Cellar Reviews (2023)

Another from 2018 - still drinking remarkably well.
Cheers!

 

2019 Narwhal. More chocolate than coffee bitter. Really good.
Cheers!

 

Well, part two of the experiment. No gush this time opening this infected 11+ year old Rabid Duck, not even a slow gush. In fact, it is normal carb. That is the only thing "normal" about this.

I suppose I should disclaim that I enjoy the strongest flavored wild ales, and in fact tried most of Trinity's Brett series and enjoyed best the ones most folks hated. So, keep that in mind when I tell you that this was drinkable. Not pleasant, not resembling any kind of wild ale, but the horrific flavors that were overpowering when "new", and which were muted but still there in the last bottle I opened, are not present at all! It even has some stout characteristics, a charry grain note, even a mildly molasses note, but predominantly it is bad cough syrup and chalky aspirin and some alcohol spice that balances it a bit. I am stumped how this could be, but I have three more bottles and I plan to keep them and open periodically to see further developments, if any. Cheers!

 

I enjoy seeing all the dust! (Love aged BS)

 

Good evening all, tonight I pulled out a beer bottled in 2017.

The cherry is still front and center with light chocolate and lighter whiskey. I thought the cherry was quite strong originally but it has certainly mellowed over the years.
Besides being a little thinner than expected, this was way too quaffable.
Cheers!

 

Another one from West Michigan-

Hardly qualified for this thread, only a year old, but the dust makes it look older.
The chocolate has faded and the coffee has become more bitter so this one was definitely better fresh.
Still quite drinkable though.

 

2014 Assassin. Last had this in 2019. Aged in PVW barrels.
-muted chocolate fudge bourbon nose
-thinner mouthfeel than I remember from prior but still decent viscosity.
Fudge, raisins, and slightly oxidized taste with a reasonable bourbon finish for age.

overall still very tasty. I always preferred the yellow wax 2013 fresh. On the back hill slide so drink up.

 

Merry Christmas Eve Cellar Dwellers! Lights are done and about to start putting ornaments on the tree; of my favorite days of the year. And as is tradition, having a big cellar beer to celebrate.

2018 Cantillon Lou Pepe Kriek. My first time with this one, and with any Lou Pepe. Very, very long time want here. Excited to try it.



Truly an elite beer. In the discussion with the best I’ve ever had.


Cheers and Happy Holidays!

 

2009 Samichlaus. A lot of fig and date at this point, even a little appricot. A little sweet, but super smooth, no booziness. Lower carbonation

 

A 2014, fabulous, glad I’ve still got most of a case tucked away in the cellar!

 

My soft spot for this beer is 10+ yrs

 

Not quite sure when this was bottled but it’s still drinking very well. Oddly, I don’t think Guinness did a BA beer this year.
Cheers!

 

Had a 2014 OSA on Christmas Day. For some reason I had 4 left over from that 40th anniversary vintage -- can't remember if it was an off recipe that year.

Nevertheless, the carbonation and spices held up well, maybe mellowed? But the Malt character seemed very thin.

 

Well this one didn’t cellar well-

2022 batch IIRC and I got a distinct sour flavor- now I’ve seen sour stouts before but this wasn’t meant to be one.
Too bad, hopefully the current batch is better!