June 2019 Cellar Reviews

Haven't opened a KBS in While, and still sitting on...like 16. You guys are going to make me open one soon! (From 2017)

 

2017 North Coast Old Rasputin Barrel Aged XX

4.18/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I've been looking forward to this for a while. Poured into a DFH tulip had a thick tan head, which never completely dissipated, over a dark brown body. Very aesthetically appealing to look at. Smell was very nice with a boozy barrel aroma over a roasted chocolate malt base. Taste was fine but didn't quite deliver on the promise of the smell; lacking the complexity I was hoping for. Mouthfeel was just fine.

I don't know if it's appropriate to address it here but I'll do it anyway: is it appropriate to hold barrel aged Russian Imperial stouts to the same standards as double imperial stouts? Because I think it's an arbitrary differentiation and prefer to lump them together. That said, although I am enjoying this a great deal, I prefer KBS, BCBS and Ten FIDY and maybe more. I'm not trying to badmouth this by saying that as much as putting it in it's proper slot in the hierarchy. Maybe further aging would have improved this but I snagged the last one available.

 

Decided to dig in for this Satuday evening... hey, Saturdays from the cellar, yeah?
I started putting beers away to age probably in 2013/2014. I didn't really know what I was doing (still don't, not really), and so I've got a glut of options available from that era that I've held on to because I never found 'the right time' to drink it. A lot of them were/are intended for verticals etc, but tonight I was feeling like grabbing something dark and vintage.

Lagunitas Imperial Stout (2014).
Comparing my experience tonight with what I wrote 3 or 4 years ago about it, it seems that the nose has less depth and richness and becomes more metallic. The head retention and lacing were pleasant surprises, and the flavour profile seems to exert more dark fruits with a touch of molasses, and less rich chocolate and coffee. I'm actually enjoying it more than I had expected, and will let the other 2014 bottle that I have sit for a while longer, for science of course.
While I don't remember it per se, based on what I wrote back then I think I probably enjoyed it better fresh, but it is a different, and still enjoyable beast now, and one that I do not regret having laid down for a while.

 

2012 De Dolle Stille Nacht. Really nice beer. Have 4 more from around that time in the cellar still. The flavors are very well blended with candied sugar, vanilla, dates, and banana shining through. It actually is pretty similar to Firestone Walker's Stickee Monkee but a little more complex and the banana stands out. I have yet to have a stille nacht with less than a year on it to compare but this is pretty fantastic.

 

2014 Dogfish Head Raison d'Extra
Still nicely carbed, with similar sediment from when it was fresh. The 18% ABV is readily apparent on the nose, with some sharp ethyl notes, along with raisin and brown sugar. However, the palate has smoothed out a lot, without nearly as much heat as it used to have. The raisin is still there on the tongue, but it's also now progressed to having some more vinous qualities to it. A touch of cough syrup on the finish once it warms, but overall, I think this is in a good place, and I'm glad I still have another bottle left.

 

I had a couple bottles of one of the older batches, and drank at 3 years and 6 years old. It was still going strong at 6 years.

 

I saved a 2017 and depending on how that tastes at a year old (will be finding out soon!) I may be tempted to start a Celebration vertical - maybe save 5 beers every year. Could be interesting.

 

For my money the 12 and 13 were the best they ever made. Held up for years. Just drank my last 12 a month ago. Gonna miss that beer.

 

I guess none of ya'll are gonna mention the thread title?