Cellar Reviews (2024)

You know it! I am very certain that there are people on this site that have more cellared beer than I do, and some of them may even be trying to thin out their stash as I am. If it wasn’t for people sending me IPAs and Lagers I’d probably be posting here every day or two.
Clear out those cellars people! Just post about it here!

 

I primarily chalk up my cellar experience to my changed palate / desire to enjoy clean BA stouts at this stage, and surprise the vanilla overtook my preferred balanced aspects.

People started bitching about FO being "not as good" as they made a lot more, and while I don't have a frame of reference with only experiencing this version and beyond, I'd say it is more of the "the less rare, the less care" not as good sentiment we see from time to time.

Excellent selection!

I still have years of posts in me, but shift to more Summer seasonal selections once we hit the 70 F + mark, which we are thankfully approaching. I don't post duplicates (same batch and beer) within each calendar year, and much of my cellar consists of 4-12 packs of the same.

Feels cool at this stage out of the sun, so pulled this to enjoy breaking into mid-day here to honor the scheduled opening tomorrow of the new new Goose Island Brewpub, which was my original go to the first few years of my craft journey starting in February 2015.

Goose Island Bourbon County Reserve Brand Stout (2017)



OG Contemporary Notes from 5 oz $8 sample draft pour, 14.8% ABV approximately either in the year of or year after release:

• Appearance: Pitch Black Pour, light tan lacing, heavy carbonation. 4.25
• Aroma: Strong whiskey aroma. 4.5
  
• Taste: Whiskey lead, stronger than blended variants. Very sweet, too sweet. 4.0
  
• Mouthfeel: Thin texture, smooth drinking. 4.25
  
• Overall: Overall very good. 4.25

Let this warm for about 15 minutes. Appearance and aroma consistent with fresh experience.

Any "too" sweetness noted in the OG is balanced out, tastes consistent with memory based base beers, whiskey stronger than normal, a bit harsh which I find most times with the one barrel treatments vs. blended treatment of the standard ABV.

Wouldn't call this thin either, though would say it's still thinner than the typical BCBS blend. Medium body. Alcohol strong and kicks ass from go. Sticky bourbon chocolate fudge experience. Bourbon front and center, no nuance from oak, leather or other notes typically found within the base.

Overall, this near 7 year cellar pull has not mellowed / smoothed out over time. In fact, it may be more intense, though it's possible the draft vs. bottle also plays a role. Bottom line, there were different reasons to like / somewhat dislike aspects fresh and cellared, but overall this is still a solid beer and one I'm enjoying.

No more of these in my cellar, will return with another unique 2024 soon if weather allows.

 

Fremont From the Vault (2022), one of their forays into blending various barrel-aged beers (a la FW anniversary series etc.). Quite tasty. Cheers!

4.57/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz into a tulip. Pours a dark chocolate brown with a thin mocha head.

Aroma is rich and complex, right out of the fridge. Vanilla, bourbon-soaked figs/dates, toasted walnuts, toffee, chocolate, coffee.

Taste follows nose. Like the aroma, leads off with smooth vanilla and some smoky barrel char, caramel, dark cherry, bitter chocolate, coconut, and just a hint of booze. Dry oatmeal stout base (Dark Star) becomes more prominent as it warms. Some subtle cinnamon heat. Can’t say I’m getting much maple syrup but maybe it’s one of those ingredients whose difference would be more noticeable by its absence. So good.

Mouthfeel is smooth and slick, medium-heavy. Coats the palate, lingering flavor. Nice warmth on the finish.

Overall another home run from Fremont, they continue to blow me away with their barrel-aged stuff and blends.

 

Hello!
Back with another one. I think the date on the bottle is 1/12/18 - so a bit over 6 years old now.

The last time I had one I don’t remember the sour aspect, thinking that’s new.
Beyond that, it got better as it warmed, the honey made its presence known and the sour went away.
Definitely one better fresh, or at least not so old.

 

From 2022 - still a very good pastry stout,
Many more words in the newly expanded NBW.
Cheers!

 

This exceeded my expectations - full review here (4.31/5) and in NBW #198 - cheers!

 

Wow sounds delicious! And hopeful for me, as I have a 2009 I hope to get to, now with added anticipation.

 

From 2021. I’d need to try it side by side with a fresher one to see if it lost anything, but from what I can tell it’s still freaking good.
Transient does some amazing stuff. They do a lot of additive and adjunct stuff which are normally pretty good but in this case, less is more.

 

2014 Jack's Abby Baby Maker - Retired barleywine from a local brewery. Pours with a chestnut appearance and little to no head. Aroma of dried fruit, cherry and dates. Taste includes hints of plum and dried fruit followed by bourbon. Vanilla and honey flavors not noticeable. Feel is smooth with warmth from the 14% abv. Nice sipper that goes down pretty easily.

 

Slacking off on my posts here, gotta get back in the habit.

Checking in on Bourbon County 2 year barleywine. About a year and a half on, this is tasting fantastic.



More dark fruit, less heat and oak than fresh I believe. Hard to say with certainty of course but that is my impression reading my original review couple with my diminishing memory. Mellow brown liquor, leather, molasses, damn this is tasting good. I think this will be as good or possibly better for years and years to come.

 

I just cracked a 2015 Double or Nothing Barlywine that has been stored on my basement for 9 years. It was a collaboration between Lawsons and Otter Creek. It took a bit of bravado to go for it but... Holy smokes! The result is shocking. One of the best beers I have enjoyed for quite some time. It aged beautifully. Too bad I only have 5 bottles left. It's a solid Omg. I am still smiling

 

From 15 years ago. More words in NBW, but dang this is good.
Like raisins and assorted dark fruit as the leading characteristics, it just goes down smoothly.

 

Crazy I was just thinking about this beer before entering this thread. This one aged with the best of them. I drank my last bottle in 2021 and it was wonderful. Wish I could still source one more...

 

I was surprised to see this on the shelf at my favorite beer store today. BA Expedition bottled October 2018, enticing enough to become the first single I purchased all year.



Never had the barrel aged version and it's been a looong time since I had Expedition at all.

The carbonation is light and the body just a touch thin, but this is still a wow. Molasses and bakers chocolate most noticeably with burned brown sugar, earthy vanilla, and a very faint note of port lurking in the background. Warm but not hot at 13.4%

If these are still on the shelf next time I'm there I might have to get another one. The label does say the shelf life is unlimited after all...