Welcome to this year's Cellar Thread. A place where you bring your cellar to life. Crack open an aged beer (often at least a year old) and tell us what you think. How has it changed? How is it now? Has it improved? Also include a photo so that we can see how the color has changed (as it does dramatically sometimes). My first cellar dive is Fundamental Forces from Bottle Logic. This was bottled in 2021. An imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with Tahitian vanilla. 17.17% ABV. This ABV usually makes beers perfect for aging, so let's see. The nose is bursting with vanilla and bourbon. Some toffee, prunes, raisins, chocolate. The taste is insane. Still boozy, but balanced by the intense vanilla. Lots of roasted malts are still there. Creamy. Molasses. This has definitely changed since it was fresh, but has maintained most of the notes. I will say that the black licorice notes that I got on a fresh bottle don't seem to be dominant here. For more cellared beer talk, check out the Cellaring / Aging Beer forum.
I'll go back-to-back with my next one. 2017 Harvest Ale from J.W. Lees. I have always enjoyed these aged from 5-30 years. 11.5% ABV. This has a wonderful taste. Toffee, smoked prunes, apples, raisins, slight maple, and a touch of vanilla pudding. Lovely beer.
Thanks for kicking off the Cellar Review Thread @Beersnake ! I plan to be busy here with beer vintages I haven't have in at least a year, while I focus on getting my total beer count under 100 by the end of the year (48-72 beers will be ideal for variety and freshness). I started the year at 195 beers, with 124 of them appropriate cellar styles. I am starting the year with one of two New Glarus R & D beers bottled on November 6, 2018. These are my only two beers left from the 2010s after attacking most of my stock last year. New Glarus R & D Vintage 2017 Originally reviewed with my lone additional bottle during New Beer Weekend #94 on May 7, 2022. I held these bottles upon purchase in 2019 in a proper dark basement cellar, and transferred the New Glarus R & D two bottles on January 9, 2022 to my refrigerator where they remained until opening the first of two now. Appearance is slightly lighter, carbonation and head looks egg white versus white, but very generous before receding. 4.5 2022 vs. 4.5 2026 Aroma is consistent with my 2022 review, including the very funky. Would say this is even more tart. Winner! 4.25 2022 vs. 4.5 2026 Taste more of a blend though still picking out the individual components of white grape, lemon and citrus. Sweet fruit balanced by tartness. 4.25 2022 vs. 4.25 2026 Mouthfeel is also consistent, gentle carbonation turned to faint at this stage. No dryness noted compared to 2022, still light and easy. 4.0 2022 vs. 4.0 2026 Overall, this is at about 90% + of freshness from nearly four years ago. Definitely need to return to New Glarus for more of these type of beers. 4.25 2022 vs. 4.25 2026
OK, this is my final pre 2020 beer on hand. Same brewer as yesterday, this one a fruit flavored ale I also really enjoyed slightly higher when I rated the first one in 2022. Hoping for the same results this late overnight. New Glarus R & D Sour Blackberry Ale Originally reviewed with my lone previous bottle in the 2022 Cellar Review Thread. I also held this bottle upon purchase in 2019 in a proper dark basement cellar, before transferring on January 9, 2022 to my refrigerator, where this remained until opening this beer a few minutes ago. Bottle Notes: 16.9 oz Fruited Sour, 20 Barrel Batch. brewed 2010 & 2017. OG 14 P, Bottled 11/6/18, ABV 6.5%. IBUs 12. Brewed and Bottled by New Glarus Brewing. Dan's 2019 Sour Blackberry Ale is spontaneously fermented in the Lambic tradition using our coolship and oak tank aged. Oregon Marion berries dominate this sour ale refermented in the bottle you hold. Appearance: Looks a little lighter, even more clear and nice carbonation and head after all these years! 4.5 2022 vs. 4.5 2026 Aroma: Sharp blackberry notes, assertive sour aroma follows. Smells a bit like grape soda, though more complex. Sweetness emerges through the sour, acidic notes back. Getting a bit of oak as well, more as this warms. I left the notes basically the same because it's the same experience as documented over three years ago. Bumped because I believe I was a stricter scorer back then. 4.25 2022 vs. 4.5 2026 Taste: Consistent with the aroma, tart acidic blueberry leads, sour as well. A decrease in oak is the one difference overtime, but this is still awesome. stronger with the taste, blackberry jam. Fruit sweetness contained/balanced well Not sure how the 3 1/2 years impacted, but really like what is going on right now. Wonderful. 4.5 2022 vs. 4.5 2026 Mouthfeel: Light, crisp and easy drinking. Light dryness, slight fizzy carbonation holds on throughout. Drinks lighter than the ABV, sour, tart and a bit dry. Nice clean finish. No change! 4.5 2022 vs. 4.5 2026 Overall: Come to expect excellent fruit offerings from New Glarus, and this is no exception. If you like Blackberry and Sour, this beer is for you. Sad there was a two bottle per person limit, as I have used my final round. Really need to head back everytime I come across a new release of these R & D bottles. New Glarus is one of the best breweries in the World!!! 4.5 2022 vs. 4.5 2026 Can't recommend New Glarus or this series any higher for those who love beers they can enjoy fresh or cellared, and if they love great fruit incorporation into a beer as they do with several different beers I have loved over the years.
2014 Third Coast Old Ale from Bell's. Just over 11 years old at this point. 10.2% ABV. Poured at fridge temp. Pours with almost no head. The nose is full of caramel candy, light mint, pine, clove, and bit of maple. The taste is insanely smooth and wonderful. Werther's caramel candy, light hops, mint, plum, apricot, and a nice floral note. Lingering bitterness on the aftertaste. What a treat.
Accidentally aged this one, but other than the cherry (which I thought odd) most of the expected flavors are still there. And believe it or not, but this is a cross post with NBW. Cheers all!
Thomas Hardy's Ale Golden Edition 50th Anniversary from 2018. 13% ABV. Poured at fridge temp. Accidentally poured some of the yeast sludge out, so got a relatively murky pour. The nose is really nice. Fully of caramel, malts, and stone fruit. A jammy note is there too. The taste follows the nose. Caramel candy is dominant. Ever so slight hoppy note, plums, raisins, slight mint, and some oak. Very nice. I'm loving this right now. Should continue to age nicely. I have a couple of additional bottles that I'll open in the coming years.
2016 Pugachev Royale from Hangar 24. Russian imperial stout aged in bourbon and brandy barrels. 14.3% ABV. Almost 10 years old. The nose is full of brandy, bourbon, dark chocolate, roasted malts, black licorice, and molasses. The taste is excellent. Lots of brandy, black licorice, roasted malts, honey, and dark chocolate. There is a hint of oxidation on the taste, but it does not deter from the experience. Great overall.
Nice reviews and bottles @Beersnake . Despite this beer being released at the end of 2022, this will be my first cellar review for this beer and vintage. 2022 Double Barrel V. S. O. J. (Very Special Old Jacket (Canned 12/29/22 @ 6:55:27) OG Review Link: New Beer Sunday #952 (May 21, 2023) Can Notes: Like all Revolution can purchases, it has been refrigerated since bringing home after the Season Ticket Release. Appearance: Near black dark chestnut brown, faint couple seconds, carbonation still alive. A little more going on in 2023. 2023 4.0 vs. 2026 3.5 Aroma: Pretty consistent with near fresh with raisins and plums leading, oak barrel and strong somewhat sweet bourbon playing a supporting role 2023 vs. 2026 Same 4.0 Taste: Same noted heavy sweetness about 10 minutes in, same as fresher notes, let this warm and you will be rewarded with a well blended barrel and smooth whiskey. 2023 4.5 vs. 2026 4.25 Mouthfeel: No change, creamy, a bit sweet, very strong, though seemingly less than my note (would say this drinks at or slightly below the 16.8% ABV). Nice balance when at proper temperature. 2023 4.25 vs. 2026 4.5 Overall: Good cold, great nearing room temperature. I prefer standard Straight Jacket, and V. S. O. J. before the double barrel, but will still be enjoying my remaining can later this year. 4.25 - Yesterday and Today.
Last from the cellar this week, the first of two bottles left. I'll feature the second in the Cellaruary thread next month (try to keep my thoughts in this thread to one beer/vintage per annum). Lagunitas Willettized (2020) I don't have a previous cellar review for this vintage, but I did review the 2019 release in the 2025 Cellar Review Thread, so will use that as a comparison. Appearance: Poured very still like the 2019 version. 2019 had a nice creamy and generous head and lacing. Winner Fresh Aroma: Sort of in the middle, more coffee than fresh, rye whiskey seems sweet but better than my 2019 in 2025 notes. Winner Cellar Taste: Rye whiskey dominates as always, fresh or cellared. Not getting much of the coffee or base than I did with the 2019 cellar pull. Tie - Meh Mouthfeel: Faint carb, thin and watery, a degraded version. Winner Fresh Overall: This beer regardless of vintage has consistently been a heavy barrel minimal coffee / base experience, and this cellar pull is no different. Winner - Me = One less Willittized in my cellar. Planning on a few more over the next two weeks until we reach Cellaruary, and then I'll return here in March.
I'm drinking a 12oz can of ICE BEAR from Third Space in Milwaukee. A basement floor pull that was canned on 12-15-2021. WOW how time flys by. 9.5% Look is impressive. Nice tall head that leaves some nice lacing. Smells good, chocolate roast, sweet malt Taste is chocolate, roast, caramel and maybe a hint of dark fruit. It's not as sweet as it smells and has a dry bitter finish. Feel is smooth, ABV is well hidden, not thin medium thickness. I'm impressed by how this beer has held up. Thought it might be a drank pour. 4.21/5 I thought it was 3 years old till I read the canning date on the bottom of the can. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47369/321964/ A 6 pack of this was reasonable priced, I may have paid about $8 or 9 for it in early 2022.
Going through my list of cellar beers, coconut spoke to me during the overnight hours. Revolution Brewing Coconut Deth (Canned 7/13/22) This is my first cellar review of this beer, and typically I don't like aging coffee or coconut beers to avoid drop off in strength. I will compare to my rating at a release party at DMen Tap on a very hot Summer Day. I recommend DMen Tap in my Chicago Craft Beer Ground Zero (Revolution Brewery, The Beer Temple and Maplewood are also in the near vicinity). July 21, 2022 Review Link - Draft Version Served at DMen Tap. Can Notes: 12 ounces, 15% ABV, refrigerated since purchase. Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with Coconut. Appearance: Similar observations. Pitch black base, creamy rich brown head leaves only a rim above the base. More space in my glass now to yield a nice creamy head. 4.25 (2022 & 2026) Aroma: Coconut held on quiet nicely. Getting some plum notes and then the barrel with a touch of bakers chocolate. Very nice tonight and fresh. 4.5 (2022 & 2026) Taste: Looking at these notes, they hold up well with the exception that it is 14 F with a feels like -2 F temp, versus the 90s F felt when OG rating weather. Presenting my 2022 notes unchanged: Very nice mix leads off, a sharp spicy bourbon edging out the oatmeal base and generous helpings of coconut. Strong individual components, blend well. This is a sipper for certain, and the 90F temps outside is slowing me down further. Enjoying each sip. 4.75 (2022 vs. 2026) Mouthfeel: Still somewhat thick, but not as much as my 2022 notes. No light chalkiness, which is a plus. Feeling this drinks a bit lower than the 15%, but perhaps the hot Summer heat played a role, as I prefer light beers in hot weather. Held up very well just like the above categories. 4.5 (2022 vs. 2026) Overall: This is a cellar beer that retained its greatness overtime. Didn't expect such an outstanding condition 3 1/2 years later. As always, keep your cans refrigerated. 4.5 (2022 vs. 2026) So happy as I bought a few extra boxes and will try to enjoy throughout 2026! Hope to get to a couple more this frigid week.
I should have cross-posted my recent tastings. I had a 2022 Old Ale and a 2017 Expedition recently. Both are personal favorites for many different reasons.
Another Revolution cellar pull, this one their 2022 Vintage Straight Jacket. My search of this forum did not produce a review of this vintage, so it will just be a few thoughts vs. a comparison. Revolution Straight Jacket (Canned October 27, 2022) Refrigerated since purchase, 15% ABV. Chestnut brown allowing background light, so not as dark as expected. Nice carbonation, no lacing, creamy carbonation ring and a Japan island shaped cover over about 5% of the base. Smells a little oxidated about 5 minutes after opening, but gets a little better as it warms to proper temperatures. More oxidated in the taste, cardboard very sweet raisins and plums. Gets a little better as the bourbon emerges. Body syrupy and full, drinks strong. Straight Jacket is one of the few barleywines I typically like because it's not a bitter bomb like many American Barleywines, and not cloyingly sweet like many English Barleywines. That said, this beer has a drop off not typically experienced across this beer, and I'm glad there are only two cans left, hope other years hold up better (I have two left of this, three 2023 and two 2025, the latter of which is drinking mighty fine). Cheers!
2016 Uncle Jacob's Stout from Avery. Bought at a random shop a few days ago, so I have no idea how it has been stored for the past 10 years! Pours with a solid inch of head. The nose is chocolate, vanilla, molasses, bourbon, and a bit of spice. The taste is crazy. Boozy and spicy. Black licorice, molasses, brown sugar, a harsh charred wood note, roasted malts, loads of bourbon, and a nice amount of dark fruit. I'm not getting anything that would suggest it has gone downhill. At 17.1% ABV, I'm guessing it was shielded from the hands of degradation. This tastes amazing and I will probably go grab another bottle (only $7.99).
Well, I've had a few lately. Here's 2 of them with my reviews. Prairie Apricot Funk https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30356/120405/ 4.24/5 rDev +5.5% look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25 From a 16.9oz bottle. Date on the bottle 050217 Nice hiss and smoke upon opening the bottle. This is a very murky golden colored beer in my glass. There's a lot of floaties and sediment in my glass from the beer. Somewhat chunky looking. There was a 1 finger white head that did dissipate fairly fast and left no lacing on the glass. The aroma is off the charts funky. There's just a ton of tart apricot in the nose of this beer. I also do get a faint sweetness in the aroma from the apricots. Up front the flavor is full on tartness from the apricots. This tartness is wild and funky. The tartness lingers throughout, but is added onto in the finish with a nice sweetness from the fruit. There's no off flavors from the age of the beer. Very great body. The tartness feels great in my throat. Nice depth and fullness to the body. This is a delicious beer that has held up amazing with age on it. Belo Sao Francisco https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18899/127529/ 3.74/5 rDev +0.3% look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5 From a 375ml bottle. Not seeing a date on the bottle, but I know it is pretty old. There was a nice pop, but no smoke upon opening the bottle. The beer looks murky brown in color. I did a very aggressive pour, but there's no head to the beer. Just a ring around the glass. The nose of the beer is quite pleasing. I am just getting a ton of dark fruit in the aroma. Not getting any oxidation notes, no wet cardboard smell. The taste has a nice dark fruit character to it. I am getting raisin and plum on the flavor. The flavor does seem a bit dialed down that I guess could be from age. There's no bad age flavors to this beer. The body is quite flat feeling. It doesn't have the depth and fullness I'd expect from a dubbel. This beer is all over the board, and I am guessing age is a main factor for it. Very interesting beer overall, and I'm glad I bought it.
Going to commemorate this pour to Legendary Beer Advocate Dave Fiekowsky, known here is @cavedave . This link is his final post shared in the Cellar Review thread on November 22, 2025. Revolution V. S. O. J. (Very Special Old Jacket) (Canned June 29, 2021) I don't have a formal fresh review of this vintage, but here is a link to my August 5, 2024 Cellar Review which I'll use as a base for comparison today. Refrigerated vs. cellared since purchase for both reviews. Appearance: Base looks a little lighter, head far less generous and lighter vs. rich tan post pour approximately a year and a half earlier. 4.5 (2024) vs. 4.0 (2026) Aroma: About the same - heavy whisky, plums, slight cardboard. No secondary post warm flavors found 18 months ago beyond a little vanilla. 4.0 (2024) vs. 3.5 (2026) Taste: Harsh whiskey, syrupy sweet mess. Big drop off from 2024. Wincing to start until acclimated to the sweetness. 4.25 (2024) vs. 2.75 (2026) Mouthfeel: Consistent - full bodied syrupy, strong, some cardboard, drop off in complexity. 4.5 (2024) vs. 3.5 (2026) Overall: One of if not the biggest drop off I recall after a year or two. Have one left to post in Cellaruary. 4.25 (2024) vs. 3.0 (2026) Hoping for better results with the next cellar pull.
Iirc, was this the first batch release that you had to enter a drawing for in order to purchase on eventbrite or b2? I regret not coming around to drinking mine due to my asshole brother in law either selling (most likely) or drain pouring.
I have too much crap to list. Ill see if I can find the 8bit Tres leches release I stored as I was planning on tasting for my son's upcoming bday. Recently finished the first and last release that Derek did for abnormal before he departed to moksa (the ones aged in pappy barrels) held up well, slight burn but the good kind. Still remember picking these up after a camping trip with the missus for turkey day then having some Japanese food on the way back home to San Diego. Good times.
