Cellar Reviews (2020)

Thanks for the info, guys!

 

My locale has some as well.

 

When I came back from my BA hiatus Imgur had stopped working for me as well. Someone suggested postimage.org and it is very easy and has worked wonderfully.

 

Tonight’s beer is a Westbrook Red Wine Barrel Aged Can Can, a one off brewed in 2014. I absolutely loved this beer when it was released. Looking over my review from the time, which was done in Oct 2014, I called it “....the best beer I’ve had in 2014 to date...”, which says a lot as I drank and rated my fair share of beers that year. Let’s see how 6 plus years in the bottle has done for this one.

Pour is a very dark brown with less than 1 fingers width of khaki colored fizzy head. Almost cola like appearance on the pour. Aroma is nice with candied sugar and a big toffee character. Dark fruits like plum and dates. Subtle cocoa and faint fusel alcohol. My notes indicate that the red wine barrel characters were big in this, that certainly seems to have faded with time at least on the aroma. Taste wise, there is a fair amount going on but it’s not as rich or bold as it was fresh (or for what I would except a 13% ABV beer to carry). It does open up notably as it approaches room temperature. Dark fruits, unsweetened bakers chocolate, toffee on the finish. A bit of oak, not much else barrel wise, almost no vinous red/wine characters. Overall, this is a tasty beer but it is unquestionably past it’s prime. I’m very surprised that this one faded as opposed to developed over time.


3.75/4.25/4.25/4/4

(original/fresh: 4/4.5/4.75/4.75/4.75)

 

Tonight’s beer is a 2016 Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break. There is no bottle on date, but this beer was purchased from the original bottling release which I believe was mid year 2016.


Pour is a dense midnight black, with 1 plus fingers width of very dark mocha colored head. Aroma is surprisingly roasty and very nutty. Coffee remains prominent as well. Sweetness comes in mostly on the finish, with notable cinnamon and vanilla. Peppery heat has faded and is subtle. Taste is cinnamon and roast up front, coffee and herbaceous notes on the finish along with some leathery characters. Like the nose the peppery heat has faded, although it is noticeable and builds throughout the drink. Taste has faded quite a bit with time. Mouthfeel is good, no issues with carbonation, actually more drinkable than fresh as the peppery heat has faded. Overall, this was tasty, but past it’s prime.

4.5/4.25/4/4.25/4
(Original/fresh rating: 4.5/4.75/4.5/4.25/4.5)

diesel gas stations near my location

 

Extra points for proper glassware

 

Tonight’s beer is a 2016 Rum Siberian Black Magic Panther. I was a bit disappointed on the vintage beers I’ve had the past two nights, so hopefully this one helps me bounce back.

This is a beaut on the pour. Jet black, 1 plus fingers width of dense very dark mocha head with good retention. Aroma is roasty with huge leather notes, nice dark fruits with dates and even some vinous notes. Some sweet boozy rum notes, although they are not particularly prominent at first, they build as it warms. Taste follows with dark fruits up front and a huge, delicious roastiness on the finish that lingers for a long time. A great semisweet dark cocoa character is on the backend too. Rum is noticeable but is fairly subtle. This beer has just a fantastic balance of sweet and roastiness. Delicious. Body and mouthfeel great. No issues at all with carb or oxidation, never would have guessed it was approaching 4 years. Overall this is a really great beer that has aged exceptionally well. After back to back somewhat misses on my cellar pulls this one really hit the spot.

4.75/4.5/4.75/4.75/4.5
(Original/fresh rating: 4.25/4.5/4.5/4.5/4.5, of note original rating was on tap)

picture hosting site

 

2016 21st Century Means - Stillwater/Cigar City

3.64/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up an 08/2016 22 oz. bottle this week and poured into a DFH tulip to enjoy after a hot day. Problems immediately with runaway carbonation making me worried it was infected. Finally, after much more effort than should have been necessary, the massive foamy head subsided over a dark coppery body. Smell was very pleasant of a sweet grassy saison smell. Taste started out nicely but finished more bitterly than I consider optimal, maybe because of the rye. Finish was a little thinner than I was hoping. I'm sure this beer was not infected but I don't think aging it on the shelf did it any favors.

 

Bullfrog Et tu Brut bottle 285/360

Acquired several bottles back from the release. Have not tried in several years.

Opens w a lively hiss and decent carbonation

Smell is very funky. Damp basement w a hint of cherry

smooth mouthfeel

Taste is loads of cherry and funky goodness w zero oxidization.

Finish is a mildly acidic tart bite along to posterior palate from the cherries

Overall this beer is still amazing. I don’t throw around 5’s but I cant envision a way to make this beer better. So refreshing. Has held up incredibly well for an old AWA. This is my favorite Bullfrog beer w Blue Cheer second. Glad I have one left to try again in a few years.

 

Great bottle. Still hint of vanilla on the nose. Nice think typical BC mouthfeel. Taste was muted bourbon but still lots of vanilla and fudge. This bottle was on point with almost no oxidization. Still amazed by how these OG BC beers stand the teat of time more than any other stouts out there imho.

 

Opens with amazing carbonation as always. Always very difficult to keep the cork from flying across the room after taking off the cage. I’ve learned over the years with this beer to vent some of the carbonation very slowly to avoid leakage. This beer is too good to waste any.

Smell is crazy funk with mushrooms and mold

Mouthfeels is so think and robust w this beer. Similar to how higher abv geuze like Goldackeral and Selectie C feel.

Taste follows the nose. Very funky and earthy with citrus and a nice part bite.

Finishes w a great acidic zest.

this beer is simply perfection every damn time I have it. Worth the price of admission for me. Love checking in on this beer every once in a while

 

Armand and Tommy was only bottles once in early 2011. Originally released at the first Sour and Bitter Festival in Copenhagen

 

Maybe you were confusing this with Armand and Gaston of which there are multiple vintages?

 

The OG BC Vanilla is easily early one of my
all time favorite beers.

 

Pulled out a bomber of Victory Helios. Not sure how old, but it's probably 10 years old.
A bit of a gusher, (it did blow the stopper out as I'm drinking the first)
It's aged nicely, now it has more than a bit of Brett funk to it.

 

I realized I never posted about this - but for my birthday I drank of the Westy 12 bottles I brought back from Belgium in late 2018. And I did a side by side with St Bernardus 12 and Rochefort 10. All about 2 year old bottles.

While the Westy was the lightest in color, the flavor profile was about the middle of the other two in terms of boldness and sweet/dryness. St. Bernardus being much sweeter, and Rochefort being dryer and a touch roasty to balance the dark malt flavors. But all three being super smooth and enjoyable overall.