Cellar Reviews (2021)

We had guests for the first time in a long time so I pulled a few bottles out. This 2016 was surprisingly good. Mostly malt and the flavour was fairly flat, none of the freshness of a new one. No complaints.

 

Then I pulled out this 2014. Very surprised at the flavour still holding , definite Sorachi elements still there. Again a little flat but pretty yummy.

 

Had this about 2 weeks ago. First Time having Monster Ale but my beverage spot has been slowly releasing vintages they aged...:.and at a regular price, think this was $5.

It was good and still had a hop profile. I have another 1-2 that I’m going to age another few years

.https://imgur.com/gallery/LdohhzO

 

Tonight’s beer is a 2019 Cantillon Iris, double dipping with the Cellar Reviews thread and also checking off one of the Beers of Fame. I am 90% sure I’ve had this before but haven’t reviewed and has no memory of the details so treating this one as if it’s new to me.

Pours translucent with the slightest degree of haze. Golden copper in color with 2 fingers width of off white colored head. Aroma is very floral, grassy fields, some nondescript fruity esters and pungent cheese like funk. Tart citrus acidity rounds out the aromas. Very complex nose. Taste is somewhat tart upfront but not nearly to the degree of most Cantillons I’ve had and it’s also notably more funky with barnyard and pungeant cheese like funk. Prominent bitterness on the finish. There is a fairly prominent sweetness to balance. Mouthfeel is vibrant with high carbonation and excellent drinkability. Overal, far from my favorite Cantillon but a complex and exceptionally well done beer.

4.5/4.25/4.25/5/4.25

 

Oh my gosh!!

 

I think the last Brooklyn I have I the cellar is a bottle of the Companion.

 

Cracked open a 2013 MoAS as part of scream's tribute in today's WBAYDN thread. Still have a few bottles from the case Pelican sent me in 2013. Had a few sips after opening the bottle (put the bottle in the fridge for a couple hours after grabbing it from the cellar) and was getting noticeable oxidation on the aroma and the taste to a lesser extent. Left the bottle out on the counter and once it reached room temperature, it became the greatness that MoAS represents. Loads of dark fruit deliciousness (yes, still!). I plan to open the rest of my 2013 bottles sooner than later but when I do I will assuredly wait for them to fully reach room temperature for full enjoyment. This vintage still has life left. Enjoy!

 

I throw lots of IPA's in the cellar the DIPA's tend to hold pretty well.

 

I love.that you did this. I literally just read a comment on a regional forum about how the commenter bought an IPA without looking at the date and was disappointed at the "disgusting" beer that was no longer "fresh" because it was packaged in ... January!

Madness

 

2011 barrel aged decadence

pours relatively flat with a thin wispy head that disappears quickly with a light mahogany color

smells of caramel and figs. No smoke on the nose

Nice viscous thick mouth feel that lingers and coats the posterior soft palate

Nice bourbon heat up front on the taste with a sugary caramel raisin finish. No smoke to speak of other than some mild residual tartness.

Overall still excellent. Very enjoyable.

 

Had a chance to revisit this over the weekend. In the past I have always considered this my favorite stout behind vanilla bean assassin b1.
pours jet black with a very thin lace. No head to speak of.

All marshmallow and vanilla goodness on the nose with a hint of brandy

Great thick mouthfeel but not overly so

This is one of the most delicious tasting stouts still to this day 10 years later. A marshmallow fluffy goodness with chocolate brownie and brandy on the finish. Simply excellent. Absolutely no oxidization.

 

Never had it sadly.

 

Another one of my all-time favorites that I had a chance to revisit.

Pours with a lively nice head. All raspberries and jam on the nose. All I can say is this is still for me the best American wild ale I have ever had with Persica b1 second but it is not close. Others like Ann, juicy, Mimosa, blue cheer ect are all great but this is at the top

 

First time with this one, another double dip between the Cellar Review thread and a new to be one from the Beers of Fame. 2019 vintage.

Pours a slightly hazy but mostly translucent light brown with amber and ruby hues when held to light. An aggressive pour yields 1.5 fingers width of slightly off white colored head. Aroma is massive fruity esters plus a sugary sweetness, reminiscent of a candy apple. I also get huge huge caramel and toffee (maybe it’s more reminiscent of a caramel apple; maybe both). An almost bubblegum note, like that of belgium yeast. Very subtle earthy hop notes. Quite a complex and wonderful nose. Taste is notably less decadent, not nearly the sugary sweet or fruity notes. Lower end of moderate degree of bitterness, pretty big nobel hop notes. Some caramel and an almost woody character. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, ABV is unnoticeable and it is very drinkable for the ABV. I do wonder if the lighter mouthfeel and higher carbonation prevent some of the flavors from reaching their full potentials. Overall, this is a good beer but not one I think I would be prone to revisit fresh. Probably worth a cellaring for several years though, best by date looks like 10 years so may just have to pick up another and give it some years.

4.25/4.5/3.75/4/4
Original/fresh review: n/a



Cheers Cellar Dwellers!

 

Regular Dark Lord, not so much for me (which is an understandment). But man some of those variants are otherworldly. I’ve never had the one you posted but sounds like it’s in that category. Never have had any other beers that improve so much with barrel aging.

 

I had tried all of the BADL variants up through 2017 then I stopped chasing them but this was always the best imo and it isn’t close.

 

This was an interesting one. I'm pretty sure I found it on the shelf at a local place that has all kinds of old stuff sitting in the cooler, but this one also may have been simply released.by the brewer recently.

Pours a murky brown with a quickly dissipating, soapy head.
Nose is rich with caramel and toffee with some dark dried fruits, some tobacco, and some kind of musty old notes.
Taste has a harsh Bourbon note up front layered over a leathery, chalky, chocolatey body. Its not what I expected and I'm not so sure that its what I wanted.

I'm curious if it has been in bottles for 3-4 years or barrels for 2-3 and just bottled now? Either way, this one is not working for me. It feels like the boozy barrel notes have separated from the malt base (which itself seemed to show some serious oxidation) and created a harsh discordance that I'm not loving. Its not terrible but its not really that good and considering the abv and size I probably won't finish it