Beer deliberately bottled still

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by DIM, Apr 30, 2023.

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  1. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've tried and loved a few of these in the last couple of years. Utopias, Xyauyu Gold (my #2 rated of all-time), Don from Hair of the Dog, and Dystopias from Free Will (currently for sale to ship free w/coupon code within PA at their online store).

    Notes from the breweries talk about oxygen being deliberately introduced. None of these has been dull, lifeless, or cardboard-y. On the contrary, they are vibrant, exciting, and delicious.

    All of these bottles are resealable and the breweries encourage enjoying small doses over a period of months or years. I appreciate this as they are usually very strong and expensive. 3 ounces or so of one of these makes an excellent nightcap.

    I'm looking forward to another vintage of Don (currently for sale on the HotD website) and 3 versions of Xyauyu thanks to the incredibly generous @FBarber

    Do you enjoy uncarbonated beer?

    Who else is bottling things like this?

    What is the longest you've left this type of bottle open?

    The examples I listed are all barleywines or at least barleywine-ish, is anybody using similar techniques for different styles?
     
    #1 DIM, Apr 30, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2023
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  2. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    As always, it depends. Haven't tried the Dystopias, but the other beers you mentioned were all outstanding. On the other hand, as you probably know, Alan S. from HOTD made a number of ba beers that were inadvertently still. Even so, he steadfastly claimed that the lack of carbonation would not detract from enjoyment of those beers. Personally, I found that to be a bit of a stretch. Some of those beers were still enjoyable (some weren't), but the lack of carbonation definitely detracted from my enjoyment of those beers.

    I would also add that I think only certain styles lend themselves to this sort of treatment. Barleywines in particular, but also some ba stouts as well. Otherwise, I think it's unlikely that an un-carbonated (still) IPA, helles lager or robust porter is something that anyone is going to find particularly enjoyable.
     
    #2 John_M, Apr 30, 2023
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  3. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I personally have no experience drinking uncarbonated beers.

    The question was posed: “is anybody using similar techniques for different styles?”

    I have read about wild/lambic beers which are uncarbonated. From a quick web search (with emphasis in bold by me):

    “Bottled fruit lambics are typically carbonated, though some uncarbonated fruit lambics can be found. Some fruit lambic is also available as bag in a box (Girardin Kriek).”

    https://www.milkthefunk.com/wiki/Lambic

    All of the fruit lambics that I have consumed were carbonated.

    Cheers!
     
    #3 JackHorzempa, Apr 30, 2023
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  4. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hanssens makes some uncarbonated sours. The versions I tried were pretty sour, and as I'm not a big sour guy, it was difficult for me to tell whether the lack of carbonation detracted from enjoyment of the beer or not.
     
    #4 John_M, Apr 30, 2023
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  5. Rug

    Rug Grand Pooh-Bah (3,454) Aug 20, 2018 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've yet to open either bottle of 2022 Don, but I am already tempted to purchase some 2023. I like a nice still beer, it offers a totally different experience
     
    #5 Rug, Apr 30, 2023
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  6. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I also recall having an unblended lambic from Cantillon without fruit, Grand Cru Bruocsella. Thanks for jogging my memory, oxidation plays a role in lambic production too.
     
    #6 DIM, Apr 30, 2023
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  7. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
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    I do remember those, a lot of them very fondly. Lost Abbey had some trouble way back when as well that they defended pretty vigorously.
     
    #7 DIM, Apr 30, 2023
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  8. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Have you recently tried any bottles of the 2022 Don? I cracked open a bottle a month ago at a party and was surprised by how much the beer had developed since the release. Still very good, but the flavor profile has definitely shifted.
     
    #8 John_M, Apr 30, 2023
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  9. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I assume you're talking about their large bottle format of the Angels Share (brandy version as I recall). I won't say it was bad, but I really thought the lack of carbonation detracted from enjoyment of the beer.

    I thought they agreed to take back bottles of that beer. I don't believe the beer was supposed to be still after all.
     
    #9 John_M, Apr 30, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2023
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  10. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I opened one last week and I agree that it shifted. It was sweeter with less oak I think. I look forward to trying the two side by side soon
     
    #10 DIM, Apr 30, 2023
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  11. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    They did take back an infected batch of something, but I seem to recall some small format bottles with little or no carbonation that they said were appropriately carbonated. And wasn't there a batch where we were encouraged to wait for a few months before we opened them? It's been too long and I'm too old to remember exactly lol
     
    #11 DIM, Apr 30, 2023
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  12. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Likewise, but I think that was the angels share bottle I was referring to. I held onto my bottle for a couple of years... it never developed any carbonation. I heard later (I think) that LA agreed to take back bottles if customers insisted on returning them, but I don't think they were particularly happy or good natured about it. At least that's my recollection (but as you pointed out, it's been a while, so I'm not positive).

    Didn't matter in my case. There was no practical way for me to return my purchase, so I went ahead and drank it. It wasn't too difficult a chore. :sunglasses:
     
    #12 John_M, May 1, 2023
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  13. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
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    #13 bbtkd, May 1, 2023
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  14. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    #14 DIM, May 1, 2023
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  15. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (5,822) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have a bottle of A Moment’s Rest from Alvarado Street/Yeast of Eden that I’ve been sitting on. I have wondered if it will begin to carbonate (?—get fizzy?) at some point if I wait long enough.

    https://asb.beer/products/a-moments-rest


    I thought Xyauyu was utterly fantastic, so I’ll be happy if this is similar.
     
    #15 elNopalero, May 1, 2023
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  16. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have just one question. Would any beer, bottled deliberately still or not, be markedly worse if it was exactly the same but had a reasonable amount of carbonation? I’m having a hard time imagining that.
     
    #16 Orca, May 1, 2023
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  17. Rug

    Rug Grand Pooh-Bah (3,454) Aug 20, 2018 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Overcarbed Utopias? Idk how I’d feel about that lol
     
    #17 Rug, May 1, 2023
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  18. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not sure, but I don't think they'd be markedly better. Some of these breweries are specifically going for a more liquor like end result. I wouldn't want one every day but they are a tasty diversion.
     
    #18 DIM, May 1, 2023
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  19. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Can something at 28% even be carbonated?
     
    #19 DIM, May 1, 2023
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  20. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’ve never had Utopias and I didn’t say overcarbed. For me I just think some level of carbonation is preferable in any beer. But to @DIM ’s point, at a certain ABV maybe it’s just not meant to be.
     
    #20 Orca, May 1, 2023
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