Cellar Reviews (2024)

Brought out the only AAL in the fridge, a Grain Belt Premium bottled in 2018:


My friend gave me this after it had sat in his fridge for 6+ years since I like doing experiments like these--https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/cellar-reviews-2020.630642/page-21#post-6978781

Brain Melt Premo 2018, imbibed in 2024:
Appearance: Clear pale yellow, good head.
Smell: Mild fruit, slight stale undercurrent.
Taste: Super fruity--tons of apple. Tastes like a cider but body like a beer. Doesn't seem to have much oxidation though. Light bodied and pretty high carbonation.
Overall: I'm almost disappointed that this held up. I don't usually get apple flavor in GB premium, just corn. Usually kind of syrupy, this was much lighter bodied.

My 2008 review of a fresh one:
Appearance: Pale yellow, good carbonation but a fading head.
Smell: Sweet, corn.
Taste: A little too sweet. Corn comes through as the main flavor, really strong at first but I either got used to it or it fades as it warms up.

 

Barrel aged Behemoth from 3 Floyd's, bottled December 2021.



This is a great beer, sensibly priced and packaged appropriately at 12 ounces. It ages well too, stock up when you see it.

Still plenty of caramel but the burned, bitter edge to it has subsided somewhat but still lingers at the finish. Kind of an over roasted coconut vibe but in a good way. More brown sugar and a hint of vanilla now, still plenty of the sweetest of brown liquors. This could go for years yet I think.

 

Keep forgetting about posting here, last night I had a 2018 KBS and tonight I enjoyed a 2018 CBS. Very subtle, seriously good.

Cheers!

 

Sounds like that one ages like a charm. I'd set those down in the cellar from now on!

Wow, blast from the past! I had forgotten that beer but that label brought back a flood of memories.

 

Roger, roger

 

The one vertical I went to hosted by @Beertracker many moons ago, my faves were the Oldest & the Youngest. There was fairly big spread age-wise, but we are dealing with my crappy memory, so I will say at least 12 years. I have zero in my fridge here, but so sporadic about showing up here.

 

From @LehighAce06 Bottle says 03/09/15 & 03/09/17 So probably at least 9 years old



A: 2.0
S: 4.5
T: 4.5
MF: 4.25
Overall: 4.5

So much barrel left in the nose, rich dark fruits as well. Coffee, Bourbon, Dark chocolate & vanilla, plus woody hops. Body is silky smooth

 

Good evening fellow cellar dwellers!
I found this one looking for beer to clean up my cellar.

Had no idea what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised. Drank like a slightly viscous marzen with no alcohol taste, at least not 10% worth. Felt like I could drink it by the liter and we all know how that would end up.
Ah well, it worked out. BA Browns next!

 

Batch 100, from the generous @LehighAce06 as part of my Superbowl Squares haulage

Looked great on the initial pour, but no head retention or lacing 2.0

S: Rich dark fruit notes 4.25

T: Plenty of flavor left; leathery dryness, dark fruit, oaky notes & brown sugar. Dark cherry, figs, leafy hops, plums. Pretty dry/sweet finish 4.25

MF: Fairly chewy, low carbonation, a little warming. Carbonation does pick up once warmer 4.25

So thrilled to have tried the classic once again! Overall 4.25

 

Oh, right, this one was from '21

As Thomas says, it's more like bourbon with stout added than a stout aged in bourbon barrels (and bourbon soaked oak spirals or whatever)
Thought letting it sit for a few years would help, but nope, still bourbon with stout added.

 

From 2015

Still seriously good, maybe mellowed a bit, but quite good.

 

2018 Doggie Claws



I bought some of these off the shelf when they were already a few years old, so the aging conditions weren't ideal. This is tasting just fine right now though

I left the dregs in the bottle, so after the chill haze faded the clarity was fine. Nose is bursting with apricots and caramel primarily, along with some gentle booze and light apple pie spice.

Tastes as the smell suggests. Nice balance here, just enough heat and tickle of bitterness at the back end to keep the sweetness in check.

Not my favorite vintage, but this is quite nice and I'm glad I have another to revisit down the line.

Public service announcement for the brewery, Hair of the Dog still has a lot of vintages available online (plus Don!) and they ship pretty much anywhere in the country.

 

Not Michigan, I checked. Sadness.

 

So I was looking for a high octane beer tonight and Dragons Milk Triple Mash caught my eye.
I set one of these aside as it was quite “hot” when fresh and I was hoping for a mellow transition. Ha.

This was not one of their sublime years, this is one that slaps you silly and laughs about it. What I needed tonight though.
Cheers!