. I've scooped those up, and will let you know when I try them how they are. Might be a while.
Lucky you all! Any version, any vintage is high on my list that I want to get a hold of, and have yet to find.
I have the same problem with a number of BBA Imperial Stouts- too much hot sour whiskey, often too sweet for my taste, and a lingering Bourbon taste way after the beer is gone.
