Cellar Reviews (2020)

Tonight’s beer is a 2016 Funky Buddha Barrel Aged Chocwork Orange, a bourbon BA imperial milk porter with, you guessed it, chocolate and orange added. I was impressed with this beer fresh, as I’m not typically huge into the adjunct orange characters, but I thought this one pulled it off nicely. Let’s see how 4 years has developed it.


Pours midnight black, large and dense mocha colored head with great retention and lacing. Aroma is big chocolate and big orange, I’m sure the adjuncts have faded somewhat from when fresh. but they are still very prominent. Some lactose like sweet cream notes, moderate barrel characters with a big oaky vanilla. Taste follows, but is even sweeter. Sugary lactose sweetness up front, roastiness and oaky bourbon characters on the finish. Like the nose orange and chocolate are both still present and prominent, but not dominating. Very sweet but not cloying, and insanely drinkable. Imperial milk stouts can be hit or miss for me but when it’s a well done one I tend to love them, and this one is so, so good.

4.75/4.5/4.75/4.75/4.5
(Original/fresh review: 4.5/4/4.5/4.25/4.25)

 

Tonight’s beer is a 2018 Darklord.It’s been a long time since I’ve had a regular Darklord, many years. I first had this beer in 2012 and was NOT impressed. It was just so cloyingly sweet and one dimensional. Because of that I never really sought it out again and DLs typically don’t just fall into your lap so I’ve have it maybe once or twice more since then. On the other side of the coin I’ve had a couple DL variants (regular Bourbon DL and BVDL now called Marshmallow Handjee [dumbass name]) which I found to be absolutely fantastic as the barrel characters balanced out the sweetness. Anyways, revisiting this now after many years, many beers, and undoubtedly palate changes.

Pours black with some lightening on the edges and 1/2 fingers width of mocha colored head. Aroma is pretty big coffee, lots of roastiness, and fairly big metallic notes. Very faint vanilla, some dark fruits. Aroma is good but not a ton going on. Taste is better than the aroma but man is this sweet. Sugary sweetness, simple syrup, molasses, maple syrup. Pretty much just list any of the super sweet flavors you can think of and that’s what I get in this one. Non sweet notes include some roastiness, moderate herbaceous characters, and subtle black coffee. Vanilla is def present and adds to the sweetness. Mouthfeel is a bit syrupy, ABV is exceptionally well masked and it’s actually pretty drinkability even considering the sweetness. Overall, this isn’t bad and I did enjoy it more than I remembered (likely due to my palette development over the years), but it remains one dimensional and far from my favorite imperial stout.

4/4/4/4/4
(Original/fresh review: 3.5/4.5/3.5/3.5/3.5; of note original review was prior to BAs 0.25 intervals)

 

I was in Binny’s Downers Grove today and they suddenly had some 2018 Better Half on the shelf! I bought a case in 2018. It is getting better, but was initially too sweet. Not sure why they have it again, but there’s a fair amount.

 

I don’t drink enough Black Tuesday, that is a fact. These big Bruery beers are a glaring omission to my cellar and I’m going to start seeking them out more. Tonight it’s a 2015, only recently obtained and sadly the only one in the cellar.


Pours somewhat thin appearing, black in color, small fizzy head that’s nearly white. Aroma is luscious rich chocolate and roasted malts. I also get fusel ethanol, nice bourbon characters particularly charred oak, and some ripe dark fruits. Taste is so good. It’s so bold, huge flavors of roastiness and bourbon barrel characters. It’s really impressive how strong these barrel characters still are, just huge bourbony goodness. It is also surprisingly big on what I consider old ale/ English Barleywine characters with big candied sugar and caramel notes. I also get some bitterness which balances out some of the other characters and adds to the complexity, and the same fusel ethanol presence from the nose (in a good way). Although it appeared thin on the pour the mouthfeel is by no means thin, it’s actually a very nice full bodied. Although the alcohol is noticeable its in a good way, and it’s remarkably drinkable for the insane ABV. Overall just a great drinking experience. With this much age on it, flavor profile wise it’s actually very reminiscent of a BCBS, except kicked up another notch. Love this beer, and still going exceptionally strong even at 5 years.

4/4.25/4.75/5/
(Original/fresh review: 3.5/4.5/4.5/4.5/4.5, of note original review was prior to BAs 0.25 intervals)

https://imgur.com/gallery/GyUgSK6

 

2019 Founders CBS

9/16/2019 12 oz bottle poured into a DFH tulip. Huge head over an inky brown body. A year hasn't diminished this at all, in fact it may have balanced out the maple somewhat; I can still smell and taste it but it's more subtle. I still have two more bottles so who knows what further aging will produce.

Photo image is currently down so no picture.

 

Sunday Funday, starting with 2016 Tart Cherry Wake N Bake.

Pours opaque black with a dense light tan head. Aroma is big coffee, still very strong after 4 years. Cherry is present although not particularly prominent. Other characters I get are roasted malt, subtle vanilla, and a pretty big and quite nice chocolate characters. Taste is much more prominent tart cherry, it is really the dominant flavor even with the aging. Other characters come out, mostly on the finish, and include roasted malt, coffee, and some raw oak notes. Not bad but IMO the cherry characters are too prominent, I’d take regular WnB any day.

4.5/4.25/3.75/4/4
(Original/fresh review: 4.5/4/4.25/3.75/4.25)

 

Sunday Funday beer #2, 2018 3F Oude Gueze. Pours a hazy golden yellow with a bright white head. Aroma is burnt plastic, lactic acidity, and tart citrus. Oak on the back end, fruit flesh with white grapes and subtle peach. Taste is pretty sour but not quite puckering. Pretty big fruit characters that mimic the nose; peach and white grapes. Some belgian yeasty fruity ester banana, and dry oak to finish. A nice minerality. Overall, a really nice beer that not unexpectedly develops nicely with time (although I still consider this very young for the style).

4/4.5/4.5/4.5/4.5
(Original/fresh review: 3.5/4.5/4/3.5/4; original review prior to BA 0.25 interval)

 

This is my first aged cellar review in a while, a 368 day old (counting Leap Year) bottle of 2020 KBS Espresso, bottled 11/15/19.



i reviewed for the first time this stout shortly after I obtained the four pack. Comparing my review notes to the bottle I had today, the appearance was consistent. I noted more espresso / coffee than during the original fresh pour, which was surprising. The aroma was bolder and very pleasant.

Taste was similar to the earlier review. Bourbon and espresso coffee balanced well and were strong and pleasant. More of a fudge and chocolate taste than first rating, with the barrel and coffee mellowing a bit but still there. ABV felt throughout the pour, alive and kicking at 12% with zero apologies or concerns for those brave enough to enjoy. Creamy rich mouthfeel seemed to thin a little, but still rich and enjoyable. consistent and maintained, noted light carbonation this time versus none in the prior review notes. Also lacked the bitterness identified in the previous review, more balanced.

Has the beer maintained and or improved from release? Would say there was a slight improvement, surprising because most coffee stouts fade and fade fast.

Would I cellar again? Yes

Final scores at release: 4.25 / 4.25 / 4.25 / 4.0 / 4.0.
Score for today: 4.25 / 4.25 / 4.5 / 4.0 / 4.25

 

Tonight’s beer is a 2015 Cuivre. I love the Bruery anniversary series, although Cuivre was not my favorite of the series fresh, I did enjoy it quite a bit. 5 years is a decently long time, so curious as to how it has developed.

Cuivre apparently means copper, but it looks more mahogany to me. It’s murky on the pour and opaque in the glass, with a small fizzy tan head. Aroma is huge, remarkably so. I get several prominent components even when the class is several feet away from me on the coffee table while i sit on the couch. Sherry and port notes galore! Dark fruits with huge dates and some raisin, Caramel and toffee, balancing booziness, oak spirit barrels. Just phenomenal. I had a pour of a Utopias the other day and this smells very similar. Near perfect nose. Taste is also fantastic with caramel up front and a big bakers chocolate on the finish. Port characters are present but not to the degree of the nose, dark fruits remain very prominent though. Charred oak bourbony characters are more present in the taste. There’s some balancing bitterness and booze to round it out. Mouthfeel is full bodied but not thick, ABV is noticeable perhaps even a bit strong, but in fairness to this beer is does has a whopping 16+% ABV, and considering that it is surprisingly drinkable. Overall, this is just a splendid beer and I’ve very much liked how it’s developed over time.

3.75/5/4.5/4.25/4.5
(Original/fresh review: 4.25/4.5/4.25/4.5/4.25)

 

Although I agree with you that the coffee components fade fast in most coffee stouts, I actually often prefer coffee stouts with some time on them. Unpopular opinion but even some of the classics like FBS I prefer with a year or so on them. Mellows out the coffee and allows some of the other characters to shine.

 

Worked all weekend so treat yo self’ing it with a 2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout.

Opaque black, 1 fingers width of mocha colored head, bigger head and more retention than most vintages and variants. Intoxicating aroma starting with dark fruits, mostly prune and dates, very subtle vinous red grape notes. Next is roastiness, char, and leather; the leather notes are really prominent, perhaps moreso than I’ve ever gotten in a BCBS. Barrel characters are only on the lighter side of moderate. Taste equally delivers, huge roastiness coupled with fine cigar tobacco and aged leather. Not many dark fruit notes on the taste, but much more chocolate, mostly dark cocoa and some semi-sweet bakers chocolate. There’s some molasses like sweetness, but it certainly takes a backseat to the non-sweet flavors. Pretty prominent black coffee bitterness, big charred oak but otherwise not a ton of barrel characters which I find to be surprising as I’ve had older vintages in which it seems the BA characters remain more prominent. Fusel alcohol to round out the profile. It’s good as always, but actually a bit harsh, with a much more prominent bitterness than I am used to, and I almost never say that about BCBS or it’s variants. Perhaps my taste buds are a bit off, or it’s something specific about this batch. I don’t think it’s just a needing more time thing, because I don’t think fresh BCBS is harsh. Anyways, still enjoyed quite a bit, but not the typical elite drinking experience that I usually have when drinking Bourbon Counties.


4.5/4.5/4/4/4.25

 

WHOA! #1 stout for aging? I put a lot of stock in that coming from you. I love this beer but haven’t had it for years. Many years. Will have to add it to my cellar “to do” list!

 

So one of the things that I really enjoy about this thread is going back and revisiting my old reviews. My Black Albert review highlights that, I really enjoyed the reminiscing, also found the review to be pretty funny. Also sparks memories as I 100% remember where and when I rated this beer. Found it on the shelf of a small beer store while I was (very briefly) living in New Orleans, was super pumped as it was a BA Top 100 beer at the time and I was pseudo chasing it. Popped the bottle and drank it by myself in my super cool (but in retrospect, probably unsafe as it was in a very shady part of town) sublet apartment which had no cable/internet/TV/etc. Forced me out on the town every day/night, could be worse when that’s Nola. Such a fun place. This was back in 2011.

Anyways, I rated it very highly, 4.66 overall. But what’s funny about my review is that I called it “probably my new all time favorite stout.....” now here’s the funny part “....even exceeding Beer Geek Brunch Weasel...”. This is so humorous to me cause I completely forgot BGBW even existed, let alone that I liked it enough to consider it my “all time favorite stout” prior to Black Albert (BGBW was awesome though, elite coffee flavors, great beer).

I also found it REALLY humorous that I list the price as a negative, being “$10 for a single”. MAN, if 2011 me know how much 2020 me would spend on beer he probably would have had a heart attack and 2020 me wouldn’t be here posting this message right now!

Hahah, good times, thanks for the trip down memory lane, Beersnake!

 

I miss this beer more than any other. I still haven't forgiven Stone.

 

2007 JW Lees. Harvest Ale for the harvest holiday today.

Pours with no head and some sediment at the bottom of the bottle. But settles clear dark amber in color. At this age its moved past the caramel and toffee sweet flavors and now its a lot of port wine - black grapes, figs, pipe tobacco. Drier finish, mild carbonation is still there.

 

Good evening old beer lovers. I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving, and happy Bourbon County Day as well! This was the first time in a few years I went out BCB hunting, and it was pretty successful! Plenty of the regular BCB for the cellar and 2 each of London Fog, Caramella, and Special #4. Will drink one each fresh and throw the rest in the cellar for some tincture of time. But none are at drinking temp yet so celebrating the day with a 2017 Northwoods Stout.

Jet black, 2 plus fingers width of dense tan head, good retention. Aroma is killer, can’t hide the blueberry which is definitively present, but the almond is massive! Really impressed with how these adjunct characters have held up on the nose. Chocolate characters add in to make, which makes this smell something like a delicious trail mix. Roasted malt rounds it out, and bourbon notes which are present but less prominent than most variants. Taste is quite sweet, and is super mellow. I drank a regular 2017 a week or so ago and it was so much harsher than this, wouldn’t even think it’s the same base beer (I’m assuming it is but perhaps it isn’t, not sure). It’s very sweet with maple syrup notes, pretty prominent blueberry which is almost a bit tart to give it some balance. High grade cocoa dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and a luscious charred oak bourbon character is present on the back end. Almond is definitely present but not nearly to the degree of the nose. Mouthfeel is creamy and super smooth. I drink my fair share of Bourbon County and they almost never have such a silky smooth mouthfeel, if I didn’t know better I would say this was an oatmeal stout and maybe even with some lactose sugars. It’s insanely drinkable, even more so than most variants. Overall it’s a great beer which has, in my opinion, improved with time. These adjunct laden Bourbon County’s ability to hold up over time is just so damn impressive.

4.5/4.5/4.5/4.5/4.5
(Original/fresh review: 4/4.5/4.25/4.5/4.25)

 

A few out of the cellar on day one of the Bourbon County Online Tasting Thread.

First pulled was a 2014 Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout.



Full review, including a a comparison to my original review linked here. Short and sweet summary:

I guess I should have expected a not so great experience with this one, being well past the expectations of a fresh and vibrant pour. Still glad I have it, will likely savor this for another 30 minutes before finishing. Bottom line is drink these fresh, or sit for 1-3 years before losing maximum glory.

My second and final beer, consumed over two sessions (half Friday evening, the remainder early Saturday morning) was a 2017 OG Bourbon County Brand Stout.



Full review, without the benefit of a comparison to the same vintage linked here. Summary review, this held up well, and the finish pour eight hours after opening, refrigerated and recapped held up as well. Nice varied tastes including leather, oak, smooth bourbon, roast malt and chocolate. 0-3 years is my sweet spot for BCBS, they hold up better than any other imperial stout I've had aged so far.

Hope you can join us this weekend, or down the road, for future BCBS cellar reviews.