Cellar Reviews (2021)

It’s so clutch that they did!

A mix of Fred, Adam, Matt, Fred FtW, Adam FtW, and Doggie claws (may have gotten a cherry Adam too). Typically went with one fresh and one vintage. I have had very little HotD in my life, so figured a good place to start was the standards with a fresh vs late vintage comparator. Set the barometer for how I think they are aging for my personal preferences then will likely expand from there. It’s an impressive selection, and honestly very reasonably priced IMO.

 

Right?!

I got a batch 1 Fred from 1997 for like $12 bucks, get out of here. I mean it’s probably an oxidized mess for that price but worth a shot! And a 1995 Adam, I think that one was over $20 but still, it’s 25 years old!

 

There it is!

And proper glassware too!

 

The Summer is winding down, so I am about to go full steam into clearing my cellar. I took inventory of my beers in late January and had 453, about 80/20 split of cellar type beers/styles to drink fresh style. I've curtailed purchases as best as possible since, am I down to 342 net beers (down the picket fence 111, or a 24.5% reduction). I average about one at home beer per day.

I plan on reviewing "new to me" beers on Thursdays starting next week, that are not appropriate for the NBW/NBS threads since they are no longer produced or available for purchase. On Fridays, starting today, I will be offering brief cellar reviews on beers I have previously rated, to compare and contrast the current condition.

Today's offering is approaching two years "past code", so I am somewhat nervous as to what to expect.

2018 Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Coffee Barleywine Ale




Bottle Notes: Bottled on September 27, 2018 @ 14:03, 15.1% ABV. Develops in the bottle up to one year.

Cellar Conditions: In my basement cellar from purchase through January 2021, uninterrupted refrigeration since.

OG Beer Advocate Review: Linked here Ap 4.5; Ar 4.25; T 4.75; M 4.25; O 4.5 (4.52; rDev + 5.1%)

Current Assessment: Appearance unchanged, coffee negligible, light peppers but OK, at least by my palate. Barleywine nice and smooth, alcohol warmth pleasant, would be great after coming inside in January (it will be close to 100 here today, I have my AC on set at 77). Feels a bit dulled, however, smooth but also dull, as compared to a better aged barleywine. Light fizzy carbonation persists. Alcohol heat rises as this warms to room temperature, sweet taste sensation. Lacks nuance and depth.

I am enjoying this, but if I could transport myself or this bottle back in time, I would have complied with the label and enjoyed within the first year. If this was my first go, my assessment ratings would fall 4.0; 3.75, 4.0. 3.75, 4.0.

Hope you enjoy your next cellared beer, and that these reviews are helpful when considering whether to cellar a beer. Most of my cellared beers at this point are simply too many purchased for me to drink fresh. Need to stay disciplined until I clear the rest of my stash over the next two years.

Cheers!

 

I have a bottle of this in the fridge & really looking forward to it. This verified that it’s going to an excellent beer!

 

Siren Craft Brew Maiden Barley Wine Vertical

I'd never heard of this brewery until I saw these dusty bottles for sale. The base beer was the first batch brewed in 2014, which was a solid american style hoppy barley wine. Every year portions are aged in various barrels, wines, bourbon, Armagnac (c'mon Artie, it's not gonna catch on), Scotches, rum, tequila, etc. and then blended together with some fresh beer. These were pricey but intriguing so I bought a 2015-2017 vertical which I tried over the last three evenings.

2015



Notes from the brewery-

We were particularly happy with the fresh Maiden brewed this year, and it’s made up 50% of the 2015 blend. The other half consists of the following barrel-aged barley wine: 33% Auchentoshan, 21% Red Wine, 15% Jack Daniels, 9% Pedro Ximenez, 9% Madeira, 4.33% Tequila, 4.33% Glentauchers and 4.33% Banyuls

My score and notes- 4.2

Compelling aroma, toffee, fruity potpourri, plum pudding, raisin, a little red wine, and a touch of peat. On the tongue this starts off lightly sweet with toffee, plum, and raisin. It quickly and sharply dries out. Lots of oak, considering this is only 50% barrel aged, plenty of potpourri, a fairly robust vinous note, and a little salty smoke (soy sauce?). This really opened up as it warmed, the Scotch barrel notes in particular.

Well, they put a lot of different elements in and there is a lot coming out as a result. Overall it works really well, but I feel like this could have been, and probably was, more at some point. As far as I know this was not aged under ideal conditions, it could have been sitting on the shelf for six years. Glad I gambled on a bottle.

2016



Notes from the brewey-

On Wednesday 8th February we held our annual Maiden blending day, where we brought together all of the aged barley wine and fresh beer to create the final beer that will stand before you in bottles this year. We eventually settled on a blend that contains 16.66% fresh Maiden, 8.33% Armagnac, 8.33% Banyuls, 8.33% Heaven Hill, 41.66% Red Wine and 16.66% Rum. Guests on the day included some of the Wild Beer Co and HonestBrew team.

It’s an interesting blend, containing some of the most aged beer in the brewery (barrels include 007, 008, 011 and 016). It’s also using far less fresh Maiden than last year, and a very high percentage that has been drawn from red wine barrels. You’ll find out why when you taste it!

My score and notes- 4.49

The absence of Scotch barrels is immediately noticeable and is an improvement in my opinion. Close to 60% was aged in a variety of wine barrels and the vinous notes are deep and nuanced, some sweet elements but mostly dry. They absolutely and wonderfully take center stage. The brown liquor barrel notes of caramel and brown sugar are noticeable up front in a subdued fashion and more prominently at the finish which is far sweeter (and better) than the 2015. A much larger percentage was barrel aged this year and it shows. I tasted a little vanilla and more nutty wood. This is a wonderful barleywine, so glad I got to try it!

2017



Notes from the brewery-

Maiden 2017 celebrates five amazing years of brewing at Siren. The 2017 blend contains beer from Rum, Bourbon (including Heaven Hill & Jim Beam), Red Wine (French Oak), Tequila and Auchentoshan Single Malt barrels, along with about 15% made up of fresh Maiden. The aroma truly sings this year with red wine and berry notes prominent, before pillowy soft marshmallow on the palate gives way to spirit and spicy wood undertones. The blend rounds off with a long, rich finish.

My score and notes- 4.34

Unfortunately, they stopped giving specific percentages to break down the composition of this year's blend. Again, this is quite different than the others. Here the bourbon and rum barrels take center stage while the wine plays an interesting supporting role.

This is the sweetest of the three I'll try, up front I tasted raisins, brown sugar, bourbon, and vanilla. There is a mild wine note after a bit that is almost drowned out by rum and oak towards the finish. There might be bit of a tang in there that could be Scotch or Tequila. Rich and satisfying.


Overall I applaud what Siren is doing with this series and I hope I find other vintages. They are unique, imaginative, and worth trying.

 

They sound wonderful. Love hearing of breweries doing interesting and inventive things like this

 

Back with another Thursday morning cellar review, this one much lighter than the BCB Coffee Barleywine pulled last week.

This was one of the first releases by Mike Schallau’s Is/Was Brewery, created in 2019. Mike previously was responsible for Pipework’s Barrel Program before starting Is/Was. He can also be found as co-host on Podcasts by The Beer Temple.

Is/Was The Finer Points of Bad Behavior
Volume 1: Peaches and Brettanomyces Bruxellensis





Cellar notes: Purchased upon release, cellared for 1 1/2 years, refrigerated the final few months.

Bottle Notes:
500 ml, Fruit, 6.1% ABV
Production Time: 14 weeks.
Fermentation vessel: Stainless Steel
Bottled: September 2019
Store cool and dark evolves up to 5 years

The Finer Points of Bad Behavior is our exploration of how specific yeasts can complement and elevate specific fruits. For Volume One we paired ripe peaches from Mick Klug Farm with a unique strain of Brettanomyces Bruxellensis. This strain is known for characteristics similar to a young fresh Chenin Blanc or Pinot Gris early in its fermentation and a light, yet complex funkiness that develops over time. The result of this pairing is a celebration of peach that will transition from being reminiscent of peach juice to peach flesh and skin as it matures. Drink now, drink later, enjoy.

Appearance: Multiple pours into a large tulip glass. Darker orange cloudy base, creamy rich bright white head, fine lacing throughout. Sediment poured at the last few ounces of this two year old bottle. 4.25

Aroma: Bold and enticing peach, funky apricot, lemongrass, oak. Tart. 4.0

Taste: Consistent with aroma but more narrow, primarily tart peach, light funk. I think this would have been more varied and bolder fresh. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Light and easy, faint carbonation, balanced tart and sweetness blend well, some creaminess, mellow, perfect for an early morning beer. 4.25

Overall: This is a solid peach beer, aged to a mellow light enjoyable, aged well in the bottle. Glad I pulled this today! 4.0

May get the new volume 7, also peach, produced slightly different, to compare and contrast. I have a few more Is/Was on deck from the same two year time period. See you next Thursday!

 

Back to back post here. This selection not planned, selected instead via my random number generator. The Friday selection encompasses my entire refrigerator, whereas I start the week with a narrow selection of older drink fresh beers. Would likely continue "saving" this for some illusionary special occasion, but that is why I like the random number generator method of weeding through my inventory.

I have had this beer previously on draft, either in 2017 or 2018, but this is my first crack at the bottle version and definitely 3-4 years removed from my initial review.

Goose Island 2017 Proprietor's Bourbon County Brand Stout



Bottle Notes: Bottled on September 1, 2017, 14% ABV. Develops in the bottle for up to 5 years. Brewed with immense gratitude for our hometown. Stout aged in bourbon barrels, with bananas, roasted almonds, and cassia bark added.

Original Draft Review Notes:

• Appearance: Pitch black, light tan head
• Aroma: Sweet banana, smooth bourbon back
• Taste: Silky smooth bourbon leads, backed by banana and vanilla. Leans sweet, but not too sweet.
• Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy, excellent. High ABV well masked.

2017 Proprietor's 4 years, 3 days later (9/3/21).

• Appearance unchanged.
• Aroma: Banana still shines through well at this stage, the bourbon faint.
• Taste: Banana leads at this stage, vanilla next, very warm smooth bourbon emerges 15 minutes in. Sweeter and more banana than expected at this stage. Very pleased.
• Mouthfeel: Same silky smooth, a little thinner than fresh.

Overall, I have a neutral opinion as to whether this version is better than the fresher draft version, whereas I usually have a firm conviction. All I can say at this stage is I am glad this held on well, the banana remains the star of the show, and hope those who still have this in their cellar enjoy this as much as I am right now.

See you Thursday for a two year old new to me cellar beer.

 

Thanks! Yep they're 375. I got them at stateline liquors in Elkton Maryland. Worth a drive depending on where you are in PA https://www.statelineliquors.com/search/

Website is clunky but pretty up to date.

Looking forward to your thoughts on Don!