Cellar Reviews (2021)

I have a 2016 bottle in my possesion that I've wanted to open but i always drink alone and prefer not to blackout

 

Ya this shit ain't a joke. At least you could stopper a bottle. I'm probably gonna have to abandon some of this can.

A pint is not an appropriate serving of 15% alcohol beverages

 

My sister has indicated that a vacuum sealed beverage container (think one of the twist top Yeti’s that make them like a nakgene) works pretty well.

 

That's an interesting idea. For now I just troop through these big beers and then wonder what I was thinking when my 20 month old flops on my stomach and cackles at 545 the next morning

 

Pregaming this morning for the first 2021-2022 Deep Woods release. Had the Deth by Raspberries yesterday at a preview party, didn't work for me (was "Supermassive Raspberries" for me, much prefer the more balanced Clare's Thirst Ale by Haymarket). Glad the preview parties have returned, so I can sample before buying the new releases. Also got the glass below yesterday, so all in all a happy camper.

It's morning, so sticking with an appropriate adjunct, and one of two types I still prefer at this point (coconut being the other), and an offering that has always been top shelf for me.

2019 Cafe Deth



This was canned 10/10/19, purchased shortly thereafter, refrigerated this entire time.

Comparing to my OG review of the 2018 release.

Appearance is the same.

Bourbon has supplanted coffee as the primary aroma.

Taste follows, bourbon smooth and delicious, roast coffee backs. No off (pepper) aromas or taste.

Primary change is with the mouthfeel. Wafer thin at this point, Central Waters like. Carbonation held on well, fizzy throughout. Alcohol very warm to burning, though consistent with my fresh review. As it warms the alcohol becomes even more assertive.

Overall, I prefer the fresher version, primarily for the fuller mouthfeel and more balanced coffee vs. bourbon profile. Glad I opened today, but the goal is to not carry a large cellar in the future, so I will be chipping away at significant inventory this Fall and Winter.

See you next time.

Music Accompaniment, Squeeze.

 

Fremont Coffee Cinnamon B-Bomb 2018

I had the 2019 recently, a marvelous beer, here is my review. Gave it a 4.68.


This is well rounded and wonderfully balanced overall. The barrel presence is magnificent, no surprise from Fremont, rich with bourbon and mellow vanilla with hints of oaky leather. I want my funeral pyre built with spent staves from Fremont barrels.

Under all that was creamy cocoa, dates and raisins, caramel, subtle coffee, and dessert like cinnamon. This is wonderful as is, but I hope I get to try a fresh bottle someday with more assertive coffee notes.



The 2018 was similar and almost as good. The bourbon and fruit weren't quite as lush and decadent. Pretty darn close though. This was a bit drier and roastier as well. Surprisingly the coffee was a tad more prominent while the cinnamon is more subdued. Not sure how much I'd let these go, hard to imagine them improving from here.

 

Gold star review sentence right here. Thank you.

I need to seek out some Fremont ba stuff next time I'm north of the state line or in one of the bigger cities in California that sees distribution

 

I didn't have this fresh, so I can't compare, but overall I think I waited too long. From my review: "Notes of coconut, cocoa powder, wet oak, and vanilla compete with a cardboard and rubber band influence. I am trying to ignore them, but it is difficult.

Flavors are much better. Chocolate, coconut, cocoa powder, vanilla, dirt, and ash are strong and the rubber and cardboard are greatly diminished. Virtually no booze warmth and the only note of the abv is the barrel oak and vanilla.

Smooth, oily, full feel with a hint of powdery-grit remainder that seems to dry and beg for more."

Second pour here still looks gorgeous.

 

Whoops!
No, you missed nothing. I'm the goof. Sorry.

Epic Quadruple Barrel Big Bad Baptist.

 

2017 Hair of the Dog - Side By Side. Collaboration with Shiga Kogen and Brouwerij De Molen.

Pours extremely dark brown, almost black. Thick tan colored head, actually very good head retention. Big bold aroma of dark malt flavors - plum, raisin, molasses, a touch of smoke. Similar taste, starts a little sweet but finishes dry. Fuller bodied, lower carbonation.

 

Alright guys, you've convinced me. I'm getting myself a box from HoD for Christmas. Cause gosh darnit, I deserve it!

 

2015 Founders Imperial Stout
BOTTLED ON 12/02/15
Cellared at consistent 65F in my basement out of light.

Black body with short cap of brown head that thins to a sticky rim with spots of spare lacing. Dark chocolate, coffee, roast malt, and prune in the aroma with .ore roasted malt and fruity dark malt character with coffee and chocolate more in the finish of the flavor with a bit of earthiness bordering on ash in the aftertaste. Viscous and full-bodied with low carbonation. Still delicious but has lost a bit of malty punch. I will be working on the and earlier vintages throughout the fall and winter as I think these are starting to slip.

 

Still have one bottle of the 2019 release. Recently moved it from the cellar to the beer fridge. I'm really looking forward to it, such a well made stout

 

Since I’m trying to make a dent in my cellar this fall/winter, I’ll try to post here somewhat frequently. This is a 2016 bottle, the second I’ve had from the case, and the first since 2018. I’ve had it fresh numerous times when it was available at a private wine store in Nova Scotia. This case I ordered through the Ontario LCBO in 2016. No current access to it these days, my government liquor monopoly no longer does special orders, so I’m loathe to drink down my cellar, knowing I can’t replace what I drink. But what am I gonna do, look at them until they’re undrinkable? So here we are.

A lovely beer, smooth and luscious. I’m a fan of old school, “regular” RIS, so this is right up my alley. At 5 years old it’s holding up well, and while I won’t sit on the other 10 for too many more years, there’s also no reason to think they need to be consumed ASAP. I’ll likely enjoy the remainder over the next winter or two.

Cheers!

Edit: I should add these are stored in an actual, concrete cellar in my basement located beneath my front concrete porch. Pretty consistent temp between 12 and 15 Celsius.

 

Tonight’s beer is a 2018 bottle. I last had one of these in December 2019. Poured with a huge head, which receded a few minutes after I took the photo. Very smooth, a bit of alcohol heat, and to me it tastes like Christmas in a bottle. Or a dessert I’d want to eat on a cold winter evening. I gave it a 4.25 previously, and I’m enjoying it just just as much today.

 

Last night was a sentimental bottle. It's our first night in a new house and so we cracked open the very last SpontanBasil, collaboration brew from Mikkeler and Lindemann's brewed once in 2016.

I must have drank through 8 or 10 of these bottles in 2016-18, but around the 18-20 month mark they lost the bright, fresh basil note that really made this one stand out for me. It morphed into an enjoyable but unremarkable mixed fermentation golden ale. So I tucked the last bottle away for a special occasion and seen as how it advises a best before the end of this year, and it was a favorite of my wife's, this seemed like a fitting occasion.

The nose was muted and a little musty, but the flavor had taken on some really interesting dimensions. The acidity has faded considerably and the front of of sip was a bit watery, but by mid palate a very savory vegetable/dried basil in a sauce type of flavor came through.

Very unique and surprisingly pleasant, I would say it is drinking better now than at any time since it was very fresh and had the bright basil pop.

Also would have been great splashed into a pasta sauce as a finishing touch

 

2017 Bell's Third Coast North Ale



Now that hot weather has gone, time to make a dent in my cellar and this is as good a place to start as any. Packaged on 10/11/2017 this was when I started cellaring Third Coast. Wasn't impressed with earlier tastings but cancel that evaluation with this because the hops have receded nicely while still retaining a pleasant presence. The dark fruit and brown sugar smells and tastes are much more prominent so this is, if not optimal, very close to it. Still have three more. Onward.

 

Tonight’s beer from the cellar is a Duchesse de Bourgogne. I’m not sure of the bottling date but the best before is April 18, 2018. I haven’t had this fresh in quite some time, but to me this doesn’t change much, if at all, with some age on it. Still a nice tartness that invites drinking rather than sipping. This just came back in stock at my local government liquor monopoly store, I’ll be sure to try a fresh one soon, but meanwhile the dozen or so older bottles sitting in my cellar will be consumed sooner than later…I’m more apt to drink something when I know I can replenish my stash.