So, I opened one if these with my brother and girlfriend over the weekend and thought I would share my unedited notes with everyone: 1986 westmalle triple Lots of caramel, nutmeg, little cinnamon... Lots of clove on the nose, some cardboard... not noticeable in the taste. Plum. Odd sweetness, like a watered down plum wine. Sherry, raisin... very faint banana and coriander. Tastes a bit watered down, very thin mouthfeel. but it just may be because it is so damn smooth. Very smooth and light... refreshing. Yeast was so thick and soupy at the bottom, like looking at the wall. Dark, black.
I care, I like old interesting Belgian beer. I saw this last night. My review of a '99 for comparison: "A trade for some +/- 5yr old Belgian bottles yields a '99 bottle of this guy as an extra. Thanks David. 33cl bottle opens with a hiss and poured into a modern Westmalle chalice. A - Loos great. Pours a dark orange, little bit of murkiness even before I accidentally let a little bit of dregs slip by. Thick foam head turns into a thick lacing that coats most of the glass. It really can't look any better for the style. And for a '99???? S - Clove and banana. The spices are still evident, and there is some sweetness as well. The aroma is very, very nice. T - Very complex flavor for the first few ounces. Sweet, then slight bitterness, then cardboard, then sweetness returns with some dryness. Spices can be tasted once the cardboard goes away, which is in the back 1/2 of the flavor. The flavor is actually better than I'd expected. Although it does die for a moment in the middle, the way it picks back up with completely different flavors is incredible. After a couple sips, the end provides almost a caramel flavor. Very interesting. M - Medium body that feels slightly thick but with a nice amount of carbonation, boarderline perfect for the style. O - I am somewhat surprised of how well this has held up. I've had their Dubbel of the same age and it was...well...not good. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 12-01-2011" Probably a better post for the July Cellar Reviews.
I am shocked that that one had carbonation. mine was dead flat... but I really enjoyed it. I also had almost no yeast that came out of the bottle, it was so settled it was pretty solid at the bottom.
I had similar experiences with an 86 westy 8. Leather and oak, brandy, and the oxidation? its not cardboard, its old leather bound books
Well, it is 13 years old and 13 years younger than yours. My experiences with beer from the mid-80's has been that they're generally flat. There have only been a handful of exceptions to that. Edit - It was within 12 years old when I opened the bottle.
You know there's a cellar review thread in this forum, right? Not saying that to call you out...I just enjoy reading these types of reviews, and it's always surprised me how little action the monthly Cellar Reviews thread gets.
Don't know how I missed this but did you enjoy it? Sounds pretty civilized from how you described it. I'm not surprised by the Wesmalle being dilute though. Most beer doesn't have the core strength(or the tannins) to improve over 26 years.
You lucky man. Michael Jackson wrote in his 1996 edition of the Pocket Beer Book that 'bottles from 1927 are still in good condition'. Now I wonder what they taste like?
wow, thats some old stuff! I have a couple others, i am going to hold on to a lot longer just to see what happens.
