Cellar Reviews (2019)

2017 BCBS 10/14/2017

4.64/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

I can't believe I didn't write a full review two years ago because drinking it was a transcendent experience. I was listening to a disc of small group improv that night and there was a trombone-tuba-woodwinds trio performance that I'd never bothered really listening to before because it previously was just random sounds. I was transfixed by it; it sounded like pure musical genius. Obviously BCBS was the causal factor in producing such an extremely positive reaction.

That was two years ago and I have no written notes to compare it with. But based upon two years of consuming *many* barrel aged stouts, including subsequent BCBS variants, this is the gold standard against which all should be compared. Regarding the look, maybe some carbonation has been lost in that there wasn't a prodigious head over a dark brown body, but this is still plenty lively. The smell and taste are just wonderful with plenty of flavors like vanilla, caramel, malts and who knows what else just swirling around. There is still some boozy heat but not nearly at the 14.7% level. If anything it seems hidden in the smoothness. The mouthfeel is very thick and chewy, with it adhering to my teeth so that minutes after a sip I'm still tasting it. Just a wonderful experience.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I've been making a concerted effort to drink through my 'cellar' more recently and have had a couple of experiences with otherwise great beers (both fresh and to age) that were definitely past their best by date (Ten Fidy comes to mind of one recently that was really disappointing... I think it was in roughly the same age range). So it was nice to find one that was still going strong and enjoyable.
It's also always kind of interesting seeing the opinions and impressions from my own reviews from years ago and earlier on in my BA experience.

 

Speaking of revisiting older brews that I really enjoyed at the time... Lil' B from EviL Twin. Man I remember getting really amped about this one. This might be the first beer I bought into the hype and like SEEKED OUT (SOUGHT OUT? Whatever). Simpler times, for sure.
Bottle I've got was brewed 03/20/13. My initial review was from May of that year, so it was probably the same packaging as this last one I have. Reading my review from when it was fresh it sounds like the aroma was already giving some soy sauce, but that I enjoyed the flavour and was blown away with the texture, so that's an interesting profile to look at the changes of aging.



I'm not getting soy sauce on the nose at all here, but I do get a lot of like sour mash whiskey and maybe a ribbon of chocolate syrup.
The fresh impression was all chocolate, of various types. There's still some chocolate syrup rich fudgy chocolate in here, but I'm also getting a lot of molasses. Still rich and smoothe, though it's definitely less full than fresh. Slick and oily and still fantastic. Still damn enjoyable and I can see why I was so obsessed with the mouthfeel, especially 6+ years ago.

Cheers!

 

Dogfish Head Raison D’Extra

Bottled on 12/13/2018

Cellared un-refrigerated for the past year between 50 - 60 degrees.



Look: One finger of khaki colored head after pouring that settles to a thin ring around the edge of the glass, and a thin island of foam sitting atop the liquid. The beer is a wonderful murky, but translucent burgundy/auburn color. Some random bubbles rising up. No lacing as I drink it.

Smell: Tons of sweet raisin, dates, brown sugar and tawny port. There’s a spicyness similar to that you’d find in a pumpkin-spice inspired drink. Sweet cinnamon. Light on the alcohol aroma with just a hint of warming fumes that comes through rum-like. Ginger bread cookie dough.

Taste: The smell is nice and sweet, but the flavor is where complexity shines, showing just how well this beer is made. It is never as sweet as it smells. On the tip of the tongue you do get a big raisin / dark fruit sweetness, but that quickly shifts mid palate to a more dry, nutty, woody, earthy lightly sweetened black tea flavor with just a faint hint of burnt sugar bitterness.

Feel: Full bodied. Never syrupy. Medium level of carbonation that pricks the palate. A warming sensation from the alcohol on the palate and in the pipes.

Overall: The nose delivers on sweetness. The flavor does as well, but strikes a complex balance with dryness. Unbelievably drinkable for 18%. An excellent beer well suited for development. I look forward to revisiting again in one year.

 

I appreciate everyone’s contribution.

That said, what the hell does this mean?

 

Impressive. -Both that you have a bottle this old, and also the head.

 

2015 BCBS. Found this at a reliable store for quality cellaring. Excited to try an aged vintage as last year was the first year I had ever seen it and I bought the only they had left and found it quite pleasant fresh. I've also already enjoyed this years fresh and picked up extras to do my own cellaring. This one was bottled sept. 30 2015, so just over 50 months in the bottle.

The look is that thick used oil brown/black with a relatively thin but active head on a fairly aggressive pour. Immediately fills the room with it's dark fruit/raisin and chocolate/fruit cake aromas. Compared to my fresh notes for last year and my memory form this year the smell is much mellower, still very pleasantly aromatic but with all the sharp edges rounded off.
The taste has gotten much 'softer' than fresh, there are still strong chocolate flavors as well as some fig/plum hints, I also get a lot more barrel character than I did fresh with a little less of the bourbon. There's almost like, a walnut oil aspect to it as I sip deeper in.
The body is very thick and maybe a bit heavier than the last two years fresh, not sure how much variation there is year to year or if this is a function of it's age.

Overall I am pretty impressed, not sure how much longer this thing has in it but I could certainly see another year or more it holding up. I don't see it getting any better since the flavors already are trending toward a more muted state but I might go see if they have any 2015 left to put away and see in another year.
I suspect I would really like this beer at 2 or 3 years

 

One of the best aging beers in the world!

 

1993 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine. We have been going through our cellar recently and he popped this without telling me what it was.

Look 3.5 Nose 4.75 Taste 4.0 Feel 3.25 Overall 4.0

The pour is flat as the carbonation is totally gone after 26 years.

Nose is heavenly. Lots of caramel, toffee, dark fruit and a light alcohol overtone.

Dark fruit comes through much more in the flavor and is a tad overripened but then again I'm not a big Barleywine drinker. Hints of caramel and toffee sweet and moderate alcohol bitterness

The feel hasn't held up was well due to the absence of all carbonation. The body is heavy and sticky and I respect that.

Overall this was a great beer to get to try that, other than the carbonation has held up VERY well.

 

2012 - Humboldt Black Xantus
I had this fresh and remember it being a tad on the sweet side but still very good. I decided to age a couple. Aroma is of dried figs and raisins. Pours with a little head that quickly dissipates. Taste includes notes of dried fruit and molasses. The sweetness is still somewhat present. Smooth feel, nice finish. I'll sit on my other one for a while.