Cellar Reviews (2024)

Cross post from the Cellaruary thread. From’21, received in an BIF from a person whose name is lost in memory. Shame on me for lousy record keeping.

 

Deschutes Black Butte 28

Appearance: Black, small head fades out relatively quickly.

Smell: Barrel, wood, vanilla.

Taste: A measured opening, some roasted notes with a bit of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate and barrel wood in the middle, then a bit of bitter coffee in the finish.

Overall: Never had this when it first came out, a local store had these for $5 so I picked up one to try with 7.5 years on it. If this was handed to me blind I would not be able to tell this was 7.5 years old. My guess is that the flavors have dulled but it is still a solid BA beer.

 

Cross posted in NBW as it was new to me but at 5 years old, definitely a cellar pull.
Pretty sure I got this when it was fresh, late 2019, early 2020. Still has really good flavors!
Cheers!

 

Hair of the Dog Maja 2017

One of my last two from this great brewery that I discovered too late. Maja is stellar and truly special. I feel like this one must be pretty damn near perfectly aged with at most one more year I might have waited.

Slight alcohol burn, but it is honest and and respectful in the assertion. Just the right amount of carbonation to keep it crisp while also feather like on the tongue.

Gorgeous caramel brown with a Christmas orange hue. No real head, but I feel like that is right for this kind of beer.

Nose is the last caramel from your favorite bag. Light citrus that compliments the brown sugar tones. So refreshing, I could breath this in all night with a huge smile.

Oh the vanilla bumps early and often, but at just the right levels and not overpowering. Light tabaco notes followed by cream soda and pale molasses. A small amount of tartness that adds a nice cut to the sweetness.

If this is what it was meant to be it is genius. Makes you smile like your grandmother telling you that you are her favorite grandchild as she gives you the whisk from the mashed potato mixer. Hell yes!

 

Utopias Barrel-Aged World Wide Stout - Dogfish Head

Double cross-posted in the Imperial Stout and Celluary threads.

This one has been creeping around in the cellar since 2021; and age has been good to it. What was once overwhelmed by alcohol heat now is accompanied by the heat. Shockingly there is a modest head where none once stood. Figs, roasted malt, sherry, and cognac fill the nose, with mild oak and peat. The flavors are far more Barleywine than Stout, while both are well represented. Fig and cognac are prominent, with oak trailing. Still hot, now slick with light carbonation. Bitterness and sweetness are partners and while the alcohol playfully scratches at the throat. And BTW, while great chilled, it is awesome closer to room temperature.

Previous review from Aug. 2022…. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/64/455635/?ba=SLeffler27#review

There are a few more bottles waiting in the crypt however this may be peak ageing.

 

The 2021 version. Lacks the depth of flavors of the fresh, but is sooooo much better than the 2019.

 

Tonight’s cellar pull-

Still drinking so very well. Amazing beer.

 

I continue to enjoy Cellaruay beers, though I stick with my criteria of what to post here:

• Beer's I have rated in the past so I can compare notes with the cellar beers.
• Only one post here per year per beer batch (no multiple posts within the same year of the same beer and batch).

Thankfully, today's offering qualifies.

Revolution Deth's Tar (2022)



Can Notes: This was complementary beer from Revolution with my first Season Ticket pickup in July 2023. I'll assume proper storage until I received. I have refrigerated, not cellared, this can until opening this late afternoon. 19.2 oz canned 9/29/22 (about 16 1/2 months old) at 2:39:16 PM.14.8% ABV. Brewed, barrel aged and canned at Revolution's brewery in Chicago on Kedzie. Dark, rich, and Barrel-Forward.

Original Rating Link of a one year old can:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22072/99883/?ba=ChicagoJ#review

Changes / Differences vs. One Year Cellar can review linked above:

Appearance: Very consistent with observations, Decrease score 0.25 to 4.25.

Aroma: Less strong and less complex, bourbon muted vs. OG Notes. Decrease score 1.0 to 3.75.

Taste: Flavor and taste notes consistent with OG review. This is what I love and why it's among my favorite beers. This beer continues to deliver close to 1 1/2 years out. No score change, score remains at 4.75

Mouthfeel: More sweet about a half hour in than expected, but the bourbon flavors blend very well, nice and creamy, pretty strong with the bourbon the alpha flavor in this scene. Sweetness excess knocks this down a 0.25 to 4.25.

Overall: Each year is slightly different, and when you have age components and perhaps draft vs. can, you are never going to have the same experience. This beer held up very well, beyond the sweetness noted above, and the largely muted aroma, I am enjoying this very much. If this was my first go, I'd still give it an excellent score of 4.25, though this is 0.50 lower than my OG 4.75,

 

Only been in the cellar for a couple years but it still classifies as a cellar pull. Dang good, amazing even. Wish it was still available around here.

 

Never thought of aging or cellaring an IPA, but this one is being cleared as part of my Cellaruary, so away we go!

Revolution Legal-Hero (2022)



Original Review Notes vs. Comparison Notes compiled today

Can Notes: Purchased a four pack for $15.50 plus tax refrigerated 1/19/23 at the brewery. Enjoyed the first three long ago, this one canned 12/20/22 at 11:44:39 AM loitered in my refrigerator until today. Double Dry Hopped Hazy India Pale Ale, 16 oz, 8.0% ABV. Brewed by Revolution Beer Company. Original review based on comped 5 oz draft on release day.

Appearance

OG Fresh review of draft at the brewery on 1/1/20: Murky yellow lime 5 oz draft pour into a taster glass, creamy white lacing and head, nice. 4.25
Cellar Review: Would call the lacing soapy after my half can plus pour into a full shaker pint glass. Color more orange yellow than lime. All other aspects consistent. 4.0

Aroma

OG Fresh: Very dank aroma, sweet citrus, pine and grapefruit back well. 4.5
Cellar Review: Would say the distinct dankness is marginal, with citrus, tangerine and mango all competing for attention. Pretty strong, strength not noted in the OG review. 3.75

Taste

OG Fresh: Taste mirrors aroma, dank hops are pleasant. 4.25
Cellar Review: Dankness and pine shine one, the strong fruit flavors are hanging in the back. Not very descriptive OG review, would need a contemporary pour for better thoughts here. Digging what's in my glass now.. 4.5

Mouthfeel

OG Fresh: Nice bitterness, fizzy carbonation lingers throughout. Medium body, easy clean finish.. 4.25
Cellar Review: Bitterness held up well, sweet fruit flavors put up a semi-hearted fight but lose. Drinks a bit strong than the ABV, but could be my empty stomach. Faint carbonation, medium to full juicy creamy body, bitter sweet pine citrus finish. Very nice. 4.25

Overall

OG Fresh: Overall excellent IPA. 4.25
Cellar Review: Would love a side by side, but definitely can say this beer held on very well like most refrigerated beers, even after 13 months. Packed full of flavors, no off notes. Likely would slightly prefer a fresher version, but don't fret if you can is old and refrigerated. 4.25

 

Cross posted on both the Imperial Stout and the Cellaruary threads.
My last 2019. 2020 up next, I have just one of those.
Cheers!

 

Here is another style, especially with coffee, that I don't intentionally cellar, but it's Cellaruary and here we are.

Revolution Coffee Eugene (2022)



Can Notes: Received as a comped refrigerated six pack by a generous Revolution employee from their monthly employee allotment on 12/17/22, refrigerated thereafter until this evening. Canned November 30, 2022 @ 9:21:51 PM, pretty late to be canning beer.6.8% ABV.

Fresh Roasted Coffee and Deep Chocolate Notes.

Link to OG review at the brewery: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22072/81532/?ba=ChicagoJ#review

Noted differences between cellar and fresh draft review:

Appearance: No significant change, love the dark tan initial head before fading into the lighter tan white appearance in the photo. OG 3.25 Current 4.25 (I just underrated this fresh)

Aroma: Getting a chili bell pepper aroma, could be due to age. Didn't get much aroma from the draft, but from recollections, I'd rate this higher than my OG fresh with nice chocolate and coffee apparently missed on my first go. OG 3.0 Current 2.5

Taste: Getting the pepper notes here as well, mixed with some nice chocolate fudge seeking attention. Definitely a drop off from fresh, miss my wonderful coffee. OG 4.25 Current 2.75

Mouthfeel: Would call this medium bodied vs. thin in my OG review, still easy drinking. Carbonation still there, getting more chocolate on the finish. Nice. OG 3.25 Current 3.5

Overall: Do not age intentionally, but not a drain pour. A poor candidate for cellaring, but already suspected that coming in. Only two cans left in the refrigerator. Would say my overall original score was a bit stingy. I think of this as a 4-4/25 beer. Perhaps the cans are better I've had since than the draft I rated. OG 3.75 Current 2.75

 

not certain how old this is and it was sent to me in a NBW BIF by someone who also sent me Mexican Cake, but to my shame I don’t remember and foolishly didn’t keep it in the original box.
But I’m so sorry that my SAN group didn’t get to try this, it’s amazing.
Cheers all!

 

I last revisited this exact batch in the Cellar Reviews (2021) after two years in the can. This is now just over five years old, so curious to see what the last three years have impacted what's inside the can.

Revolution Straight Jacket (2019)



Can Notes: Purchased at the January 2019 brewery release, refrigerated thereafter. 12 oz 13.1% Barleywine Ale aged in bourbon barrels, canned 1/4/19 at 11:41 46

Our Barleywine Ale features American and Belgian malts which provide the base of this extraordinary ale. After 12 months of bourbon barrels, the award-winning Straight Jacket emerges with notes of stone fruit, toasted coconut, molasses, and vanilla coming in waves as you swirl the glass. Enjoy now or store cold.

Links to my Comparison of Fresh to this same batch on January 29, 2021

• Barleywine Tasting Thread
• Cellar Review 2021 Thread

What follows are brief comments and Gold, Silver and Bronze awards comparing my experience today vs. my takes three years and a few days ago. 2019 was on draft, the more recent two in the same batched cans.

Appearance: Gold 2021; Silver 2023 & 2019
This pour is definitely more still with a very short living creamy head that lasts about a minute. The base looks faintly darker at this stage.

Aroma Gold 2021; Silver 2019; Bronze 2024
Let this warm a bit, light aroma this morning of dark fruit and bourbon saying a brief hi. Bourbon steps up, but this nears more pedestrian levels of aroma than the high levels I expect out of fresh or recently cellared Straight Jacket.

Taste Gold 2021 & 2019; Bronze 2024
First take a reverse from the aroma with bourbon front and center and malt base chilling. Taste light, somewhat dull. Let this warm to proper temperature without the increased enjoyment that usually follows. Disappointing.

Mouthfeel Gold 2021 & 2019; Bronze 2024
Creamy full body, very gentle to negligent carbonation. Drinks at or a bit above ABV. Definitely lost sharpness and complexity at this stage.

Overall: Gold 2021; Silver 2019 in a photo finish. Did Not Medal 2024
This beer has definitely degraded over the past three years. Revolution beers are good to go in release day, so still chalking up differences between 2019 vs. 2021 primarily to draft vs. can. Bottom line, drink fresh, drink a year or two out, but definitely don't sit on this intentionally for five years.

Fine good today, but not great like fresh or recently cellared. And this is why I need to buy less and drink more timely. See you next week!

 

Nice! I appreciate the three year review, that takes foresight!

 

This one was cellared too long me thinks, their current imperial stouts are pretty darn good, and this one was tasty, but mundane.
My loss.

 

Surly Brewing - Darkness 2015 Barrel-Aged
Barrel-Aged Darkness is a limited edition variant that spent over three months aging in Rye Whiskey barrels from High West



I'm been a fan of Surly Darkness over time. I've preferred it to its contemporary, FFF's Dark Lord. For this specific beer, I was able to grab a bottle via local distribution. This was about the era when Darkness bottles would clear the shelf in IL faster than they were stocked. Couple this with it being a BA Darkness. So yeah, I was fortunate to get one. Of course, being a large format bottle I sat on it for some time waiting for a 'perfect' opportunity to open it. <sigh>

Firstly, the wax on the bottle was a PITA to get the cap opened. Finally was able to hear a nice hiss of carbonation upon opening the cap. Aroma of chocolate and cherries predominantly. A small amount of oxidation (cardboard) in the background.

Flavors of chocolate, spiciness from the rye whiskey barrel, vanilla char, toffee and cherries

Given its age, I was impressed with how well this was drinking. While I imagine some of the flavors have muted with age, overall the flavor is still quite good from someone who has not had this beer before. The aroma seems to have been most impacted from the age but not overly so at this point. While I think it would it have been preferable to drink earlier, I'm still content with it today.

 

Cross post with NBW - funny how I've held onto this for 7 years and never rated it until now.

Not as good as I remember, but then my tastes have changed considerably since then. Still a fine stout and for not being BA, it held up remarkably well.
Cheers Cellar Denizens!