July 2017 Cellar Reviews

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by dlcarst, Jul 23, 2017.

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  1. dlcarst

    dlcarst Zealot (733) Aug 21, 2015 Missouri
    Trader

    Am I really starting this thread on the 23rd?

    Big Muddy Brewing (my local brewery) Sour Du Shawnee, bottled 11/2014 as written on the box at the brewery. They had a few stashed away, one of those things that you can only get if you know to ask. This is a sour aged with fruit (not sure what kind) in a red wine barrel from a local Southern Illinois winery.
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    No head except for a few large bubbles stirred up by pouring. A deep mahogany, darker than most sours. Faint fruit in the nose. Taste is tart but definitely well below average for sours these days. Very nice complexity with fruit flavors, berries perhaps, wine, and oak. All perfectly mesh together with the tartness. This is a subtle beer with no flavors overwhelming the others. A nice oak finish.

    This beer probably needs no introduction:
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    Bell's 30th Anniversary Stout. No bottle date printed where they usually are on the label, but I believe it was August/September 2015. This beer was wonderful fresh and was pretty obvious it would age very well. It still pours with a beautiful copper head and retained some bubbles throughout drinking. Scent is sweet malty, chocolate, with a hint of fruity esters. Taste is chocolate, that fruity, dried black cherry ester flavor, a bit of roast (which was more prevalent fresh), and a just a hint of hop presence. Creamy mouthfeel, perfect carbonation, and a chocolatey finish. I wish I'd bought more than a few bottles, because this is a beer I'd like to revisit every few months for another 2-3 years.
     
    #1 dlcarst, Jul 23, 2017
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  2. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    It's debatable whether 6 months counts as "cellaring", but for anyone wondering about the 2017 Weyerbacher Sunday Morning Stout - I drank a couple this past week and they were nice and smooth tasting - any of the harsh alcohol flavor was gone.
     
    #2 jmdrpi, Jul 24, 2017
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  3. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I think the issue is people are less likely to break out the big stouts, barleywines, and Belgians when it's 90 degrees out.

    Where are all the Southern Hemisphere BA users?!
     
    #3 jmdrpi, Jul 24, 2017
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  4. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I opened a 2016 Bell's Blacknote (8 months from bottle date) last night. I did not post a (quick) review on here, though, due to not having had it fresh. So, it'd really just be a regular review rather than any type of comparison.
     
    #4 Beer_Economicus, Jul 24, 2017
  5. dlcarst

    dlcarst Zealot (733) Aug 21, 2015 Missouri
    Trader

    As I read this I'm drinking a Dogfish Head Olde School. Air conditioning and heating were invented so we can have the temperature be consistent in our homes year round, so I'll drink the same beers during the summer as I would winter, release schedule permitting of course. But, as with this barleywine, I'll save seasonal beers to drink 6 months after release, "out of season."
     
    #5 dlcarst, Jul 25, 2017
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  6. Superheatnsubcool

    Superheatnsubcool Initiate (0) May 31, 2016 Washington

    Avery Twenty Two

    Vintage 2015. I drank it straight from the bomber at fridge temp, so can't comment much on appearance, other than noting that it seemed to be pretty clear without floaters. Please don't judge me too harshly...:wink:

    I previously had a bottle of this about a year ago, and was impressed with how it held up for a 6% abv beer.

    With around two years on it, I'm even more impressed. The funky, horsey Brett notes are a little more toned down. I still get plenty of tropical fruits, and a mellow tart finish. Didn't taste any oxidation. Very refreshing, perfect beer for a hot summer day. Looking forward to seeing how my bottle of Avery Twenty Three is holding up.
     
    #6 Superheatnsubcool, Jul 27, 2017
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  7. Blackop555

    Blackop555 Pooh-Bah (1,706) Dec 12, 2016 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    2011 bells expedition a week ago. Mouth feel is still full bodied and smooth. Lots of chocolate in taste and some roast. Very light dark fruit. Leaves particles stuck to glass but you cant feel them when drinking.

    2013 expedition other night. Full bodied and smooth. Lots of dark fruit and roast. Hints of chocolate and earthy hop follows. No particles in glass
     
    #7 Blackop555, Jul 27, 2017
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  8. Benjolovesbeer

    Benjolovesbeer Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2016 Michigan

    I had a GI Pepe Nero last week that was 6 and a half years old and was quite delicious. Had this Coca Cola Blue Chimmay thing going on. One of a few GI offerings that has actually impressed me.
     
    #8 Benjolovesbeer, Jul 27, 2017
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  9. Benjolovesbeer

    Benjolovesbeer Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2016 Michigan

    I also had a Duvel Golden Ale that was 5 years old with a drink before Aug. 2017 last week and have to say I don't think it changed a bit from when it's fresh. Poured into a tulip it looked exactly like the picture on the bottle with a fluffy, champagne bubbly head. Taste was very drinkable and refreshing on a hot summer night. Very creamy with rum flavors along with mild hints of bananas and clove.
     
    #9 Benjolovesbeer, Jul 27, 2017
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