This was an undated bottle that I received as a gift for Christmas 2024 that I’ve been putting off drinking. It was actually pretty solid. 4.13/5 rDev +19.4% look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25 Poured from a 16.9 ounce undated bottle into a tulip glass at 53 degrees F. Appearance- Deep brown, opaque, medium brown frothy head, small amount of tiny visible particulate at the margins, average head retention and lacing. Aroma- Roasted malt, chocolate, medium strength of scent. Flavor- Chocolate, roasted malt, molasses, raisin, moderately sweet, between medium and high strength of flavor. Mouthfeel- Between medium and full, slightly below average carbonation, moderately bitter, moderately sweet, moderately creamy, mildly mouth warming, mildly mouth coating. Overall- Deep brown and opaque with average head retention and lacing. The nose was simple with only roasted malt and chocolate present, but the strength was medium. The flavor was slightly stronger and much more complex. It had chocolate and roasted malt out front, but molasses and raisin were layered in. The body was between medium and full with moderate bitterness and sweetness. The mouth warming/coating properties were on the mild side. Overall, this beer was much more complex and flavorful than expected from the bouquet with a solid appearance and mouthfeel as well.
2016 Bell’s Expedition Stout. PKG 10/24/2016 PRN 16580. This vintage has held up very well with plenty of dark chocolate and fudge in the flavor despite the soy and cola aroma. Licorice is less prominent than in other vintages, more in the molasses zone which is fine with me. Still excellent.
Cross-posted from the Cellaruary thread. I try to keep a supply of Maibocks in my fridge because it's my favorite style, and I think the style ages well enough to collect them for year-round drinking. So this one only has about 10 months of age on it. It's from one of my local breweries and I'm fortunate they release one every May. If my memory is correct, the abv when they first brewed this beer 12 years ago was 8.2% and this one is at 6.3%, so the malt richness isn't there like it used to be. Plus, I'm beginning to think that the lower abv causes it to show age characteristics more quickly. But I'll still buy them, it's just that I have to drink them more quickly throughout the year and rely on the Ayinger Maibock for later in the year, which is the other maibock brand that I stock up on each May.
2020 Vintage 375ml bottle poured into a snifter A- pours black in color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that has short retention S- classic BT base aroma; malty, boozy, chocolate, caramel, dark fruits. As it warms, undertones of coconut cream emerge, followed by pineapple and a hint of vanilla. The barrel eventually emerges, adding oak and bourbon T- although it wasn't strong in the initial aroma, this variant is noticed immediately with a mix of creamy coconut and juicy pineapple up front. Mid-palate gives chocolate, caramel, Tootsie Roll Pop and fig. The finish brings out the barrel, adding oaky barrel juice and an enhancing note that brings out the vanilla addition. Lingers of boozy chocolate, oak, coconut cream and pineapple M- heavy body with moderate carbonation, foamy mouthfeel turns creamy into a velvety, warming finish O- the pineapple and coconut make this a much more drinkable beer. BT is a chore to drink, simply because of it's abv and booziness. But the addition of these tropical flavors make it much more balanced, without letting any tart fruit notes creep out 4. 4.25. 4.75, 4.5. 4.5 = 4.51
If you haven't seen this help thread to post pics, take a gander here and memorize it. A test will be conducted tomorrow. Imgur.com is probably the most popular 3rd party hosting site for BA members, and it's free. Just reply in that thread if you get stuck and have questions. https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...g-pictures-to-the-forums-and-database.664980/
Cross-posting this from Cellaruary: Beer is meant to be consumed, not collected. (2026) Finally getting this on here from several evenings ago … broke out one of my two final bottles of Quaff Bros. Wee Honey Barrel-Aged Scotch Ale from 2016, one of my favorite beers ever. (With apologies to @Todd , the final one will still be saved for the next time I’m with my son who now lives in Littleton, CO and also loves this beer.) The story: The Quaff Bros. was a team of two guys (one of whom is a some time deer hunting buddy of mine) late of the Party Source in Bellevue, KY who combined an expertise in beer with a knowledge of bourbon barrels and collaborated with local breweries for mostly one-off editions. Wee Honey was one of the best. They sold it at the Party Source, and there was eventually so much of it remaining the price per four-pack kept going down every time I visited, so I kept buying it up … bet I bought seven or eight four-packs over time. It didn’t lose much over the years — a little of the head, but not the nose and taste! To my shame (!), I wasn’t reviewing beers back then. So the review now (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/12375/256985/) will have to suffice.
From last night. 2016 Bigfoot. The nose has some oxidation, toffee, and loads of stone fruit. The oxidation isn't off-putting at all. There are definitely some hops lingering here on the nose, but muted compared to fresh. The taste is excellent. The oxidation doesn't come through as much here as it did on the nose. Stone fruit, caramel, apricots, gummy bear candy, gentle hops, bread, and malts. Very nice! I really enjoyed this one.
1992 Thomas Hardy's Ale. 34 year old barleywine. Poured at cellar temp. A tiny hiss when I popped the cap. Minimal carbonation on the pour. No head. The nose is amazing. Prunes, pomegranate, raisins, oak, toffee, sherry, a hint of clove, and a bit of blackberry. What a wonderful aroma. The taste is absolutely lovely. I can't actually believe how great this tastes, with minimal signs of deterioration. Definitely different from fresh, but a great evolution. Prunes, blackberries, port, leather, oak, cola, brown sugar, toffee, and old books. What a beauty. I will sip and enjoy this as long as I can.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Bigfoot 2023 Vintage. It's a big, bold American Barleywine. At the same time, it's a really pleasant and comforting beer that is an ideal sipper. I haven't had one of these in a long time. I prefer this with a bit of age, and it's drinking very nicely right now. I wouldn't mind if it had a bit more age on it, and I plan to let my other bottle cellar longer before opening it. It's got lovely big malty notes of caramel and toffee, along with the classic bitter and woodsy Chinook-hop forward finish that lingers long. A delicious beer that is an amazing example of the style! Cross-posted in WBAYDN #4859, NBW #290, Cellaruary: Beer is meant to be consumed, not collected. (2026), and Online Tasting: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (February 6th to 8th, 2026)
Cross-posted from Cellulary: Almost forgot I had a Southern Tier “Samoa This” left — from 2018 — until I really wanted a good dessert beer after our Super Bowl bruschetta and wings. I first enjoyed it eight years ago, but that was before I’d started reviewing beers, so here’s the best I can do: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3818/321161/ As in the review, I don’t think much has changed with the possible exception of having lost a little of the carbonation. Enjoyed it!
2015 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale Aroma is caramel candy and herbal notes. Flavor is strong with cigar and dark caramel. Pretty enjoyable for 11 year old version. I have a few more that I will roll out this month probably.
Cross-posted from the cellaruary thread: I'm again having a Michigan beer from the cellar, and this one is from one of my local breweries, Territorial Brewing, a German-inspired brewery. So it's natural that I find a doppelbock in my cellar to open. Penetrator is named after the Interstate spur off I-94 that 'penetrates' into town. It's a 10% abv beer, and I think it's two years old, maybe three. Nice caramel malt character that is slightly sweet.
1997 Fred Batch 1 from Hair of the Dog. Picked this up a few years ago from the brewery when they were selling off their older bottles. Kept at cellar temp since. Unlike the more recent vintages, this was bottled at 11.5% ABV. The cap came off without a noise. Pours an opaque brown with zero carbonation. The nose is elegant. Sherry, caramel, dark berries, honey, and some oxidation. The taste is actually insanely good. For a 29 year old beer, this is 100% drinkable and enjoyable. Marmalade, burnt toffee, honey, apricots, oak bitterness, dry, plums, slight oxidation (light metallic note), a hint of smoke, black pepper, and a nice mild earthy note. Super interesting and intense. Really glad to try this special beer. Sad that Fred isn't being made any more!
Transient Junie (2024) Imperial Pastry Stout 14% Only a bit over two years old, and unusual so worthy of posting. This has held up very well, rye and lactose ignite the palate and carry the beer from the first scene sip up front , chocolate on the back end. Carmel in the aftertaste. Bottle from Holiday Mart. Rating overall 4.0 lead by 4.25 mouthfeel and 4.25 drinkability
Finally did some work for #cellaruary this weekend: Revolution Dark Mode (2021) Overall rating 4.5 This beer has amazed me from fresh to it's advanced age; great flavors and barrel Central Waters XXIII (2021) Overall rating 4.5 Starting to show a little oxidation but still slapping hard; chocolate and barrel flavours Hill Farmstead The Order of Things 01 (2021) Overall rating 4.75 Nothing they make is bad; still an explosion of flavours and so smooth
Squeezed in a couple more #cellaruary beers this weekend: Revolution Maple Jacket (2021) Overall rating 4.5 Normally a little squirrely when a great base beer is adjuncted but really like how the maple works in this beer. Another one from fresh to aged, didn't seem to fall off. Olde Hickory Brewery 25th Anniversary Omega Point (2021) Overall rating 4.5 One of the best bwizzles I've had in awhile; aroma and taste were really intense in a pleasant way; oldest beer from the blend for this beer was 9yrs old when packaged
2021 Utopias World Wide Stout. 17.2% ABV. I grabbed several of these when they were released as I knew they would hold up for a long time at this ABV. I loved it fresh, and I love it now. Reminds me a bit of Black Tuesday. Boozy for sure, but it has tamed a bit with age. Chocolate, brown sugar, bourbon, light vanilla, molasses, black licorice, dark roasted malts, and a nice biscuit note. Lovely beer!
Crooked Stave Suncrest, Cooper's Collective reserve release bottle. 2017 vintage. wild Suncrest peach that still delivers. Barrelling in white vermouth barrels and employing a base Golden sour ale in French Oak barrels. Carbonation still there. Rated 4.1 or top 3% of beers I have enjoyed.
Damn! Apologies, getting ahead of myself. Cross post from Cellaruary 2025 (y'all are purging your cellars, right? If not, get at it. ). The Bruery - Black Tuesday (2013) Bottled 09/14/13 A nice hiss upon lifting the cap (after fumbling around with the wax, of course). Appearance is not anything special. Pitch black. Modest khaki head disappears before it even has a chance to introduce itself. I start taking the aroma in and it is here where I start going whoa. Dark chocolate. vanilla, charred wood, bourbon. maple syrup. I take my first sip and then say, damn. Dark Chocolate vanilla and bourbon. A dollop of maple syrup on the tail end. An incredible amount of heat given its age. It's this last bit which floors me. Just how much barrel is still present after 12+ years. I don't recall any other BA beer holding up in this way over this amount of time. It is an 18.9% beer so perhaps it has an advantage in this way. Regardless, this is drinking quite well now. Damn!
A+ beer from @mlench10 via the Superbowl Squares 2026 BIF. 2018 & fan f-ing tastiic! Feel free to check out my review. No link, look it up peeps
