May 2018 cellar reviews

2011 Great Lakes Nosferatu

Still looks and drinks well. Hasn't changed all that much. Smoother and milder hop flavor but still evident and nice rounding off of the malt. Mild oxidation in aroma and taste but not that unpleasant or distracting, but evident. Dense tan head over a slightly cloudy orange/red amber body. Less bite overall, but fine.
Worth it? eh.

 

2008 Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse

look 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I can't believe it's been years since this was last reviewed. This is a Weizenbock and can be cellared, no?

Anyway this was a gift from a person who cleaned out her beer fridge before a move cross country. I was gonna wait until further in the summer but today was pretty warm so why not? Cork fell apart when I tried to remove it but, when I used a corkscrew there was still an encouraging pop when extricated. Dark orange color topped by a sizeable white head. Smell and taste are sweet; the bananas have faded but replaced by a more malty and dried fruit. Mouthfeel is just fine.

I have no idea what this was like fresh but I'm really surprised nobody else tried cellaring this.

 

Bells Expedition Stout 2017:

Sure it's only been about 8 months since bottled but I seen some changes. Fresh I got a lot of dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla, and coffee with some light licorice and tobacco.

Now aged 8 months I get heavy tobacco flavor, almost like chocolate covered tobacco with some roastiness. Not a smoker but I am enjoying this tobacco taste. I do like this beer better fresh yet excited how more age will affect this beer's flavor.

 

~4 years old, lovely aromas of dried fruit, malty as all heck, tasty oxidation. Very delicious at this point.

 

Thanks!
I have 1 more bottle to be opened when?
The oxidation doesn't quite resemble what you get in say, a Thomas Hardy or JW Lees yet, maybe never will but it's a tasty drop. I actually enjoyed it more than the 2005 with similar time on it.

Looking forward to what your thoughts will be on it when the time comes .

 

Ten Fidy - 09/05/14
Two fingers of dense khaki head. Great retention and good lacing. Deep black body. Notes of Sherry, coffee, and bakers chocolate on the nose. I'm also picking up on a little tart cherry and mustiness. Oxidation is prominent on the tongue but translate to ripe cherry on my palate. This dominates the front of the mouth. Back of the mouth is mostly bakers chocolate with minimal heat. Finishes with robust slightly fruity roasted coffee and cocoa. Bitter but we'll balanced. A tiny bit of wet cardboard lingers. Mouth feel is thick and dry.

Didn't expect the level of oxidation considering it's packaging, but still enjoyable nonetheless. Definitely a different beer then when fresh. Still prefer this fresh to 2 years, but I don't regret the experiment.

Edit: As it warms Im picking up a lot more molasses in both the nose and taste. Great stuff.

 

2010 KBS
This has lost a lot of it's bite. It has really mellowed. From the low carbonation and no head to the flat smoothness and thinner body. The vanilla has softened some but it certainly still is the dominant flavor. The bourbon and malt blends much more and softly holds the background. Oxidation is minimal. Drank nicely but not the bold rich flavor drink that it is when fresh.

 

2016 Corsendonk Christmas Ale

look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750 ml bottle best by 8/18/2018 so was bottled in 2016. Nice chilly mid May weather so this is probably the last appropriate opportunity before the best by date.

Cork came out easily and smoothly with a nice pop. Poured into a long stemmed tulip produced a larger than expected light tan head that slowly dissipated over a clear dark garnet body. Smell was a nice malty and winey combination with dark fruit that I think has improved over the fresh experience. Taste was a bit of a letdown in that it was thinner than what the smell suggested and I think the spices have faded. Mouthfeel was fine but I think the carbonation has declined a bit and is slightly less satisfying than fresh.

This was a gift from a friend who moved away so I didn't cellar this intentionally even though I'd always wondered what the impact would be (and am deliberately aging some Scaldi Noels). Based on this experience I will consume this promptly after purchase next Christmas season, since this has been a holiday staple.

 

Dec 4, 2014 Clown Shoes Royal Standard Wee Heavy Ale:

Never had this fresh but wow @ 4 & a half years no oxidation, not harsh, super smooth, and think it could go another 5 years. Even reminded me a bit of J.w. Lee's Barley Wine, that good. But main flavors were of malt, bread, and caramel. Typical wee heavy, never had this fresh, got a bomber for $4, wow what a delicious beer. Even though never had fresh, do believe the deliciousness was due to age.

 

2013 Weyerbacher Insanity
Lots of sediment. Other than that, no negatives. Aroma, taste and mouthfeel were great.

 

Vanilla? In KBS? Coffee, yes…Chocolate, yes…..Bourbon, yes…..but I've never heard someone describe the dominant flavor in KBS as vanilla. I guess palates are really different!

 

Vanilla from the barrel I guess?

 

I pick it up from oak barrels from time to time.

 

For sure. Get some from charred barrels to sometimes.

 

2011 Old Foghorn
The pours a remarkably attractive beer. Still holds a fullness in the head with a solid density. Body to kinda' muddy brown.
Some oxidation in aroma and taste but never too much. I'm really enamored initially with the taste. Seems bright and holds some nice candy sweetness. However, as I continue the luster seems to fade. Only bits of the sweetness. Less distinct malt flavor. No hops to speak of. Body is reasonably full with nice carbonation and I like that.
Sharpness seemed to fade more than I initially had experienced. Compared to the Old Monster is seems a little lifeless. Still a solid drink but probably past prime.

 

Mixed results this month and won't get too far into details but:

UNITA cockeyed Cooper 2013 - meh results. I'm on the fence about this beer fresh as I've had it a number of times over the years, cellaring didn't really do it any favors. Still has a harsh hop bitterness and some not entirely unpleasant alcohol character but there's just not enough of that big brown sugary malt presence one looks for in this style to mellow everything out and make something profound. The body felt kind of thin, totally lacking the smooth feel you'd want in a cellared barleywine. Middling at best.

On the other hand Lawson's maple tripple 2012 was nuts, just so phenomenal with the syrupy maple notes and body, sherry like oxidation creeping in, nuance and elegance, and balanced with sweetness that was never cloying. I expected this beer to be good and it was better! Wish I had another. Felt like it could have continued to sit indefinitely.

Finally, did a side by side of the Newburgh and Plan Bee cross pollination beers which iirc were from 2015 and have been cellaring since. Neither was particularly exceptional, the plan bee showing more bright acidity and pleasant vinegary notes, but still paling in comparison to the beers Evan is making now. The Newburgh iteration seemed a little flacid and undefined, without enough sourness to shape a mildly sweet basic flavor. Both bottles kind of reminiscent of a weak attempt at an oud brune or a Flanders style red. Not sure what I was expecting here but these failed to deliver much.

 

I had one of the 6/20/17's fresh, and decided to sit on two others. My last bottle will be a year old soon. I am with you on your assessment. Kind of a meh, one dimensional experience. Pretty thin mouthful for such a high ABV too. The one I had a 6 months was still pretty sharp and fairly hot. I do wish the pecans (maybe that vague nuttiness you pick up on) would show up more too. I have some hopes for more subtle adjuncts to come forward with my last bottle.