The White Whale List - 2012

I have had 78 out of th 177 listed. Not too shabby.

Were are the 1980's DeDolle's on this list?

 

That's no fair counting past the top 100! But I did it too, and came up with 103/177.

 

My only problem with "White Whale" lists are that some of the beers are past their prime and not worth tracking down.

Granted, that doesn't mean every bottle of a white whale is over the top, but I'd much rather see someone do a "retired" White Whale list and a "active" White Whale list, differentiating between what is actually worth drinking/tracking down.

Nobody wants to kill the decrepit whale that's dying at the bottom of the ocean.

 

We didn't specifically exclude anything with no known bottles, but no one really suggested those for consideration.

Looking back at the top 100, I'm reasonably certain that everything on the list exists.

 

Obviously a list like this is polarizing to many. I'm certainly not one to get caught up in the whale race, but I don't have a problem with these lists, and I don't really think anybody should. If it bothers you, there is an easy way to view it from a historical angle and it should make more sense.

When you think about a list like this, you have to realize that very little of it actually trades anyway. Thus while it is easy to claim that this is creating an artificially inflated market of hype, in reality, it's more about documenting the world's ultra-rare but excellent beers of the past. Without a list like this, names like Dave or M would have faded away into obscurity by now. But, because this keeps them in the conversation, new users can see a list like this and be able to appreciate a bit of modern beer history.

Ultimately this is the equivalent of some art house blog's Top 100 movies of all time. A highly subjective but interesting take.

 

I really think there should be "lambic" and "non-lambic" versions of this list. Otherwise, as time--->infinity contents of list--->Cantillon/3F.

 

I probably ticked some more to be honest. A lot of the Veritas stuff has been served at the EBF over the years but I don't always pay attention that that stuff at that fest.

 

I find the list very interesting. Thanks for the work! On a side note, since P3 is ranked low, anyone want to just give me one?

 

Since DDG is ranked so low, just want to give me one? Oh wait...

 

Nice that you prefaced the list by admitting there will be disagreements, but I'll toss in an observation in an attempt to keep you honest.

The list is heavily tilted towards sours/wilds. Either the committee is stacked in that direction or my beer style preferences are a little too narrow. I'm okay with either. Interesting thread though....

 

You need a demand, too

Also, I enjoy the lists. I'm a little out of the scene these days so it's fun to see what new stuff people are fascinated by, etc.

 

Yeah some of the stuff is not that good to be honest.

I am not sure I would even concider some of the stuff to be wales. Any of the Narke or Sweedish/Finnish Lambic one off stuff can easily be ticked with a trip to Helsinki or Stockholm and a couple grand to spend at the bar.

Real wales are beers that don't exist any more. If you can buy it isn't a whale IMHO. You just have to travell, have deep pockets ect. Nobody is selling Dave. Anywhere.

 

That's a good point. If its still sold at a bar, should it even be on the list?

 

That would invalidate a lot of the list, really. Blauw, Crianza Helena, 99 Drie Fonteinen, Drie Fonteinen 50th Anniversary, etc. If someone's willing to fly halfway around the world to try a beer at the one bar where it's sold, wouldn't that make it a wale?

Edit: Blabaer's sold onsite at Olbutikken.

 

Well, when you think about it, there aren't many styles that hold up really long-term. Even your typical RIS or barleywine goes downhill after 3-5. So, for the most part, the only things that really have enough time to "whale up" are going to be lambics, sours that age well, and the occasional oddball that defies age. (like Dave or 19% stouts)

 

Where's King Henry? I thought it went 1:1 for most of these....

Seriously, though. Nice work. It's now painfully obvious that I have a bit of work to do.

 

A lot of the wales I slayed off this list were at bars. Granted they were bars in Belgium. I mean you can tick 5-6 of them at one place De Heren. Blauw, Rose, Helena, Millenuim, Rodenbach Alexander probably others too. A bunch more of the slayed wales were in Lovell Maine. Not techinically at a bar but rather a basement. lol

 

I think one was left off and should be added at least somewhere in the top 10. It's called (pre).

 

I think something like oude gueuze vintage should be split apart. There are obviously more coveted vintages in that series. This may open up some sub-list for outstanding lambic or whatever style vintages and first bottlings.