Cellar Reviews (2021)

You should totally cross post this to the side-by-side thread going on in the main forum. They'd love it. I'm also shocked to see your results. I've had 4 month old hopslam that was a bit of a mess in my opinion

 

Off Color - Dino Smores. Stout brewed with chocolate, marshmallow, graham cracker, vanilla bean, and molasses.

Never had it fresh, it came in a monthly mixed box I've been getting from my favorite local shop and was bottled in November of 18 making it about 26 months old.

Pour yields a deep deep brown liquid with a mere phantom of a coffee colored head.

The nose gives me old leather and raisins with a bit of a spicy molasses edge. Not super prominent.

Taste gives me a strong cola impression. Molasses spice, a bit of date skin (like date flesh but less sweet ), some raisin, and stale coffee.

Feel is thin for the style with a surprisingly tingly carbonation bite.

Overall I would hope that this is over the hill. It's not a bad beer per se, but its unremarkable and doesnt show much from all its added flavorings other than the molasses.

 

There are a few beers marketed as barleywines that really are just malty DIPAs (ET Behemoth, and I think Avery had one before they called it an IPA). The line between American BW and malty DIPA is relatively thin. I'm not surprised Hopslam is still good at that age, although I don't think I'll ever try it myself since I love it so much fresh.

Yikes. I hope that was just a mix-up on the part of your shop or distributor, although I've always wondered if such boxes would be used to get rid of beers that won't sell. Your notes aren't that different from how I would describe the beer fresh, although with a bit of marshmallow and vanilla. It was definitely thin and cola-like, and clearly not a beer that should be aged (although I suppose as much as I disliked it fresh perhaps someone thought it couldn't get any worse).

 

I was a little worried about that at first as well but this is the 4th month that I've gotten a box and I don't really have any complaints. There was a 5 month old IPA in one (it was still tasty) and an IPA with lactose in the first one but I just asked him to keep lactose out in the future and haven't seen any since.

Its honestly been a great little adventure that has gotten me outside of my typical beer rut.

 

It's the time of year barleywines appear and I need to clear space in my cellar fridge, so I've had quite a few cellared beers this month. I haven't been motivated to write detailed reviews or go through the process of uploading photos in quite some time, but I figured I would list them and a brief suggestion on their peak, because when I began cellaring 6 years ago it was very helpful for me to go through these forums to see what beers are actually worth cellaring.

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout 2018-Great fresh, phenomenal at 2 years. I haven't had it at 3, but based on experience aging stouts this is probably peak. Well worth cellaring every year and one of the top 2 stouts to cellar for me.

Revolution Straight Jacket 01/2019 & 01/2018-Fantastic fresh, and though it's still fantastic at 2-3 years, I think peak is 6 months-1 year. A great beer to buy a 4 pack and have one every few months until the next year.

Great Divide Yeti 01/2017-One of the best cheap imperial stouts fresh, but not worth aging. There is noticeable fall-off even at 1 year, but still very drinkable at 4.

Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee 2017-A phenomenally complex beer fresh, I didn't expect it to get better, but it's every bit as good at 3.5 years.

Anchor Old Foghorn 12-2016- Wish I could find this one again. Great cheap barleywine. I don't think it's a ton better with age like Bigfoot, but a great one to age. 2 years was peak for me.

Perennial Vermillion barleywine 09-2017-Probably my favorite barleywine fresh. Still phenomenal, but the rare barleywine that I prefer fresh.

Destihl Privet 2018-One of the best cheap stouts. As good as Darkness but a 4-pack is $13. Peak is a year but ages well.

Sierra Nevada Narwhal 2017- To me this is the stout that changes the most with every year. Fresh is good, a year is phenomenal, 2 years begins to fall off. One that I really regret letting so many bottles go past a year.

Founders Backwoods Bastard 2016 & 2017-A beer that ages well but I prefer about a year.

 

There were a couple years there where Hopslam had some pretty substantial batch variability (I forget what years, around when the started canning I believe). The “off” batches were quite hazy, didn’t even look like the same beer as a regular hopslam, tasted maltier and faded SUPER quick. So if one of those batches I wouldn’t be surprised at all to hear it was donezo by four months. I was probably fortunate in the fact that i’m my tasting above, the aged bottle was a good starting batch. I guess it’s also possible that there could be a negative time zone where the beer has lost its hop punch but not yet developed its more sweet BW-characters; typically that’s not my experience (ie a beer aging negatively then reverting back to being better), but an aged DIPA also isn’t typical of my beer drinking experiences in general, and I guess it’s possible.

 

2008 Double Bastard.

Excepting the quickly dissipating hard, this looks like ruby port. It is deep red, but completely clear.

Smells like an old tire, leather, dark chocolate, vanilla beans. Given what it smelled liked earlier and what much older beers smell like, I'd say it is a good old ale/strong ale/barleywine type ale midway through it's aging. Odor profile at least.

Taste is mostly sweet but with an astringent bitterness. The hops have definitely mellowed and still work to mellow the whole. Caramel, pineapple, light hints of herbs (fresh parsley? cilantro?).

Mouthfeel is very full. Luxurious even, thick, luscious, mouth-warming, tongue feels coated. Etc.

Overall experience is that this is pretty good. If you never had a similar beer aged as long, then partake happily. It is really good now.

But I have to feel it will improve with another 7+ years (20+)? I used to have high hopes for Old Guardian. I should have thought more about DB.

 

First Cellar Review for the Barleywine BA Online Tasting this weekend. In the event you have a few and could stop by the thread this weekend, would love to see you there.

Today's pour is a 2019 Barleywine from Revolution Brewery, Straight Jacket Canned 1/4/19



Linked is a full side by side comparison with a fresh draft pour of the same 2019 vintage performed in the Online Tasting Thread.

Primary differences between fresh draft and two year aged cans are as follows:

• Presentation wise, the head was full, almost gushing with the aged version, though the server may have managed the draft pour accordingly.
• Taste and Aroma consistent for the most part, alcohol a little more mellow than the fresh version as expected. Really liked both.
• Mouthfeel carbonation a bigger presence fresh draft, may have drank it colder / faster in my initial review.
• Overall I really liked this Barleywine, feel you can drink fresh or age and would enjoy both.

Much of my cellar is due too buying too much fresh vs. planning. I worked through some this year, and hopefully will work through most of the remaining cellar this year, including other vintages which I'll report back here later in the year.

Hope to see you this weekend in the Barleywine thread, and as always back here.

 

Cross post from the Barley Wine tasting.

Both of these beers are from my cellar; one a 2016 vintage; the other a 2019 vintage. It is a side-by-side comparison of barley wines from Summit Brewing, of St. Paul, MN.

Summit Side by Side.

@zid goaded me into this in the planning-discussion thread. I'm apprehensive about the condition of the 2016 30th Anniversary Barleywine (especially after the post by @SierraNevallagash) -- I was surprised by his being a gusher... Summit is known for a well-controlled brewing process and QC lab. Anyhow, let's get on with it and see what I've got.

30th Anniversary English-style Barleywine Ale (2016)
ABV: 11.5%
IBU: 50

Union Series Old Blaggard English-style Barleywine Ale (2019)
ABV: 10.1%
IBU: 60



Look: Both are in the amber family, but the 30th is decidedly darker, more brown, while the Union is lighter, more golden. Both have very short and short-lived white heads. Both have visible carbonation. The 30th has some dark floaties. The Union is the nicer-looking beer.

Smell/Aroma: 30th: Booze, dark fuits, sweet bread. Union: Bright, citrus-orange, figs, bread. The aromas are very different. The 30th is darker and boozier, while the Union is brighter and lighter, with no detectible booze.

Taste: 30th: Bready malts, dark fruits, mildly bitter in the middle, growing bitterness in the finish, lingering in the aftertaste. Alcohol warmth. Union: Orange fruit and bready malts. Flavor is more citrusy, while the 30th is more dark fruits. Some alcohol warmth, but the alcohol is much more hidden than with the 30th. (Both are more than capable of knocking you on your ass if you drink too quickly, though... which makes this side-by-side very much a slow and easy-does-it sipping session). The 30th has only a slight touch of bittering apparent.

Feel: 30th: Medium to substantial body (but not to the level of "thick"). Nice tingling from the carbonation plus alcohol. The Union has a bit thinner feel than the 30th, but still substantial enough for the style.

Overall, I'm impressed with how well the 30th held up. I actually prefer it to the Union. Too bad this is my last one. I'd like for Summit to bring this one back, perhaps in alternate years from Old Blaggard.

30th Anniversary English-style Barleywine Ale (2016)
L: 3.75 | S: 4.0 | T: 4.25 | F: 4.0 | O: 4.0 | Rating: 4.09

Union Series Old Blaggard English-style Barleywine Ale (2019)
L: 4.25 | S: 3.75 | T: 4.0 | F: 3.75 | O: 4.0 | Rating: 3.93

 

X-post from the barleywine tasting
A suggestion was made that we cross post aged barleywines from the tasting thread
Here's a 2015 Old Horizontal from Victory with a Best By date of 11/12/20.
I don't have, and haven't even seen, any other vintages for comparison.

Very, very nice. Toffee, caramel, sweet rolls, dark Russian rye bread, some mild peppery hops. The alcohol is well hidden and starts to sneak up on you about 1/2 through the bottle. The only thing that keeps it from being outstanding is a slightly bitter burnt sugar aftertaste, which might be due to age


4.37/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2015 bottling with an 11/12/20 BB date, poured on 1/29/21
L: Dark copper, like an old penny, with a tall puffy tan head that slowly dissolves into a thick film
S: toffee, caramel, brown sugar, candied fruit
T: toffee, caramel, figs, sweet roll, dark russian rye bread, mild black pepper
F: thick, but not quite syrupy, over the tongue with a pleasant peppery hop and slightly bitter burnt sugar aftertaste
O: an excellent barleywine, not as "heavy" as some others and only 11% ABV. I just wish I could find a newer vintage for comparison.

 

A 2015 vintage of Pelican - Mother of All Storms

Pours a ruddy, rusty mahogany brown - sitting muddled in the glass, with very little light penetration. A frothy, almost boiling cap of loose caramel bubbles fizz around before quickly dying down. 4.5

Nose: I can smell this from several feet away. This is absolutely massive dark fruits - uncanny aromas of prunes, madjool dates, dried Turkish figs, dried cranberries, fruit leather, apple cider, concord grape skins, black cherry juice, cranberry-apple juice cocktail...the fruit complexity is insane - dark, juicy, and unbelievably deep. There's leather, saddle, dusty oak, old library, Irish malt whiskey, California laurel leaves after a rain, wild peppermint, and some toasted sugar. Very intriguing. 4.75

Palate: MoaS greets the palate with a balanced malty sweetness paired with an immediate, but subtle and restrained bright fruity acidity. Fermented apple, dates, dried figs, then tons of burned toffee, burned sugar, toasted pipe tobacco, black treacle, and even a bit of stouty roast. Big bourbon barrel presence, with splintery oak, char, and spirit. Definitely some oxidation here, with some sherry-like character, and it becomes clear that laurel note is also a product of that - lending this interesting sort of minty/camphoraceous element that my NorCal hiking enthusiast BAs are definitely familiar with. There's another odd oxidized note that is very difficult to describe, but it isn't exactly delicious, and I find it's highlighting a bitterness in here - a burned quality. The finish sees that bitterness grow, with the bright fruity notes falling back, revealing some earthiness, along with more barrel, tobacco, and oxidation. 4.0

Mouthfeel/Body: This one is certainly full-bodied. It isn't syrupy and viscous like today's hype stouts, but it's a chewy, heavy, slick ale - with a lower degree of effervescence that's there - but diesnt fully push through the weight of the ale. It dries out, becoming more fluid, and tightens its grip with a splintery dry finish. Some stickiness definitely left around the lips. 4.25

Overall: There's a lot going on here. The aroma id simply divine, and unlike any barleywine I've encountered. It's complex and beautiful. Unless this is a naturally bitter barleywine, I think the oxidation has hurt this one a bit. While it adds complexity, there's just this unusual tannic burned thing going on, and it detracts from the overall character. I can see a beautiful barleywine in here, and everything surrounding that character is enjoyable, but perhaps this is one to enjoy fresher? I'll definitely have to try to sample a newer bottle. Finishing all this may be a challenge. 3.75

Cheers!

 

Second cross post from the barley wine tasting:

Central Waters Brewing Co. Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Barleywine that has been residing in my cellar since 2017.
ABV: 11.5%
IBU: 104



Dark brown from the front, reddish with a backlight. Short yellow head that disappears fairly quickly. The backlight reveals some bubbles barely visible among the hoard of dark (but small) floaties. I think the age did not do the appearance of this beer any favors.

Aroma is strongly alcohol - bourbon and barrel. This aroma, while nice, is so dominant I can't tell much about the beer itself.

The taste is, as with the aroma, dominated by the bourbon and alcohol warmth. There are hints of the malts, but this is a boozy beer at this point in its age. (I paused here while I looked back at my notes from the tasting when this beer was fresh... the beer had a better, maltier flavor then, but even so, it was always a boozy beer.) The finish and aftertaste are quite bitter, but even so, the finish is a bit sweet (and boozy).

The mouth feel is on the thickish side and sticky, but apart from the alcohol warmth, a bit flat.

Overall, I would have to say this beer was in the cellar too long. Most of the barley wine flavors have disappeared, leaving a dominating alcohol and bourbon flavor. This rating is for the 3+ year old beer from my cellar. (I've listed my original rating below it for comparison.)

Bottom line, 3-4 years in the cellar resulted in a significant decline in this beer... almost one whole point lower across the board. Based on this, I don't recommend cellaring the CW barley wines this long.

L: 3.75 | S: 3.5 | T: 3.5 | F: 3.75 | O: 3.5 | Rating: 3.54

Rating in 2017:
L: 4.25 | S: 4.5 | T: 4.5 | F: 4.75 | O: 4.5 | Rating: 4.51

 

From the BA barleywine thread

2010 Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot from the cellar. So 5+ years past its "best by" date.

Murky dark amber in color, little head. Aroma is boozy dark fruits - black cherry, plum, fig. Flavor is similar, with some raisin and port wine. A bit of negative oxidation creeping in at this point. Slightly sweet, long finish. Respectible carbonation, sticky mouthfeel.