2015 Firestone Walker Parabola on draft. This has really held up well. There are some tertiary flavors, but I would not have guessed this is a 10 year old ba stout. Absolutely delicious.
2018 Thomas Hardy's Anniversary edition. 13% ABV. Smell is caramel, apricots, plums, malts, and a bit of vanilla. The taste largely follows the nose. super smooth with loads of malts and caramel. 4.5/5 right now.
2014 Melange 3. I originally opened this last night, but capped it and finishing now. It was my favorite Bruery beer back when it was released (which is why I still have a few bottles). It's still one of my favorites. The nose is prunes, raisins, toffee, big bourbon, malts, and some molasses. The taste is bourbon, dark malts, dark fruits, slight oxidation, prunes, and toffee. So good!
This is from 2022. I liked it. A lot. 4.6/5 rDev +1.1% look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5 Pours black and settles black in the glass with a sudsy, sizzling mocha colored head that lingers a bit. Beautiful BA imperial stout. The nose features a LOT of maple syrup, and there’s also vanilla, some roasty coffee, and a bit of booze. The maple syrup is likewise very prominent on the taste, but it’s nicely balanced by the vanilla, roasty coffee, and the booze courtesy of the barrel, which is also very warming. So delicious. The mouthfeel is thick and chewy, as required for a beer of this gravity (14.5% ABV). Transient absolutely crushed this.
2008 Old Guardian from Stone. A nice pop when the cap came off. The nose is a bit muted compared to fresh. Toffee, hops, and some malts. Hoping the taste punches a bit. Here we go. The taste is also pretty mild, but really balanced. Toffee, very light hops, wheat, orange, mint, pine, and a bit of honey. Lovely beer.
White Elm Apple Brandy BA ¡CHAMPURRADO! Imperial Stout, 13% ABV. I rated this 4.52 in 2024. Still outstanding, holding up well.
2021 Thr3e from The Bruery. Bourbon barrel-aged barleywine. 16.1% ABV, which typically buffers the aging process. This one hasn't changed a lot since when it was released. Still a solid amount of boozy bourbon, dark toffee, slight smoke, prunes, figs, and maybe a hint of cherries. Lovely stuff.
2012 North Coast Old Stock Ale (Otsuchi) Delicious malt bomb+ which sports tons of plum, date, raisin, medium and burnt caramel, and light tobacco in the aroma. Flavor is intense with plum, raisin, date, fig, and medium caramel with earthy tobacco in the finish and aftertaste. Exceptional beer.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Bigfoot (2011) Have commented before on vintage Bigfoot pours but feel need to reiterate - the carbonation/head is impressive over these years. SN kicks ass with packaging, no surprise. It's drinking very well. Hops are secondary to the caramel, but still present certainly. Opens up nicely near room temperature. Man, I really enjoy the 2013 lately but this ain't no slouch, comparatively.
Fuller Vintage Ale 2017 Edition. Had today and rated 4.07 One of their best of this 29 year old series, this being nine years old. Delivered as promised as orange marmalade, and that is its colour. Jammy, citrus flavour. Smells great, taste delivers.
Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien (2006) by Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes (BFM) A cellar story: 19 years later, still some residual carbonation. Flanders brown colour, not too tart. Still very drinkable and red apple aroma. I would rate it 4.05 now, lost some edge. In August 2007 I had it and thought it to be The Flemish and rated it 4.2
2003 Thomas Hardy's Ale. Zero carbonation. The taste is fantastic. Figs, toffee, prunes, tobacco, leather, bread, and biscuits. A touch of soy sauce and molasses. Lovely stuff.
Hel & Verdoemenis Bowmore barrel aged Bottled jan 2018. I think past prime as European hop flavour eased. Still smoke. Carbonation low. Still good sipper. Balanced. https://untappd.com/user/SammyTwo/checkin/1562576171 https://assets.untappd.com/photos/2026_04_12/586ab32e786e86fda5eb1567ea2bfaa6_c_1562576171_raw.jpg
2013 Fred from Hair of the Dog (batch 89). A golden special ale. 10% ABV. Pours a murky orange with zero carbonation. The nose is apricot, toffee, big malts, maple candy. The taste is intense. Plums, apricots, caramel, candy sweetness, earthy bitterness, rye bread. Lovely stuff.
Another cellar pull. 2/1/2021 Founders Panther Cub. Huge vanilla, marshmallow cream, milk chocolate, cocoa, maple syrup, caramel, toffee, bourbon, toasted oak, and light smoke/coffee. Mild herbal/roasted bitterness on the finish. very creamy/silky vanilla/malt body. Mild increasing warmth of 9.2%. Not huge on barrel, but adequate. Wonderful dessert style robust porter on malt complexity. Still got a couple more from the 4 pack. Cheers
Oddside Ales The Nightman Leaveth 01/04/17 bottling. Rich milk/dark chocolate and medium lactose cream sweetness. A bit more More molasses, dark fruit, and light licorice melanoidin notes on malt from age, but not overwhelming. Super smooth rye barrel and rye malt silkiness, not much vanilla left. Bit of oxidation/tobacco. Minimal lingering barrel tannins. Light roasted dryness. No cloying. Mild warmth of 11%, minimal lingering barrel booze. Still a 4.25/5 Cheers
