BT or Melange 3

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by timc100, May 20, 2013.

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  1. timc100

    timc100 Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2012 Illinois

    I've got 2012 vintages of both and want to crack one of them open on a cool summers evening, which of the two is better fresh?
     
  2. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Depends on how much you like/tolerate heat. BT is pretty hot, M3 not nearly as much.
     
  3. timc100

    timc100 Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2012 Illinois

    I like big boozy beers, but not if the heat is making them more one-dimensional aka I don't want to waste a bottle
     
  4. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    That's significantly less likely to happen with M3.
     
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  5. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    Open the Melange 3.
     
  6. IKR

    IKR Maven (1,490) May 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    Just had a 2012 M3 this past Saturday and a 2012 BT a couple of months ago. I'd go for the M3. The heat in the BT wasn't unbearable, especially in light it's 19.2%, there's just less in the M3 right now.
     
  7. timc100

    timc100 Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2012 Illinois

    Great, thanks all. Sometimes you just can't wait. When's BT's prime in your experience? I do not like to cellar what I haven't had, but could only trade for one.
     
  8. mattsander

    mattsander Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2010 Canada (AB)

    Melange 3 is magic, BT is very good but overrated.
     
    Rutager likes this.
  9. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I just had it last night and it's really, really hot. I usually say not to age things if you hadn't had them, but if you don't like heat in your beer (which I don't know if you do, maybe you do) then you'll want to wait a while. No idea when it'll start chilling out, the fact that it's a different ABV each year makes it hard to say.
     
  10. timc100

    timc100 Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2012 Illinois

    I agree, if I had access to more than one I would drink one in a heartbeat. Because it's a hassle to get, I don't want to have it and think 'it could be much better'. I am a bourbon drinker so I like something boozy, but not if it's holding it back. Ex. central waters barleywine is super delicious, but I can tell it needs to smooth out
     
  11. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    In that case I'd sit on it for a while. Previous years have held up quite well over time, no need to rush it.

    The good news is that Melange 3 drinks superbly right out the gate, it's my #2 beer by them (after Chocolate Rain).
     
  12. mdfb79

    mdfb79 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,757) Jan 11, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    If I had to drink one now, I'd go with Melange, but I personally find both benefit with time on them. I think Melange is pretty good fresh, but last time I had it it was with 12-15 months on it and I thought it was fanastic.

    Both are strong (and great) beers so I'm sure you'll be happy either way, but if you can hold off until the fall/winter I think they'll both be much better.
     
    timc100 likes this.
  13. Ahappyhiker2

    Ahappyhiker2 Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2013 New Jersey

    I'd go with the Black Tuesday. I've had both aged and Black Tuesday gets very, very sweet. It's already pretty sweet, but IMO it gets a little unbearable. Melange #3 is good fresh and aged, so I'd let that one sit.
     
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  14. mulder1010

    mulder1010 Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2008 Australia

    give BT a year. mellows out a lot and not all that sweet.
    3 is excellent off the bat
     
  15. xnicknj

    xnicknj Initiate (0) May 25, 2009 Pennsylvania

    Agree with this one - I opened a 2011 this past Christmas and it significantly smoothed out. Melange #3 I've had fresh a few times and really enjoyed, although I still have one I'm aging to still how it does.
     
  16. timc100

    timc100 Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2012 Illinois

    Holy shit M3 was fantastic! Had it last night, drinking perfectly. To my tastes, the booziness did not get in the way of anything and balanced out the incredibly sweetness.
     
    Lasering likes this.
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