2014 Mexican Cake

A regular stout or BA stout you're spot on, but adjunct stouts tend to fall off. That's not to say it won't still be a good beer - it should still taste great- but the cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, and pepper will be a bit muted compared to having it fresh. How muted will depend on how it was cellared.

 

The flavors probably evolved and smoothed out over time, like @jtirpak22 said, some of the flavors may "pop" less than they would had the beer been drank fresh. Will most likely still be a really good beer, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to drink it.

 

No, it's totally ruined... but I'll do you a favor and buy it off you for $4.

 

BCBS is a different animal. Fresh BCBS can tend to have "alcohol heat" due to its higher ABV and barrel treatment. Aging BCBS allows the heat to subside a little and the flavors to become more integrated, IMO.

As for Mexican Cake, it would react similar to how BCBCS would (disregarding the 2015 version, which will simply turn into vinegar). The adjunct flavors would simply fall off and what you would be left with would be closer to what the base beer tastes like. You could probably still get some of the adjunct flavor, but it definitely wouldn't be as spicy as a fresh MC. I actually prefer MC with about 6 months on it; I've found fresh MC to be far too aggressive.

 

If you don't have a fresher one to compare to, and have never had one before, then go ahead a drink it soon and it will likely be great.

 

It'll be great, just no pepper heat, adjuncts just fall off.

 

Its probably still good, but I had it 5 or 6 months ago and the adjuncts were all but gone...definitely doesn't hold up as well as huna...or even abraxas for that matter..... still worth giving it a go!

 

I have never had MC with age but I wouldn't be so sure that the chili pepper falls off. These are obviously different styles of beer, but here is what Augie Carton (Carton Brewing) had to say about a saison they did with chili peppers.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...n-saison-cartons-new-one.277655/#post-3507495

 

Does it say "barrel aged" anywhere on the label? If so you need to drink it asap. Your father will understand as you will be doing him a service.

 

Ask your dad if you can drink it. Then you will know! Then ask him if he has any more, or just look around to see if he is hiding any other good stuff.

 

It is the only way I can drink it. I hate the pepper heat, much better beer to me without peppers

 

A buddy just brought a 2014 Mexican Cake to a bottle share a few weeks ago. Honestly I thought it tasted great. The spicy/peppery heat had definitely fallen off a bit, but overall time seems to have made the flavors a bit smoother while retaining the original complexity of the flavor profile. I wouldn't hesitate to crack that one open.

 

Agree, I think fresh the beer is really out of balanced. Just tastes like peppers. With time, the sweetness comes out and peppers fade.