Backwoods Bastard

I just had one this past weekend from 2011. Still yummy.

 

I just bought two, one from 2011 and one from 2010. I had the 2011 version, very tasty. Still waiting to try the 2010 version to see how they compare.

Mighty fine brew, either way, I'm sure.

 

I love it fresh. Just opened a 2011 and thought that much of the bourbon punch was gone. Sad day.

 

This is probably my favorite to age. it's perfect at 2 years imo.

 

Its better fresh. My 2011 are now sediment laden (though suspended in solution) at this point and not nearly as Bourbon forward. Drinkable to be sure, but definitely better fresh.

 

Can tell between 08 and 09 two ways: 08 was twistoff/09 wasn't; and each year (08 and 09) have an '08' or an '09' two digit number in the glass along the bottom rim of bottle (there also should be a hard to see julian date on the bottom of the bottle that indicates when the bottle was made).

 

Really? I had no sediment and I thought there was still a nice bourbon kick to it.

 

I'll take it with 10-18 months on it. Primo aging time.

 

Definitely still has Bourbon, but not the hot wonderfulness of the fresh version.

 

Gotcha. I think this is a difference in palates. It still seemed like a decent bourbon punch to me. But I don't really drink bourbon, so I may be more sensitive to it.

 

This has been one of, if not my absolute, favorite beers since I first tried it about 4 years ago. Then I had one last winter with a couple of years of age on it-holy moley was it amazing! Great beer fresh-even better with a year or two on it.

 

Last October I was able to share in a bottle from the first release, 07?, it was still very tasty.

With that said I love to have this beer around, will attempt and cellar some for that reason alone. The beer will hold up but it does not improve with age.

 

I just had one from last year and I personally enjoyed it more fresh.

 

One thing to keep in mind, that release (2007) was different then every other release since. Plus, I think your assessment of said beer may have been unduly influenced by the pork & kbs bbq sauce you were eating.

 

Drinking my last bottle of 2011 with my first haul of 2012 soon, can't wait to compare what a year has done.

 

I was under the influence of many things, the least of which being pork butt and KBS BBQ sauce.

 

It's all subjective of course but I think it's best after about 18-24 months.

 

Drank one from '10 last week ... the 'burn' was less, but the flavor was perfect. It wasn't the swift kick in the pants from a fresh one, but still had the smells and attitude as it warmed up. Still my favorite beer.

 

I'm drinking one now from 2010 and it's still delicious. I will say that it has mellowed out quite a bit, the oak and vanilla flavors come right to the front and the bourbon booziness is subdued but still present.