Aged Gems Found in Stores

The little shop down the hill from me must have decided to clean out their cellar. I've been in and out of the place at least once a month since I moved here in 2012 and I don't recall ever seeing this stuff on their shelf, which is only an end-cap and always has been.

In the past two months, I've scored six bottles of 2012 and 2013 DFH WWS, six 2014 Raison d'extra, and nine 2013 Higher Math for $1.99 each. As well, I found a Rosabi, which I had never had for $5. I was back in last night. I picked up a bottle of 2008 Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien for $5. They currently have a bunch of bottles of Matilda, and some St Louis Kriek and a few more of the Bon-Chien all for $5/ea.

I'm praying for some Olde School as it's one of my faves.

Thus far everything I've bought has been good. I planned on drinking down the cellar, but that went out the window.

 

How does a store end up with this great stuff, sit on it for years, and yet not realize its value? You killed it by the way, $5 St bon chien?!? $2 WWS?!? The beer gods hath smiled on you

 

Manager returns from vacation to an excited underling’s story of masterfully not just clearing out dusty old bottles, but even making money off them. The rage-squeeze that follows would be known as the shit heard round the world. The pants worn when a hole was turd-forged to China will be a visitors’ favorite at the Smithsonian. “What about the fabric that used to be there below the back pockets? Did it make it to the other side of the world and float away like a butterfly tourist or did it burn away in the center of the earth?”, inquisitive little children ask. “Fuck a butterfly.” the manager says elsewhere to no one.

 

And a BA poet laureate to boot

Cheers to you

 

Marked down to $5 each. Not sure of the exact age of the Fantome but some of them say "best before end of 2018" so we'll see how they've held up.

 

Open em outside

 

Found 2016 New Belgium La Folie on sale. Had it that day. Still had good carbonation. Lost some fruitiness but still had a good pucker factor. Overall not bad for $5. Should’ve got more.

 

I love to stop into the sketchy mom and pop liquor stores because you never know what you will find, beer or otherwise. Within the last year I’ve found Victory at Sea Barrel Aged, Bell’s Expedition and Third Coast Old Ale, all 5+ years old. Plus found an 8 year old Yeti. All for regular price. All have tasted great.

 

Purchased a bottle of Lost Abbey Deliverance on 10/03/20. Bottle was dated "VINTAGE 2013B". Felt pretty lucky to find this although unfortunately I'd never had this one fresh. Notes from that experience are:
Opened on 10/05/20 - Cork was somewhat difficult to remove. No pop or pressure release. Poured with very minimal head retention. Smell was "Wow" evoking. Like a delicious sherry or port. Lots of chocolate. Very very smoooth. No carbonation. Very lucky find with probably seven years of shelf age at purchase time. I would love to buy more! Purchased in Princeton for $16. Overall very pleased!

 

Picked up a 6 pack of anchor old foghorn barley wine on a whim the other day. Didn't even think to check the date. Drinking one now and it's nice and smooth and I figured to check the date. 6JG...I translate that as January 7, 2016! Got it out of a large walk in cooler so that may have helped.

 

Not sure "gem" is the right word but I found a 4-packs of 2018 Deconstructed Prairie for $12.50.

I will review them in the cellar review thread even though they have just been sitting in a warehouse until two weeks ago. Within the past week all the local stores have 4-packs varying from $12.50 to $22 so I think the distrubor/wholesaler just got a really awesome beer and bought it all up.

If it is good I am going to buy a case as this price but I don't expect it to be that good.

 

The

That’s a great score! I’ve only recently gotten into barleywines and I’m a big fan. Haven’t had an aged one yet, but I bet they’re sublime!

 

They do tend to age pretty well, I'd like to give this one a bit more attention soon. It was very smooth and had some good complexity. But also had some cola like notes popping up. I have 6 of them now so I imagine I'll take a few of them out a couple more years and see how it hangs

 

I hadn't noticed this at the time but a local bottle store had some 2017 Oak Aged Vanilla WWS. It was a lot more than $2 but I still snagged one.

 

I've posted this before on a different thread but found a 1999 Celebration last year for $2.99.

I believe the beer was in cold storage the entire time. It drank very well for a 21 year old beer - sherry, cardboard and hops with decent carb, a barleywine light if you will.

 

I picked up a 2014 BCS barleywine at a binnys last year. Went in looking for some fresh hops they usually have on a shelf with limited stuff and there it was I couldn’t believe it. I haven’t tried it yet though.

 

Got some '17 and some '19 lags willetized for $3 a bottle the other day. Drinking a '17 now and its wonderful

 

Not super aged, but Wine & Cheese Place just put out some 2019 BCBS and Cafe de Olla on their shelves that they held back. This is in a great spot right now, with tons of roasted coffee, cassia bark, and a touch of cinnamon and citrus peel.