Cellar Reviews (2021)

Not sure, but I haven't been on the lookout this year.

 

One of my final cellar pulls for 2021 is a 2016 bottle of St-Ambroise Barrel Aged Scotch Ale. Pours a dark caramel, aroma is all bourbon and sweetness. Taste is similar, quite sweet and still a little hot… the 10.2% is still front and center. Medium mouthfeel. I last had a bottle of this in February 2017 and I recall enjoying it more back then. Not sure I’m over the moon for this, it’s no chore to drink but I’m glad I’m not sitting on any more.

 

Hi all Advocates!
Last night I wanted a nice beer to take in my small home cellar.

Basqueland Brewing Project (SPA) - JUMPER KITTEN - Imperial Stout Barrel Aged (10,5%)

33 cl bottle (veiled in very romantic cellar dust, that maybe in the photo she can be glimpsed, but that personally drives me crazy )
"Best before: 12/2020", drunk on 27/12/2021.
Imperial Stout which has been aged (therefore, at least 6 months) in Semillon wine barrels (French white grape variety, Together with the Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle vines it is used to produce white wines, often sweet such as Sauternes, Monbazillac or Loupiac) coming from Château Carbonnieux, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux (FRA).
On the nose, toasted and sweet chocolate notes.
Beautiful light brown foam that caps the beer that rises beautifully.
Very soft, almost creamy.
Deep and impenetrable black color, without other reflections.
In the mouth you immediately realize that you are dealing with a beer with a very complex body, and in fact it seems almost dense.
In the mouth the beer is sweet, dark chocolate, but also hazelnut and maple syrup.
A light honeyed note that hides a hint of liquor, not at all evident, but rather that goes well with a barrel-aged Imperial Stout.
Complex, round, sweet but balanced beer, which evolves as you drink (notes of coffee emerge and also something that reminds me of wood).
The notes of chocolate, hazelnut, a hint of liquor, not cloying, and a soft toasted background taste predominate.
Hot, very tasty and satisfying drink.
Aging certainly did not spoil the product, already at the pouring and on the nose this beer was clear that it was in perfect shape.







Sláinte !
Cheers !

 

Thanks for the info!

I’m wondering if my local store just hasn’t put out the 2021s yet.

 

2016 HoD Otto From the Wood

Pours a cloudy muddy brown color, with some small chunks of fruit pulp floating. Very thin head that quickly fades to nothing. Big fruity aroma that leans red wine. Boozy black cherry, apricot, touch of vanilla and oak. Fairly sweet. Mouthfeel is a little slick, with very low carbonation.

 

Coastal Empire’s Red wine barrel aged Midnight in the Garden

This bottle was hand dated December of 2015. Recently purchased this at a local bottle shop and it was on the shelf at ambient temperature so I have no real concept of how long this has been there or how it had been stored during its lifespan. Figured for 12 bucks this was well worth the risk.

Poured jet black with an obvious 1 finger of a creamy, mocha-like head. Nose is dark, bitter chocolate, leather, tobacco, light smoke and tons of red wine. Medium mouthfeel with maybe a touch more carb than I would want in this beer (which I suppose is impressive overall for a 6 year old BA beer). Palate goes straight to a deep red wine, dark roasted malts, darks fruits, and a creamy touch of smoke and oak. There is some light cardboard-like oxidative flavors at this point but not enough to totally detract from the experience. Overall an enjoyable experience. Corked 2/3 of the bottle and I look forward to trying the rest over the next few days.

 

This Lagunitas High West-Ified remains perhaps the greatest "bang for the buck" beer I've ever purchased. I think it was $12 a six-pack when I bought it, which led to me buying over a case of it. As a result, I still have a bunch left and will periodically drink one to see how it's holding up.
Pours the darkest of browns. Plenty of mocha colored head, especially given the age of the beer. After a few minutes it receded to a thin ring with high viscosity & great legs. Aroma is not once it once was, but still nice. Some chocolate notes accompany the barrel aromas. It smells rich, but the coffee is no longer detectable on the nose.

Taste has also held up really nicely. There are still some coffee notes there, but I get more chocolate & light roast. It's rich and smooth with a nice, full feel. Still a really good beer.

 

Two from last night that I wanted to share. 2018 Orval, and a 2020 Chimay Grande Reserve. The theme of both of these beers is “mellow”. Not much has changed in the appearance or body of either of these beers. The ‘18 Oval’s Bretty notes, while still present, have settled into the overall flavor of the beer. The ‘20 Chimay really smoothed out as the touches of roasted bitterness present in the finish became a little more muted. Both beers were very enjoyable.
I generally don’t open beers under three years old (my personal preference) when aging but I recalled a story from Monks Cafe in Philly back in the 90’s. Originally it took them about a year to receive shipments of Grande Reserve (due to it sitting in customs or slow distro) and when they were finally able to receive it quicker their patrons were upset as the “taste had changed”. Since that time they never serve Grande Reserve less than a year old. I thought it would be fun to give it a try.

 

Nice, and +1 for matching glassware