Aging CBS?

Two years ago my wife surprised me with a big box of awesome beers for Christmas which included two bombers of CBS 2017. I drank the first one that year, and am going to open the second tonight. So we'll see how it goes for me. I've already had a bomber of St. Bernadus Christmas Ale earlier today so what could go wrong? Lol

 

I had a 2019 a bit over a month ago, a 2018 just over a week ago, and a 2019 tonight, and my take-away is I will never age CBS again.

The degree of coffee prominence appears to prompt the greatest diversity in opinion, so, for reference, I will note I'm a total java junkie. The biggest difference I noticed between the fresher vintage and the aged one was that the coffee had faded substantially in the year-old bottle, ceding the maple a larger share of the mix. The dark chocolate notes seemed similar in both vintages, and bourbon characteristics are generally light in CBS as it is, so that played a minimal role in the comparison. To my tastes, the balance between flavors just worked better fresh, though I recognize others who don't mainline prodigious amounts of coffee may view things differently.

 

Love that quote. Mainline.

 

Thanks! I feel no shame in admitting I enjoyed writing that.

 

Just had a 2019 CBS one year and 3 days after bottling. It was amazing. Was super surprised how much clearer the maple was and overall the beer was a lot softer. I loved it just as much not aged, but in a different way.