Cellar Review Thread (2025)

Happy New Year all! Sorry for the stock image, unfortunate photo situation, but OTOH a much betterr pic than I am capable to provide. Cantillon Classic 2012. Enjoyed NYE

Seems darker than I remember, with less carb despite the signature cap and cork which has no rust or detrioration.

Aroma, is still strong, fronted by mouthwatering sourdough and funk of their resident bugs, lemon limey funk notes behind it, light pithy bitter. No barrel notes or signs of age deterioration.

Taste is a tart and funky joy to drink. Funky grapefruit hits first, with stiffer bitter than when released, a touch of cardboard (but it works), The funk has attained a craziness that is lovely, full of all the notes from rotten citrus to hormonal and everything between that come on unpredictably as the beer warms from cellar temp.

Mouthfeel is thicker than twelve years ago, less spritzy for sure, but the flavor development has given it a finish that is more tart and complex than in memory.

I'm left to wonder how this would be in another twelve years? What an excellent beer to ring in the new year!

 

So happy to read your review and find your selection of 2025 to be quite good. I've never had a Cantillon or any other gueuze that old, but would expect Cantillon to hold up well.

Cheers!

 

I'm drinking a 22oz bottle of Lift Bridge (Stillwater, MN) Commander barleywine. Aged in 25 year Heaven Hills bourbon barrels. 2019 vintage. Bottle # 055. Cardamon Spice included. 12.5% ABV Best drank between now and 2028 stated on the bottle.

Look: murky drab brown body. Seemed kinda flat at first but the carbonation release was delayed and slowly released. Short head that hung on briefly.

Smell: Spice & alcohol.
Taste: WOW the spice is strong. The spice tastes like nutmeg, cinnamon and rye blended. Not much else but the spice, Ya there is a hint of bourbon and maybe toffee. Somewhat smooth slightly sweet.
Feel is ok not thin but not really thick.
I will give it a 4.08/5 today as it is. It actually seemed to hold up well, but the spice flavor maybe took over too much.

 

Checking in on 2022 Matt. Brewed using two Munich malts, two Smoked malts and two types of Belgian candy sugar. It was aged in 33 year old Bourbon barrels and Apple Eau de Vie barrels for about one year.



I've had several of this vintage over the years, the last notes I took are from December 2023. I said then that the smoke had subsided a bit while the chocolate notes became more prominent. I think that trend is continuing somewhat.

There is some leather/tobacco here as well as hints of molasses and a little fig. I don't know if this will ever be with the 2019 was, but it's heading in the right direction.

Who else was doing this kind of thing back in 2009 when this was first released? An amazing beer, I have several left and I look forward to checking in with this one again.

 

Hiya all! I generally hang out in the Imperial Stout thread but I have way more unintentionally aged beers in my cellar - more than February can handle. So I drink them when possible-
Tonight I enjoyed one from Revolution, who has an impressive barrel program - but don’t think this one is.

It lost a touch of bitterness and verges on sweet, but the flavor profile is outstanding.
Almost sad it’s my last one.
Cheers!

 

Well, two in a row here. I can’t be the only person who has more in their cellar than is probably a good idea.

From 2019. And they didn’t lie, this ages well. Really good stuff.
Cross post with the Imperial Stout thread.
Cheers!

 

Thanks for kicking us off! I concur that I love aged MoAS, but fresh MoAS is divine and near barleywine perfection in a glass.

 

First cellar review of the new year for me, two pages in already…strong work folks! A 2019 Weyerbacher Insanity as my first cellar beer of the year. It’s Christmas in this household until the Super Bowl, so a few more Holiday backdrop photos probably on the horizon, DONT JUDGE ME!


The pour appears translucent out of the bottle but is opaque in the glass. Nice dark monogamy. No head, just a few fizz bubbles, not enough for lacing. Aroma is surprisingly mild, perhaps I reviewed a bit too cold. Subtle cocoa, some sweet dark fruits, a bit of candied sugar. Taste follows the nose but everything’s kicked up a notch. Cocoa is up front, more prominent than I would have anticipated for the style, then it’s lots of dark fruits, a mellowing oakiness, subtle port notes, toffee to round it out. Carbonation is low but it’s not flat. Mouthfeel is silky smooth with a great drinkability. Overall really tasty beer. I’m not sure if it’s better than fresh; but it’s certainly different. It is perhaps a bit too mellowed out with aging. Regardless a very nice beer and a nice way to start my four day weekend.

4/4/4.5/4.75/4.25

 

Self quoting to address my own error, that I didn’t realize until I saw my photo posted. This is actually a 2014 Insanity! Two bottling dates, the on top is bottled on (2014) and the one under it is best by (2019). Also consistent with my bottle marker marking that said 2014. Oops. Haha

Perhaps would have changed my expectations going in, as it pushing past 10 years is pretty impressive, but above review still accurate.

 

Love the BA teku.

 

I’m not sure anything holds up indefinitely even under the best conditions (maybe lambic) but I’ve had many many BCB beers and vintages well past their “expiration date” with no issues. I’m also of the camp that nearly every BCBS variant I’ve ever had is better with a little age on it and that the OG BCBS peaks around 2 years. But yeah these things are cellar hero’s IMO.

 

Hasn't been in my cellar for all that long and I believe this is little changed.



Some fairly prominent bitterness here which I love, oaky and leafy. I also get fig pudding, earthy vanilla, burned caramel, and a nice bourbon exhale. I have a couple left I'm going to try to hang on to one for long term experimentation. Pretty dang good right now though...

 

A few weeks shy of a year from my last Cellar Review treatment of this banger from Central Waters. All three reviews (April 2019, February 2024, January 2025) come from the same four pack purchased in 2018, the year this set was released. This bottle cellared (50 F dark underground basement) until the last few weeks, refrigerated thereafter until this morning.

Central Waters Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout (2018)

• OG 4/2/19 Review Link: look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
• February 2024 Cellar Review link: look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
• January 2025: Cellar Review: look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.0 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Changes between 2024 cellar experience and today.

• Appearance: Pretty consistent, head a bit more generous.
• Aroma: A bit more body, barrel faded further, faint strength.
• Taste: Getting more balance than 2024, nice malt, a bit sweet, bourbon smooth. Much better than my notes from last year, though not as sharp as fresh.
• Mouthfeel: Consistent for the most part, the primary difference is I'm having a better experience and this is better blended than the bourbon in hot chocolate mix notes from last year. Strill drinks strong, no ABV on the bottle (perhaps on the discarded 4 pack box).
• Overall: Having a better experience this year vs. cellar, prefer the fresh over both.

Will try for a few more before January ends and Cellaruary begins. Will post in February either here or Cellaruary, but no cross-posts. Cheers!

 

KBS 2017

Nothing wrong with the flavor, just the feel has dropped off a bit. Very odd.
Cheers all!

 

Pulled my last 2018 variant or cellar bottle of any kind from that year. This is the last year Goose Island didn't give a blanket 5 year best by recommendation for all releases. Really enjoyed this one on draft per my rating and notes, hopefully this held up well.

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Bramble Rye Stout (2018)



Bottle Notes: Bottled 8/24/18, cellared via underground basement from purchase through 12/23/24, refrigerated on that date until opening this morning. Best within five years, so about 17 months beyond recommended enjoyment. 12.7% ABV.

2018 Draft Review two nights before Black Friday

4.6/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11/21/18 (Chicago): 2018 release, $13 12.7% ABV 8 oz draft snifter pour at Fountainhead. Dark black pour, thin tan lacing and ring around glass edge. Excellent blended aroma, fruity Sangria first emerges followed by a strong and pleasant whiskey aroma. Excellent fruit blend makes this sweeter than typical BCS offerings, but the whiskey shines through and this is an excellently balanced beer. Sweet smooth texture, light easy drinking. Overall excellent pour.

Observations this morning:

• Appearance: Consistent with brief notes. 4.25
• Aroma: Similar here as well in terms of Sangria, bourbon has faded vs. fresh. Still very good. 4.0
• Taste: Further balanced, sweetness toned down, but fruit berries, sangria, getting the base, oak, leather. Bourbon very slow to emerge, more mellow, smooth, enjoyable. 4.25
• Mouthfeel: Drinks stronger than the ABV, my tolerance significantly reduced over the past several years. Gooey thick body, faint gentle carbonation, leans sweet but much less than fresh notes indicate. Sangria, blackberry, raspberry finish. 4.5
• Overall: Beyond the near AWOL bourbon flavor (still felt), this held up very well beyond the recommended best by which came and went August 2023. More mellow, more balanced. Where's the bourbon? It's sloshing around in my brain. 4.0

Glad I pulled this this morning, probably should have a few years ago.

 

Well into the overnight hours here, pulling out a Wisconsin brewed Quad aged in rye whiskey barrels. This is the last one and last bottle of any vintage for me, with my 2022 selections now canned, which is why those were refrigerated as quick as I had room.

3 Sheeps Veneration (2018)



OG Review Link - 10% ABV Bottled in 2018

The beer this morning was cellared in proper underground basement conditions until the evening of 12/23/24, when it was transferred my refrigerator until now.

• Appearance: Dark chestnut brown, bubbly accumulation along the sides, light small fine bubble lacing. No change, beyond likely a more accurate description of the color. 4.0
• Aroma: Found this consistent with my aroma, this is quite excellent over 6 years in. One exception, I'm noting the pleasant rye whiskey, which I don't see noted in my original review. 4.75
• Taste: Very sweet, more than my 2020 notes of the same batch indicate. Rye emerges as co-leader as this warms now past the half hour mark, blends well with the aroma flavors noted above and in my OG review. 4.5
• Mouthfeel: Feels stronger, above ABV once I get well into the pour. than in 2020. Chalking that up to my lowered tolerance. Carbonation gone, body and finish consistent, rye whiskey, molasses, raisins, Cinnabon. Excellent. 4.5
• Overall: My review is likely more thorough today. This held up very well, better than my high expectations. Wish this wasn't my last. Also wish they still had a bottling line for this, Cashmere Hammer (my favorite now discontinued year round stout) and other barrel aged brews which held up very well. 4.5

Will try to sneak in one or two more next week.