In the same vein as another recently started thread, I'd like to pose a similar question here. What is the general consensus of these 3 vintages. I do understand that this is a different animal than the Maman 17 vs 18 thread as BAA is adjunct heavy. I know that can bare some difference in opinion. For transparency, I just drank a '19 this weekend and I have bottles of 17/18 vintages. Basically what I'm getting at is a question of keeping the old vintages around (or drink them now)? Does one stand out above others at it's current drinking state.
At a share. It was my bottle that I brought. I had always heard advice to open adjunct heavy bottles fresh when considering opening the older vintages. Basically I wanted to try the fresh version to see if I enjoyed it enough to rationalize keeping the older bottles around.
I've never had it more than a hair over a year old (I'm assuming this is BA Abraxas and that the additional A is a typo not some secret variant I'm unfamiliar with) but just based on my general experience I would be surprised if this beer improved at all beyond 2 or 3 years. Perennial knows their shit and puts together world class beers so there's a good chance that noticeable degredation won't set in until maybe 5 years out but I don't see this one improving anymore for your older bottles
Just did '16-'19 a few weeks ago. '16 is light years above the others in terms of mouthfeel, flavor, thickness, etc. '17 was slightly better than '18-19. This was a general consensus....but '18-19 also came last after a lot of other stuff....haha
16 had always been my favorite and it held up well when I had it last year. 17 was very cinnamon forward fresh, but was great at a year. 18 and 19 are fine but shells of the earlier vintages. I don't think the newer vintages will hold up as well as the older ones.
I agree with this assessment the most. 17 was definitely cinnamon forward--so was the non-BA version. I might put 18 ever-so-slightly above 19. I don't think I would go as far as calling the newer version 'shells' of the previous, but 16 was particularly good.
2019 BAA has more mole flavor (peppers, dark spice) and less cinnamon than each of the previous vintages. It was disappointing for me compared to '18 and '17. I would agree with the general consensus that '17 was the best and '18 was a step back, albeit (for me) not a big one. There should still be value in both older vintages. I'd say drink that '17 and if you get value out of trading the '18, do it. If you don't get a satisfactory offer, the '18 is still mighty fine to drink among friends. If I had any bigger bottles to trade right now, I would have popped on your trade post yesterday. Cheers.
