Birth of Tragedy - Batch 2011 vs 2012

I think the 2011 is far better than the 2012. I found the 2012 to have less carbonation, also noted by S. Hill, and to be considerably sweeter. The 2011 had a lot more depth and nuance. There were many more bottles of the 2012 batch made, but I am not sure on the numbers.

 

I don't think it's worth paying a premium for the 2011. YMMV.

 

Having had both batches, I don't recall it being terribly different. The 2011 bottle I had did seem to have a bit more carbonation, but I think the 2012 version has better barrel character--lots of sweetness and vanilla notes. Neither batch was known for its high carbonation. I'm sure there is a premium on the 2011 bottles as they're older and there were less of them, but I don't think it's worth the extra price. The 2012 version is excellent and completely worth checking out.

 

Absolutely my take as well. I was shocked at the difference between the two, notably in the carbonation level. I almost thought the one bottle of 2012 that I opened was just undercarbed, but it sounds like it was the whole batch.

Now, that said, it's still a fantastic beer, and we're not talking about Flat Abbey style "low carb" levels or anything. In fact, if you've never had the 2011, you might not even notice the difference.

2011 is one of the best beers I've ever had, while the 2012 is just "excellent".

As for being worth the premium... IMO it depends what you're going for - if you just want to tick/try it, get the 2012. If you're looking for something really special, then the 2011 is worth just about any other beer released in the last year or two IMO.

 

? BoT is aged in bourbon barrels, not port.

 

Yeah that was a typo. 2012 BoT was Buffalo Trace and VW barrels, but no EC barrels. Perhaps that accounts for some of the perceived difference? Maybe it's because I've only had one bottle of each year and have had multiple draft pours of each, but I didn't think the carbonation difference was that huge. In either case, I think 2012 is still excellent and wouldn't trade at a premium.

Anyone have a 2011 recently? How is it holding up?

 

there is also a 2+% abv difference b/w 2011 & 2012.
2011 was noticeably 'hotter' as of August, haven't had any since then...will open my last bottle side by side with 2012.

carbonation issues don't really take much away from this beer imo.

 

I had a 2011 on Christmas Eve, and it was drinking wonderfully.

 

The lack of carb really didn't take anything away for me in the 2012. Fantastic beer.

 

I enjoyed 2011 more when fresh than 2012. I don't think either have much to gain from aging, and I dont really recall heat being a factor.

 

I haven't had the 2011, but the 2012 was cloying/syrupy sweet and had zero carb. Pretty disappointing to be honest.

 

BoT '12 is junk. Skip it! The yeast didn't seem to do its job at all. The '11 was magical. It seems really weird that a HF beer was this off. Cause seriously they make some of the most amazing beers. Anything and everything they do. If they decided to do a style they kill it. Unfortunately this batch of BoT did not live up to their insanely high standards.

 

"junk?" really?

 

"Junk" is a bit harsh. The 2012 has very little carbonation. I'd put this much more toward the HotD end of the spectrum (i.e., in light of the nature of the beer and the taste profile, it doesn't need much, if any, carbonation) as opposed to the LA end of the spectrum (i.e., what is this gross, uncarbonated syrup I'm drinking?), though.

That being said, reasonable minds may differ and certain people may find the lack of carbonation obnoxious. I also do prefer the 2011, which was more carbonated, but otherwise quite similar.

Finally, if you really think 2012 BoT is gross, I will happily take it off your hands. I'm sure we can work out a deal.

 

Junk? The 2012 may not be as good as the 2011, but it's still better than 95% of the beers out there. If the 2011 was an A+, the 2012 was an A/A-.

 

OK OK, maybe junk is a bit harsh, haha. But I was really disappointed by this newest batch. The bottle I had and the experience drinking it was more Lost Abbey like...gross, flat, sweet and messy. Nothing seemed to meld together. I had a BoT from the batch prior to that only about 2 months prior. That was magnificent...the aroma was heavenly and the flavors and feel were in such good harmony. The beer I had most recent was none of that to me. It tastes like flat coffee water. If I had more to send you, I'd gladly do so Maybe my bottle was one that was even a little more sub-par, but I don't care to find out. I'll just look forward to it later this year!

 

Let's not leap to the Flat Abbey comparison. I'm not sure if you've had any Flat Abbey beers, but BoT 2012 is carbonated like seltzer water compared those abominations. This is how bad rumors start. BoT is undercarbed, but it's nowhere near flat.

 

You guys have opened carbonated bottles of the 2011? All the ones I've had and draft pours at the release weren't very carbonated at all.

 

Yeah I've never had anything but a perfect carb level on 2011 bottles, and I've had a few bottles. 2012 is noticeably less...