Cellar Reviews (2023)

Sounds amazing! Did you try this one fresh?

 

Never had this fresh. That being said, it is amazing. If I were a brewer, there's no way in hell I'd even consider combining these flavors together to make a beer. The barrel flavors start it out, but the hint of lime and ginger really sends it to the next level. I don't know what it was like fresh, but it is amazing now.

 

Cross posting from Dim’s Barleywine Appreciation Thread.

Happy 4th everyone!

Terre - 2010 - Baladin



This bottle has waited long enough; sitting patiently in the cellar since 2012.

Pours like thin syrup, gem clear, dark blood-red ruby. Looking straight down through the beer it becomes dark mahogany brown as the level falls. A thick viscous sheet coats the glass after each sip, occasionally producing voluptuous legs.

The aroma is rich and full. Over ripe plumb, raisin, and dark toffee open the olfactory. Communion wine follows with light alcohol fumes. Warmth adds fresh baked pumpernickel, faint wood smoke, and brown sugar.

The flavor has a mild bitterness, easily overshadowed by non-cloying sweetness, and perhaps a touch of sourness, while a sense of cream sherry creeps into the picture. All of the aroma is represented as one’s focus drifts across the palate. Warmth transforms the fruit as it layers on mild peat and marzipan. This all builds into a long, strong finish that lingers luxuriously. Eventually umami settles in, bringing roasted morel mushroom.

The alcohol is very much present, with a light warming effect. At first the body seems dense and syrupy, but then it becomes clear that it has a medium to full body, obscured by the soft-smooth texture. It is absolutely still.

Just the in case the above is unclear, this is a glorious example of human artistry. This is an example of how oxidation can be a beneficial component of some beers. The bottle has been re-corked to be finished with a celebratory meatloaf tonight

 

Bells Expedition Stout - bottled 9/10/18

Pours black with minimal khaki colored head. Peaks at about half a finger and quickly dissipates to a very fine cap and collar.

Very slight oxidation on the nose. Interplay between fudge and molasses. A little dark fruit, char, and leather underlying. Maybe some cola if I'm digging for something.

More of the same for the taste, but the oxidation is more dominate (though not in a bad way - more fruity than cardboard). Some bitter chocolate and a good deal of molasses. Very sweet - the bitterness tries to cut through it, but not as well balanced as I'd like. I get a distinctive lemon peel note underlying.

A little syrupy to start. Coats the tongue. Fuller bodied with minimal carbonation for the style. Drier, slightly chalky finish. Bitterness, akin to espresso with lemon peel, lingering in the tongue.

As always, a great beer and one that's fun to age. Not my favorite age/iteration, but still enjoyable. Pretty sure I have a few more of these in the cellar - might be fun to cook with one as I don't foresee these getting any better over time.

 

Rochefort 6 - 2018 bottle, dated with best by date of August 7th 2023

Still has decent head retention for a 5 year old beer. aroma is light caramel, some earthy yeast, a little wheat and peach. taste is similar, but also get a bit of an iced tea flavor. mouthfeel feels a bit thin

 

I bought this thanks to @Mdog 's recommendation


It's ok. I do get some barleywine flavors here. I get some caramel, and dark fruit, but the flavors seem very muted. It's good, but, probably past it's prime. This one does not hold up well in my book.

 

First proper cellar pull in a while (I have been drinking a bunch of 2020 Old Foghorn lately, but since it's what's been at my local spot for like 2 years I've become numb to the age), a Panil Bariquée from 2015. A Flanders red made by an Italian brewer. I've had several things from Panil and they have all been exceptional.

And this is no less than that. Soft acidity and fruity wood on the nose. The taste is an amazing soft cherry compote with a lovely lactic acidity that keeps it finishing clean. Absolutely amazing stuff. I need more

 

So we also did a little bit of a side by side of geuze type beers last year.

Cantillon Geuze bottled in November of 2019 and Russian River Beatification bottled in April of 2020.

Cantillon is probably my single favorite beer and this batch is drinking exquisitely right now. The acidity is restrained and there is the fruity/apple/grape character in spades. Just a perfect beer.

The Russian River is, I believe, from their first bottling of 3 year blended spontaneously fermented beer. I had one when it was fairly fresh and remember enjoying it but thinking it was a bit too acidic. It has mellowed nicely, this bottle couldn't quite match the Cantillon but it definitely held its own. A nice sort of wheat malty sweetness balances the acidity wonderfully.

I'm going to have to track down some more of this and see about newer batches as well

 

Hair of the Dog - Doggie Claws - 2009 Vintage

Hair of the Dog was closing so I mailed order a six pack of several beers. 2020 was the youngest Doggie Claw I received. I reviewed that in April 2023 and in brief and for comparison purposes my review for that vintage - A very complex beer. Overrated in my opinion. I didn’t blame age for my 3.95 overall rating. Below the current 4.14.

I subsequently had a 2016 vintage and I believed that age had benefited this beer.

Now to the 2009 vintage.
Way past its prime. It's not poison. Some might even say it’s drinkable. For me the worst part is the mouthfeel and aftertaste. An over chewed piece of gum that has lost all of its good flavors. I cannot drink the entire bottle.
A - Pours an incredibly beautiful and very clear dark amber. Totally still.
S - Aroma is malty, sweet and chemical-like.
T - A heavy malty taste with brown sugar but not sweet. Some cardboard and solventy, but not hot. No hops that I can taste. Almost like there is no ABV.
MF - Medium body with a coating wet cardboard aftertaste.

 

Had a 2013 Hair Of The Dog Matt the other day a few months after having had a 2022. This didn't even seem to change very much with 9 years between the vintages. Amazing how that works out. Full review (both vintages) below



3.98/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4


2013 vintage, consumed 7/13/23

Let’s go for another one of these guys. I got both the 2022 and this 2013 in my HOTD box last year. Let’s see how this is with 10 years on it

It looks exactly the same as the 2022, and still not really an attractive beer

It’s also quite similar in the nose, with the fruity notes being more prevalent. I’m picking up on aromas of plum skin, baked apple, molasses, sweet bourbon, brown sugar, tobacco, black cherry, toasted oak, and light smoke

I still have the same impression here of the 2022 where it’s more aggressive in taste. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting apple brandy, sweet bourbon, plum skin, molasses, burnt caramel, toasted oak, and light raisin. The swallow brings notes of apple brandy, burnt caramel, molasses, toasted oak, vanilla, earthy cinnamon, raisin, tobacco, and fusel alcohol

A medium body pairs with very gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick and boozy beer. Finishes mostly dry but boozy

I’m actually scared how similar this is to a beer that was 9 years younger. Are these damn things bulletproof? The only change I’d make to my rating is bumping the feel up from 3.5 to 3.75

_____________________________________________

2022 vintage

Alright, back to the Hair Of The Dog beers I ordered a few months back. I'm really trying to nurse these since I know that once they're gone, that's it. A blend of beer aged in bourbon barrels and apple eau de vie barrels sounds very interesting, so let's get into it

Pours an opaque medium brown with just a few sad bubbles, giving the impression of a much older beer than this is

The nose here is quite boozy for "only" 11.5%, but there's a fruity complexity to round it out. I'm picking up on aromas of sweet bourbon, brown sugar, raisin, baked apple, charred oak, peat smoke, sticky toffee, milk chocolate, and tobacco

It's a bit more abrasive in taste, but I still quite enjoy it. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting milk chocolate, candi sugar, sweet caramel, apple brandy, sweet bourbon, molasses, light plum, and oak. The swallow brings notes of apple brandy, raisin, brown sugar, molasses, charred oak, fusel alcohol, peat smoke, light leather, and tobacco

A shockingly thin beer pairs with almost no discernible carbonation, resulting in a sharp boozy beer. Finishes boozy and fruity

This is a strange, strange beer. It's such a thin approach to a high abv style, with weird barrel treatment. Despite this, there's still a pretty damn good beer behind the weirdness

 

Evening Cellar Dwellers! Settling in with this beer as I get ready for the Live Phish stream. I shoulda been at this show, which means it’s going to be a rager. Oh well, at least the beer selection is better here.

Speaking of, 2021 Celebrator Dobblebock. I’ve never cellared this beer before but a few years ago decided I would throw some dobblebocks in the cellar and see how it turns out. I belive at 2.5 years this is the oldest I’ve ever had this beer.

Pours a nice dark mahogany, so dark that it’s opaque but it’s a clear beer when held to light. Moderate sized dense tan head with good retention, this beer looks no worse for ware. Aroma is fairly muted, roastiness, faint candied sugar, even fainted dark fruits, some bready/doughy notes. Taste is huge roasted malt, raw oak, lots of earthy notes, some coffee grinds. Mouthfeel is a lighter side of medium body and carbonation is a touch low. It’s very drinkable. Overall, I can confidently say that for my palette this certainly hasn’t improved. It’s lost a lot of the nice, sweeter spectrum flavors, and it’s pretty one dimensional at this point. I have a couple 2020s, may take them out a long time just for experimentation purposes but I don’t expect them to improve with age.

4.5/4/4/3.75/4



upload picture web address



Cheers!

 

Lots of bangers enjoyed recently. Operation cellar clear continues with this beer approaching 4 years.

Revolution Cafe Deth (10/10/19)



2019 was the first year I started going to Revolution and really embracing their beers. Bought a bunch of this because awesome when released, but still have some as my purchases > my enjoyed cans.

Still looks and smells excellent, nice roast coffee and dark roast chocolate malt flavors. Not getting barrel, glad not getting pepper.

Warmed for 20 minutes at this juncture, taste is wonderful, stronger than the aroma yielded, nice barrel, sweeter than expected, but enjoying nonetheless. Strong like bull, likely will need a nap.

As always, drink fresh or refrigerate cans for best results.

 

Top of the evening to ya, Tuesday night party people. Sipping this one while I prep for the LivePhish stream tonight. 2015 Dark Lord.

An aggressive pour yields greater than 1 fingers width of dense mocha colored head atop a completely opaque midnight black body. Head retention is modest, dissipating rather quickly down to a thin film. Aromas of roasted malt, powdered sugar, and herbaceous raw oaky notes are the first to present themselves. Similarly I later get molasses, candied sugar, and campfire like char. The nose is balanced and inviting. Taste is hugely herbaceous, earthy, and woody up front, followed by a balancing sweetness on the finish of molasses and hints of dark fruits. Sugary sweetness lingers on your lips, but finally after years of settling it’s no longer cloying as the up front sweetness has mellowed allowing it to be more balanced and drinkable. Rounding out the palate profile I get some belgium strong ale type candied sugar notes, and some lovely characters on the chocolate spectrum including semi sweet bakers cocoa and rich milk chocolate. Just really a fantastic flavor profile. Mouthfeel is full bodied but not thick, carbonation on the lower end but not inappropriate, there’s def a whole body warming sensation from the booze but it’s certainly not hot. Drinkability is not stellar, but all things considered is still moderate which in and of itself is impressive. Overall, this really has developed into a gem. And I say that in the context that I am most definitely not a big Dark Lord fan. Although some of the variants have been divine, I’ve never really cared for regular DL. When drank fresh it’s always been almost offensively sweet and wildly one dimensional. Even this same vintage at the two year mark I found better, yet persistently one dimensional and a touch cloying. Finally, at the 5 year mark, this beer is starting to shine. Unfortunately this is my last one, otherwise I would take this beer out several years more for experimentation sake, although my assumption based on the current balance of characters is that this is probably close to its prime.

4.5/4.5/4.5/4.25/4.5
(Original/fresh review: 3.5/4.5/3.5/3.5/3.5; of note original review was prior to BAs 0.25 intervals;
review at 2 years in the cellar: 4/4/4/4/4)

 

One of my favorite barleywines when fresh, but this is one that has consistently disappointed me when given time in the cellar.

 

Lagunitas - Willettized (2020)

A finger of kakhi colored head with very fine dissipates after a minute or so to nice cap and collar. Body is black and opaque.

Really well intergrated nose. Caramel, milk chocolate, hint of vanilla, a bit of raisins. The fruitiness comes out a bit more as it warms. Smells like it's going to be sweet. I'm not picking up on any char or wood.

Taste starts sweet. Bourbon is there but there's no heat. Chocolate and caramel. Some vanilla. Middle of the mouth brings some fruity and slightly bitter coffee notes that cuts right through the sweetness. The vanilla not carries through, but I'm also getting a bit of dark fruit. A hint of oxidation.

The finish is slightly bitter coffee beans but it doesn't cut completely through the sweetness. Leaves a coating on the tongue. Fuller bodied. Low carbonation.

I don't remember loving this when fresh, but I'm loving this now. Great balance between the bourbon, coffee, and base beer. At this point, the flavors have melded well together. I think I have a few of these left and plan to drink them down before the end of year. It's such a great value - for a relatively accessible stout, right up there with Black Chocolate Stout in terms of quality, price, and cellaring potential.

 

Last night's cellar pull (pre-cellared by OEC until I picked it up last week) yielded a 2005 J.W. Lees Port Cask Harvest Ale



This one is sitting at a cool 18 years old. It’s one of my favorites to grab, but this is my first time seeing a non-2016 in the wild. Obviously I had to get it because of this. Let’s see how it held up with the additional years

Pours a slightly cloudy light brown with a finger of off white head that quickly fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing. 3.5

The nose is definitely sweeter as it ages, and perhaps even better for it. I’m picking up on aromas of sticky caramel, molasses, port wine, raisin, sweet vanilla, brown sugar, apple skin, apricot, tobacco, and light oak 4.25

In taste there’s more of a difference from the 2016. It’s still sweeter but I wouldn’t call it better. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting molasses, apple skin, brown sugar, pear skin, dark bread, old leather, port wine, red grape, and light oak. The swallow brings notes of burnt caramel, toast oak, brown sugar, black cherry, molasses, apple skin, jammy apricot, dark toast, port wine, smoky tobacco, and toasted oak 4.5

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer. Finishes mostly dry and balanced despite the sweetness 4.5

I’m not changing any of the already established scores, but this is pretty close to the 2016 vintage. I guess these beers are just bulletproof. 4.5