Aging Bolt Cutter

Mine is tomorrow! But it's my 32nd so I'll probably have half of a miller 64.

 

Have a 32oz growler instead.
Please.

 

But they cut out the filler! It's for active people like me!

 

I'm a powerlifter.
You've got no excuse

 

troll!

 

So it's pretty damned delicious right now, but it's very hoppy and pretty sweet. It's closing in on Devil Dancer hoppy. I think, for my tastes, it will be amazing in 8-12 months. Glad I have another four bottles.

 

I will probably open my next one the first snow fall of 2014

I like barleywines while watching the snow fall. Extremely calming nights are done in such a manner.

 

I know they're different animals, but it's interesting to look at the early reviews of Deca and juxtapose them against the initial takes on Bolt Cutter. Some people really liked it, a lot of people thought it was boozy, some people thought it was too weirdly spicy. I never had it fresh but I had it in late 2010 and earlier this year, and thought it was pretty incredible both times (at 3 years and 4.5 years respectively).

I plan on forgetting about the bottles I have for at least a couple years, and I am expecting good things when I get around to opening them.

 

I have some coming... The first snowfall in Boise is still likely a couple of weeks out ... I appreciate the idea. Hopefully it will be a full moon too.

 

I really enjoyed Deca as well. I hope that Boltcutter has the same aging prowless as the Deca does. I think that I drank Deca with 4 years on it. Never had Deca fresh for comparison...

 

I put mine in the back of the beer frig right next to the FFF Ruggoop. I prefer this type of beer with some age on it. I trust Founders to do things right though. I hope I don't destroy something good by aging it.

 

Alright folks, I just picked up an exceptionally elusive bottle of Founders Boltcutter at my local bottom bitch beer store. The problem is I could only pick up one bottle. I know that aging is subjective and blah blah blah, but for those of you who have had Bolt Cutter fresh, would you recommend aging it a bit, or drinking it ASAP?

For a frame of reference, I am both a huge RIS/stout/porter fan and a huge IPA/IIPA fan, so my tastes are a bit all over the board. As far as barleywines go, I've had New Glarus Thumbprint Barleywine and Sierra Nevada Bigfoot. I preferred the hoppiness of the Bigfoot to the maltiness of NG. I assume this means I should drink Bolt Cutter ASAP, since hops are the first to fade, but please, those who know, tell me the correct (subjective) course of action.

 

Cellar it is my 2 cents. Needs to mellow out a bit, I thought it was very sweet when I had a fresh bottle.

 

I think you answered your own question a bit with your preferences regarding Bigfoot. Bolt Cutter had some really great pineapple and mango fruit notes from its dryhopping when I split a bottle with a friend, and opened up with a smooth, light bourbon as it warmed from its partial barrel aging. While I think I would prefer Bolt Cutter aged based upon my tastes, your tastes point to a rather soonish enjoyment!

To some the answer is easy: any beer you have never had, consume fresh!

 

Bottom bitch beer store. Excellent south park reference sir!

Drink in two weeks time. You'll enjoy it.

 

Having had it on tap, I'm going to cellar the one bottle I'm keeping.

Fresh, it reminded me a great deal of Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Barleywine, & most years, that needs 9-15 months to reach maximum yummy. Right now, the alcohol bite is fierce & the rest of the components haven't really risen to the surface yet. My bet is that in one year, this is going to be a big winner.

But hey, that's just my guess.

 

Just drink it.

Love,
Chad

 

Lately, I have to question people's use of the word "sweet".

Couldn't agree with you more.
OP should drink now.
It's just beer, albeit hyped, pain in the ass to get, not quite living up to expectations beer.

You and I will prefer in a year or so.

 

Had fresh on tap,and really enjoyed it. I didn't find it exceptionally hoppy, so I'm guessing if you like your beers hoppy, you'll want to enjoy it soon.

 

I actually have the same question with some regular stouts. I recently had Magic Hat heart of darkness and as soon as I bought it from my local beer store, I drank it and it tasted like shit. Fast forward couple days later, popped open a different bottle (from the same six pack), and it tasted WAY better. The taste really mellowed out and was a lot more enjoyable and not just bitter. Same thing now with Bell's Double Cream Stout. Dude at my local binnys hyped about it, and when I had it, wasnt really impressed. Again, fast forward a week later (chillin in my fridge), It tasted a hell of a lot better.

Is it just all in my head? or do you really need to let stouts age a little before drinking?