Revolution Brewing (2022)

For sure - those are two I've been waiting for. Both have only been in cans once before: GB released on 12/7/18, and VSOR released on 11/15/2019.
I found last years' Ryeway to be terrific, so I expect this VSOR to really be outstanding.

For those needing the details on the release, this page has the beers, dates, and FAQs:
https://revbrew.com/events/deep-wood-series-release-featuring-gravedigger-billy-v-s-o-r

All of the Fall/Winter 2021-22 Deep Wood beers listed here:
https://revbrew.com/a-warming-winter-in-the-deep-wood

 

Had my wife set up another blind for me. This time, 2021 vs 2020 Straight Jacket entered the ring. Punches were thrown, but 2021 came out ahead. I was successfully able to pick between the 4 taster glasses. Both were really impressive but 2021 was more complex, a bit sweeter, and had a longer finish. An interesting side note, my wife said the 2021 was much darker and thought it was going to be a giveaway.

 

I agree with this sentiment wholeheartedly, especially for those who think that fresh might be missing out on something that an aged version gains. If someone has this thought, they should drink one fresh and save one for (hazy) comparison.

With that all said, I am also firmly in the camp that the Rev brewers and barrel master Marty are leveling up their game every iteration of the DW series and so even an exemplary past vintage is but a part of the learning curve for the present. So while people may have a version that has more of what they want each year (dry vs sweet, in your face vs subtle) it’s more dialed in and intentional each year.

Of course this ignores the bedrock maxim of “batch 1 is better,” so what do I know?

 

I used to be #TeamCellar, although that wasn't because I thought beers should be cellared, but rather that cellaring wasn't a problem. At that time I didn't think that I inherently preferred many of the big boys fresh (or at least not noticeably so). Palates change over time, but I've come to the realization that (1) I don't need to buy more than I will drink of a particular beer over the next 12-18mo (depending on how frequently a beer is released), and (2) there's no reason to not drink a beer fresh unless I either (a) have experience with it aged (and I definitely prefer it) or (b) something comes off as heavily unbalanced/too hot and I think sitting might help.

I have a cellar. I'll be drinking 'old beer' for a long time, but my views are certainly changing the longer I'm in the game. I'm trying hard to drink any beer within 90 days, or at least have tried it within that time frame to make an informed decision.

 

Had a 21 SJ last night... Why did it take me so long to get to a can of this? It's the best SJ vintage that I have ever had; I feel like I say this every year with SJ and also with DT. 2020 SJ was fantastic and 21 SJ blows it out of the water!

I will even go as far to say that I might like / prefer 21 SJ more than 20 VSOJ... I know, I know, I said it... "cues for throwing rotten tomatoes at me / boo - hiss"... I am sure an unpopular opinion. For my tastes in BA BW, 21 SJ is nearly perfect.

21 SJ was way darker than I have ever seen it. Sweet and rich without being cloying. Perfect balance of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, oak, and bourbon. Dare I say a 15% abv BW drinks very easily? Well 21 SJ definitely does... As well as several other Revolution BW's that have come out in the past. I feel like this is Revolutions calling card with most BW's. Year after year the margin narrows of breweries that make better BA BW than Revolution. This year's SJ expedited that margin significantly.

 

I agree with both of you on the superiority of this year’s, as I also had the 21 Straight Jacket last night and to my memory, there was just more going on with so many different flavors between the open and the long but dry finish and it was heavier on the bourbon, whereas the most recent VSOJ was more creamy, rounded and sweet. To my own point above, my preferences lean towards a more bold expression which 21 Straight Jacket currently has over 21 VSOJ.

 

Agreed. With the exception of a few bombers I still have from the pre-canned era, I have stopped saving verticals of Deep Woods beers. Their barrel program has been improving by leaps and bounds year over year, to the point where a vertical isn't even of interest to me as a curiosity. I'd rather just drink better beer, and that means whatever's the newest vintage.

 

Recently had a 20 and 21 Straight Jacket. Both were really good, but the 21 was definitely smoother and I was surprised by how quickly I finished it. I normally sip on these kinds of high ABV beers for an hour or so. I think the 20 took just over an hour and fifteen, but the 21 was gone in less than a half-hour.

I portioned out my cans of Thundertaker and the can I opened in the fall didn’t match the fresh ones. Same story for Deth by Cherries, the fresh cans were better than the one that spent a year in the fridge. So I’m completely on board the “drink sooner” train. Even though the difference might be small (really good vs really really good), it’s noticeable to me.

 

Good call on that! I try to time it where the old runs out as the new ones are released, and am only interested in 2yr verticals, no more of these 3yr-7yr verticals - just not worth it.
The oldest Rev beers I have are:
2 Deth's Tar 2020
4 Straight Jacket 2020
1 Ryeway To Heaven 2020 (I'm such a Ryeway ***** )
5 Double Barrel VSOD 2020 (the high ABV should keep it good longer?)
2 Mineshaft Gap 2020 (dammit I wish I had more)

 

Yeah I had an unintentionally aged Deth by Currants and wasn’t into the 3+ year aged version. But since 2018, I’ve done a better job of finishing my Deep Woods in 12-18 months

 

For what it's worth, I opened a VSOR around Thanksgiving. It was not nearly as good as it was fresh. Still good though.

 

Good lesson to take into the release at the end of the month! VSOR sounds like a nice sipper on these frigid nights

 

I'm as excited for the beer as I am for all the Satan accusations on their Instagram post!

 

I liked all 3 of last year's Coffee Eugene more than this year's version. Feel like it lost a 1/4 step. My .02.