Cellar Reviews (2019)

2017 DFH Siracusa Nera

Finishing off the last of the 10/11/17 four pack. Carbonation has not fallen off one iota. Unfortunately nothing has really changed positively while nothing has deteriorated either. Maybe my palate's too unrefined because I'm not detecting the variety of flavors that DFH describes in their blurb. It's certainly still good enough and didn't develop any off elements in the aging process so I'm not at all disappointed by the results other than it didn't improve. Isn't that part and parcel of aging experiments?

 

Trillium - Lineage Rye (Nov 2017 packaging date)

3 fingers of light fizzy white head. Quickly disputes to 1/2 finger of the same. Body is transparent straw colored with golden hues. Minimal visible carbonation.

Balanced nose: vanilla, oak, ripe apple, strawberry, vinegar. Some floral characteristics underlying. Funk become more predominate as the glass warms.

Tart, but somewhat balanced. Started with wood and vanilla which quickly shifts to tart apple. Barrel characteristics underlying. Finish brings some vinegar, oak, a touch of sweet berry. A bit earthy as well - I suspect from the rye. Tart and sweet. Minimal funk.

Prickly carbonation. Finish is not dry - a bit stickier than expected. Slight chaulky texture mid-month.

Great looking wild ale. The nose is outstanding and the flavor profile is more balanced as I drink through the bottle. I've found Trilliums wild/sour program to be disappointing - often too tart with minimal complexity at a premium cost. That said, I really enjoy this beer with a year or two.

I won't be supporting Trillium any time soon due to the recent wage issues, but won't stop me from enjoying this bottle!

 

Smooooookey deliciousness.
Sweetness coming from what I would think the cherry bark as it holds a hint of cough syrup stickiness and medicinal off flavor.

 

Bell's Third Coast Old Ale Vertical

9/13/2018

Poured into a DFH tulip. Nice sized head with decent retention over slightly dark brown body with good retention. Smell was nicely boozily sweet with a distinct hoppy piney bitterness, not as much as Bigfoot but still obviously present. Taste was nicely sweet but with a bitter aftertaste. The aftertaste faded as it warmed (stored at 50 degrees) but never completely disappeared, which was expected (thinking that an American Barleywine is going to be like a British one just ain't happening). It was very enjoyable as it warmed up.

10/11/2017

Carbonation was slightly reduced while still being far from flat. Smell and taste had a reduced hop presence while still obviously being there. This is already starting to age nicely. Not sure where the optimum spot is but I'm pretty sure it's not there yet. Looking forward to revisiting this in a year or so.

 

12/30/2016 Founders Curmudgeon

Poured into a DFH tulip. Carbonation is still present with no obvious diminution. Not sure if the color has darkened more from 11/13/18 but it is decidedly darker than the starting point. Molasses and oak seem to be more blended. Aging hasn't hurt this at all but I'm not sure that it's improved at the same level as, say, North Coast Old Stock Ale. Still I only have one left and I'll wait until at least the three year point if not longer.

 

8/29/2018 Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half

First time trying again after 10/14/2018. I'm not sure if six months have balanced the sweetness which I originally found overpowering, but after a 12/30/2016 Curmudgeon, the sweetness tastes refreshing. Further aging might balance the sweetness more but the current level isn't problematic. Maybe it's all a matter of perspective but I've upgraded the rating from 3.91 to 4.16.

 

2017 Founders KBS

This is the second half of a vertical starting with a 2019 which was, quite frankly, a disappointment. It tasted like a slightly better Breakfast Stout with next to no barrel presence. This had slightly less carbonation but was far from flat. The coffee smell and taste was reduced but still present but, wow, the barrel presence was back and left no doubt that I'm drinking something barrel aged in bourbon barrels. This was the opposite of what I expected, which is why we do these tests.

 

2017 Central Waters Belgian Style Quad
I wouldn't say it has improved but it hasn't gotten worse. It is just different. Aged as you would expect, less bourbon barrel & bitterness, more dark fruit, caramel sweetness, slight oxidation that complements rather than detracts. It was, & still is, an excellent sipper.

Cheers!

 

I found that (I like) Curmudgeon, like KBS is best fresh. Founders knows how to barrel age beers, and nails the perfect bright balance fresh IMO. In my experiments that perfect balance is lost at a year. Keep us updated though how it holds up!

 

2008 J.W. Lees Harvest Ale

Had a friend over and decided to split one of these with him (am I a great guy or what?). Carbonation was non existent and smell was of rich boozy sweetness. The first sip started with a concentrated sugar blast with the tobacco and leather taking over quickly with no obvious booze taste. I'd had a 2007 previously and other than somewhat less sediment my palate isn't sensitive or refined enough to detect a difference. Just a wonderful experience.

 

Deschutes The Dissident 2016 Reserve

4.39/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

10/17/2016 bottle stored @ 50 degrees. Poured into a DFH tulip, the first pour had a clear reddish amber color but the second, after being put in a colder fridge was much cloudier with sediment. Both had reasonably sized heads which faded quickly. Smell was very cherry forward with a wild yeast funk. Taste was of cherries on top of a pleasantly sour base which lingered nicely. Maybe this is the perfect age for this because I can't imagine improving on this but this is why we keep pushing the limits.

 

Wasn’t planning to but on a whim opened this. 2017 Bells Black Note, bottled 10/5/2017 batch # 19530.


Pours a dark brown with about a finger’s worth of khaki foam head. Decadent nose of rich roast, dark chocolate, burnt coffee and hints of vanilla. Starts out much more bitter than expected. Licorice and earthiness blends into bakers chocolate, coffee grounds, burnt toast, heavy roast, bourbon and char. No booziness, no heat.
Smooth body.
I have a 2016 in the fridge, curious on what this one is like.

 

2013 Stone Old Guardian Oak Smoked
Pours with a little head that dissipates quickly. Reddish brown to garnet color. Aroma of candied sugar followed by a hint of smokiness. Little carbonation. Smooth mouthfeel. Dry fruit, figs, some bitterness with a very subtle smokiness. Finishes with a bitterness. I love smoke beers that are not overpowering with smoke. This fits the bill. The alcohol is well hidden too for an 11.4% abv.

 

2017 Scaldis Nöel

8/14/2017 bottle. I'm not sure how much this has improved in the last six months but it tastes very good tonight. Everything is balanced with rich malty Belgian strong ale tastes and smells. I'll have the last one of this four pack over the holiday season.

 

2012 Anchor Steam Old Foghorn
Pours a nice burnt orange color with a soft pillowy head. Nicely carbonated. Aroma consists of dried fruit and candied sugar with some toffee. Smooth flavor consisting of toffee, caramel, dried fruit with some sweetness. Holding up pretty well. I'm glad I have a few more that I'll continue to age.