Cellar Reviews (2023)

Afternoon Cellar Dwellers. Todays beer is a CCB Desponia, a “wheated bourbon barrel aged barleywine”. Not sure the exact age as no bottling dates, but this is from a 2022 version of the CCB El Catador club so safe to say it’s at least a year old which tends to be my criteria for this thread. First time with this one, and actually looks like no one has even reviewed this beer on BeerAdvocate yet, although a couple of no words ratings.

Pours opaque black with one plus fingers width of dark khaki colored head. Decent retuning. Looks like a stout. Aroma is bursting with wonderful English barleywine aromas: huge dark fruits, caramel/toffee, molasses, cocoa, somewhat roasty. Bourbon notes are present but not particularly strong on the nose. Some balancing fusel ethanol. Really terrific nose. Taste is more barrel forward and more boozy. The dark fruits are there but not as prominent as the nose. There’s a metallic character that’s not huge but is noticeable and detracting from the other, better notes. There’s a moderate amount of bitterness and roasted malts. Some nutty characters and semi sweet cocoa. Fairly complex. If not for that metallic off note this would be absolutely killer, as is, it’s still more than quite good even with it. Mouthfeel is full side of medium bodied, the very high ABV is appreciable but not negative, drinkability is solid all things considered. Overall, this is one of the better El Cat beers I’ve had in the 3 years I’ve been a member. I’ve somewhat given up on the El Cat club, am in on the current season but didn’t renew after this. Seems like 75% of the beers are the same base beer overly thick stout and every other one has similar adjuncts (plus they overtly lied about guaranteed BA Hunas every season which never materialized), but this one is quite good. If they would have spent more of the series on alternatives to stouts I’d probably still be a member. Regardless, I have one more of these that I will let sit and age, I suspect this could age very well.

4.25/4.75/4.25/4.25/4.25



Little Sunday chill music to pair with the beer:

 

From 2019

Still amazing. Very good.

 

Drinking a Steel Toe Brewing Lunker Barleywine vintage 2016. I amended my review from 2013 if anyone cares to search. Started to get the stale flavors creeping in so it should of been drank a year or two earlier. It became such a mellow brew. Wood and earth with a slightly sweet finish. Still good.

 

Happy Wednesday, lovers of old beer! Popped open an old favorite from the great people @coast Brewing Company (true advocates of craft beer in every sense of the word, their unselfish advocacy to change the antiquated beer laws in the state of SC really opened up the entire state to a craft beer renaissance). 2013 Barrel Aged Blackbeerd, this years version aged in second use Blanton’s barrels. This is furthest out I’ve have a BA Blackbeerd, and I don’t expect much from the barrel at this point (and it wasn’t particularly strong even fresh due to the second use nature), but am curious to see how this has developed over a decade. So here goes.

Pours an opaque black with a fairly large and dense khaki colored head with decent retention. Some nice spotty lacing throughout the drink. It looks no worse for wear. Aromatics explode from the glass with lovely dark fruits, earthy herbaceousness, cocoa, and prominent oaky notes. A bit of marshmallow, bourbon notes are essentially negligible other than the aforementioned oakiness. Taste is very roasty with prominent charred wood which is expected as they do use smoked malts in the base beer. Dark fruits are there but are more subtle than the aroma. There’s a prominent black coffee bitterness, with some unsweetened dark cocoa on the finish. I also get nutty characters. A subtle molasses works to provide a somewhat balancing sweetness, but make no mistake this is a bold, dark, roasty beer. Like the nose I get a decent amount of oak but not really a lot of bourbon notes, per se. However, it is stil impressively complex. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with an appropriate carbonation and good drinkability for a BA stout. Overall, a gem of a beer that has aged wonderfully over this 10 year period. Very pleased by this as I still have a 2010-2016 vertical in the cellar (of note: no BA version was bottled in 2014) and this gives me hope that all are drinking this well.

4.5/4.75/4.5/4.25/4.5
(origina/fresh review: 4.25/4.5/4.25/4.5/4.5)





Cheers virtual bar friends!

 

2011 Adam From The Wood

Please forgive the long, wordy paean this likely is to attain, but now, 2/3 of the way through this glass, it has become more than enjoyment of a remarkable beer, more than a testament to that quality age can give to our favorite beverage, and traveled a straight path to become exemplar of that peak which artists of all media seek to attain, myself included. How fitting to taste this now as I complete the novel I hope will be my finest achievement. Alan Sprint, you have surpassed the realm of sensual pleasure, and attained that realm of artistic expression where we seek to compare our lives to the Universe.


A soft tssst accompanies the pop of cap, a few wisps of grey mist escape the mouth. What a welcome sign that is that is to see and hear after this bottle has lain dormant for so many years. It has not stirred from its resting place in all that time, in the chilly cellar my second ex-wife remarked was good for nothing but the aging of wine, and, as it later turned out, the aging of fine beer.

I pour it and a thin ring forms. More than a few bubbles rise optimistically through the thick looking but incredibly beautiful reddish brown of the beer. It is hard to recall the look or smell of this when last tasted many years ago, but certainly it is murkier than I recall, with less carbonation. The aroma, however, has attained nirvana, that is, it is full of the strong flavors of caramel, toffee, honey bread, barrel notes, herbal bitter, walnut essence, deep grain notes, and strong alcohol spice, but they are presented in a softened form that is at once more approachable and easier to enjoy, yet just as strong and clean as once they were. I have trouble removing my nose from the glass.


Recent tragic disappointments have left me wary of an aroma which hides the truth. The first sip proves the opposite of this the instant it meets tongue. No, here is the worthy main attraction to the side show which the aroma provided. Here is what was promised. Here is the realization of artistic motivation, that meeting of sensual pleasure and much deeper understandings. All those flavors of the nose now are in forms that suggest they have spent their times in bottle practicing to appear as well blended and completely at their finest presentations as existence allows. As it warms it morphs through various forms of itself- the soft notes of the sweeter toffee-esque elements become overpowered by a complex assortment of herbal notes and nuttiness and alcohol spice at times. Other changes provide varying starring roles. Amazing. Marvelous.. It is a carnival of flavors that beg to be chosen as finest of the mix, and none of them able to outdo the rest. What a treat, what an absolute explosion of delight this is to drink. It does not get too thick but is thick enough that the herbal bitter notes and nutty natures linger with hints of sweet that don’t foul, build, nor cloy. Just a bit of carbonation is the perfect amount to frame this baby in perfection. Mr. Sprint, thank you sir, I am certain to be far from the only one here who appreciates you in the way I do at this moment.


I certainly hope there are a few of these to be enjoyed among my fellow BA’s. This was my last. I was blessed to be able to trade for as many as I did both years back then, and glad I was able to save this one at all, let alone for as long as this.

Please forgive the length of this post, but it has been years since a beer hit me like this one is doing. Cheers, y’all.

 

Really love your "Tales from the Crypt" reviews as always @cavedave ! I never had the pleasure to try beers from this highly lauded brewery, but gratefully have a bottle of 2022 Matt generously provided by Dave @beergoot targeted for late Fall or Winter, unless Dave or others think I should cellar it 1-2 more years for best results.





Open question for everyone, I'm considering an order if they can legally ship to Chicago. Was thinking of ordering the double six pack, or maybe a few each of the most recent vintages.

Are there particular vintages I should seek? Wonder if the pricing difference between vintages are based on current supply and / or current condition.

https://hairofthedog.com/product-category/beers/

All 12 oz single bottles unless noted

Don

• $50 Don 2022 16.9 oz
  
• $35 Don 2023 16.9 oz

Doggie Claws & Cherry Adam

• $80 Doggie Claws 2004 Magnum 50.7 oz
• $75 Vintage Double Six Packs (6 Cherry Adam & 6 Doggie Claws - assorted years)
  
• $65 Doggie Claws 2005 Magnum 50.7 oz
• $60 Doggie Claws 2002 Magnum 50.7 oz
• $14 Cherry Adam 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014
• $12 Cherry Adam 2018, 2016
• $12 Doggie Claws 2010
  
• $10 Doggie Claws 2008, 2005, 2002
  
• $8 Doggie Claws 2020, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2006

Fred from the Wood & Michael

• $70 Michael 2009 Magnum 50.7 oz
• $15 Fred from the Wood 2014, 2013

All input appreciated. Cheers!

 

I really appreciate your thorough and thoughtful response. That was nice you shared Don at the gathering! If the Michael magnum was 2019 instead of 2009 I would buy it for sure and share at the next gathering. Just hesitant about 14 year old beer.

My instinct is to try your Matt first, and if I really like purchase consider purchasing either the freshest Cherry Adam / Fred from the Wood / Doggie Claws left. Wild card / gamble would be to possibly take a chance on the vintage double pack if people report back these have aged for a long time, as it's uncertain what years will be shipped.

If the Michael were 2019 instead of 2009, I'd probably splurge for the magnum and share at a bottle share like Sheboygan or with peeps here. 14 years seems a bit risky so I'll probably pass.

 

@ChicagoJ its worth noting that Alan was always refreshingly honest with his pricing and based it on how good he thought the vintage was drinking at the time. Obviously your palate is not his palate, but for things like Doggie Claws with multiple vintages available you can trust that he believes the 2010 is drinking better than the other vintages and that the fresher vintages are punching below their weight.

 

This is a big help, as I am not really familiar with this brewer beyond reading about it in the closure thread. Thought it may have had to do with their supply. I may try my Matt over the Labor Day weekend and go from there. I'll post a cellar review here, though I won't have a baseline to compare.

Cheers!

 

Great write-up.

 

2015 24oz Torpedo

Great head. Cloudy. Not a lot of oxidation all things considered. Less vibrant and punchy than fresh Torpedo. More muted. A step down from fresh Torpedo, but still remarkably enjoyable. This beer has held up very well. I think it's fair to say I probably enjoyed this one more than a ton of fresh IPAs I could have drank instead.

 

Wow, this must be bulletproof. I can’t really imagine drinking an 8 year old IPA unless it was a 120 Minute

 

That is quite a picture you painted, so glad you enjoyed this as much as you did.

 

I have had a few 2010s in recent years and they have been by far my favorite experience with Doggie Claws.

 

If you click on the various vintages of beers on the website they will say what the carbonation level is and what their opinion of whether can age more or not. Putting aside the more recent releases, the vintages that were rated highest likely sold out a couple years ago when they started selling all the vintage beers off.