December 2018 Cellar Reviews

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by CaptainHate, Dec 2, 2018.

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  1. CaptainHate

    CaptainHate Initiate (0) Apr 22, 2006 Ohio

    2017 Ten FIDY Barrel Aged Imperial Stout - Oskar Blues

    It was with great alarm when I read what @bbtkd wrote about aging these stovepipes being not such a smart thing to do beyond six months because things start to fall off, like the coffee flavor. The good news is that this 11/06/17 can, and another, was given to me by a friend relocating across country so it didn't cost me a damn thing. But being a risk averse individual, kind of, I decided to put one of these bad boys to the test and popped one tonight into a DFH tulip. It poured nicely with a reasonable dark tan head over a dark brown body. And the smell still had plenty of barrel and alc over the nice molassesy stout aroma with a matching taste. So WTF does @bbtkd know, right? Except I think he's right. Something is slightly off compared to experiencing this a year ago. It's not as hot, obviously; but it's also not as complex. It's still been a very positive experience (I'm listening to some wild ass music which sounds *great*) but I think these are best experienced fresh.
     
    #1 CaptainHate, Dec 2, 2018
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  2. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Exactly. If someone never had one fresh and you gave them an aged one, they'd probably love it since it is still a kick-ass BA stout, though it's only maybe 90% as bold as it's former self. Any beer that depends on coffee for it's wow factor is best consumed fresh.
     
    #2 bbtkd, Dec 2, 2018
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  3. djkman

    djkman Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2012 New Jersey


    I have 1 2017 waiting in the wings. I have two 2018’s just purchased this weekend. When I open the 2017, that will tell me if I should enjoy both 2018’s now or put the 1 2018 in the cellar.......
     
    #3 djkman, Dec 3, 2018
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  4. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you've never had one fresh, that won't help you since the 2017 will still be great, just not as great as when it was fresh. If you've had one fresh you'll know the difference.
     
    #4 bbtkd, Dec 4, 2018
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  5. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Now I am one of the people that thinks it has improved with a bit of age on it (and I have had fresh/aged stovepipes as well as fresh draft) - it was a touch hot in my opinion initially.
     
    #5 dbrauneis, Dec 4, 2018
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  6. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I always thought hot and bold were it's selling points. Would like to have had it on draft.
     
    #6 bbtkd, Dec 4, 2018
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  7. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Still booozy with some age on it and very enjoyable - always bold.
     
    #7 dbrauneis, Dec 4, 2018
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  8. traction

    traction Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2010 Georgia
    Trader

    [​IMG]

    I drank this one canned 11/2016 about a week or so ago. Personally I prefer it with a bit of age on it. It is definitely less hot and more mellow than fresh 2018 but I wouldn't say it is less complex. It is different though and if you are one of the people who prefers heavy barrel and booze character I think you would prefer this one fresh. Personally I prefer a good base stout accentuated by a bit of barrel rather than a beer that tastes like it has a shot of bourbon in it. I think regular Ten Fidy also benefits from a bit of age.
     
    #8 traction, Dec 5, 2018
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  9. Jm5471

    Jm5471 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2017 New York

    No picture sorry but opened a 2016 KBS I had aged. It tasted better than I expected. Smooth but still had the barrel presence. I feel the coffee is more prominent up front but the overall beer was delicious. I have yet to come across the “green pepper” flavor of an aged coffee beer.
     
    #9 Jm5471, Dec 7, 2018
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  10. BigIslandfarmer

    BigIslandfarmer Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2016 Minnesota

    [​IMG]
    Deschutes Brewery The Stoic 2015
    Found in the discount section of a bottle shop in August. Most likely stored at room temperature all its life before it came into mine. Poured at cellar temp leaving a small head that quickly dissipated. Reddish amber in color & fairly clear. Smell is sweet, with dark fruit, and an indistinct yeastyness. Taste is superb. The first time I had this beer, a couple years ago, it was good. Mostly your standard Belgian-style quad, dark fruits, etc. Now the pomegranate from the molasses used and the wine from the barrels really stand out. The dark fruit is still there but takes a backseat. I would say this is the best beer I've had this year. If you are sitting on a bottle or two drink up! I don't see how it could get any better!

    Cheers!
     
    #10 BigIslandfarmer, Dec 10, 2018
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  11. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    2011 Grande Reserve 17 from Unibroue. Best before 2016. The cork was almost impossible to get out, but I was eventually successful. Poured from fridge temp, but allowed to warm. Pours a dark brown color with tan head. Nose is dark fruit, toffee, candy, and a touch of metallic notes. Definitely some Belgian yeast in there as well. Taste is very much downhill from when it was fresh. I waited too long. That said, it still has some nice yeast, dark fruit (cherries especially), and nutty notes. Some oak and toffee, as well as some tree sap are there. Mouthfeel is medium bodied. Overall, this was really good but should be consumed within 5 years.

    [​IMG]
     
    #11 Beersnake, Dec 13, 2018
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  12. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    2013 Angel’s Share. Still very good, but the barrel is almost absent. The overall flavor is muted, but definitely no bad tastes coming through. Tons of dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla, and roasted malts

    [​IMG]
     
    #12 Beersnake, Dec 13, 2018
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  13. bl00

    bl00 Savant (1,244) May 13, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    There are a few regulars on the cellar threads, how would you all feel about a group review? Maybe we buy a 4-6 pack of something readily available like Bigfoot or Ten Fidy and review at 6 month intervals?
     
    #13 bl00, Dec 13, 2018
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  14. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I like this idea! Bigfoot hasn't been available for many months now - sold out way earlier than normal this year. Should be released in January, so that might be a great starting point?
     
    #14 Beersnake, Dec 14, 2018
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  15. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    And people could throw in reviews of older vintages at the same time. My vote is for Bigfoot.
     
    #15 Beersnake, Dec 14, 2018
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  16. toolbrew

    toolbrew Pooh-Bah (1,600) Feb 26, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’m interested.
     
    #16 toolbrew, Dec 14, 2018
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  17. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    2015 Humulus Rueuze from the Bruery. Pours a transparent orange with tan head. Nose is citrus, candy, toffee, and orange creamsicle. Taste is amazing. A bit of sour, but mostly sweet with great notes of tropical fruit and a touch of pine. Very smooth and a bit of funk. Some horse saddle is nested in there somewhere. Mouthfeel is surprisingly creamy. Overall, a really nice beer. An amazing beer to age.

    [​IMG]
     
    #17 Beersnake, Dec 15, 2018
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  18. CaptainHate

    CaptainHate Initiate (0) Apr 22, 2006 Ohio

    Me too. I bought my first six of Bigfoot a year ago and haven't touched it, intending to wait 3-5 years for the hops to die down and the darker tastes to emerge. But I could be coaxed into trying one or two earlier. I'll pick up this year's version when I see it.
     
    #18 CaptainHate, Dec 15, 2018
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  19. bl00

    bl00 Savant (1,244) May 13, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Lets tentatively choose Bigfoot then and pick a start date once a few of us have our hands on it!
     
    #19 bl00, Dec 15, 2018
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  20. Dragerman

    Dragerman Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2007 Maryland

    [​IMG] Down to my last two full cases of 23% DFH WWS. Pretty much tastes like a mild brandy-like beer. Hard to compare to anything.
     
    #20 Dragerman, Dec 15, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2018
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