Cellar Reviews (2022)

Bottled 2/2017, Opened 12/2021 (bottle states enjoy within 5 years)

Crystal clear pale straw with two finger white head that dissipates quickly. Nose is full of barnyard with white cherry, pears, plum, earth and band-aid. Opens with a nice light bouquet of pale fruits with ripe pear, white cherries, and white nectarines that fades to a nice band-aid dryness and some black pepper. Body is light to medium with similar carbonation. Ends dry with a long but faint band-aid funk. Overall a very nice brett saison with subtle complexities and that lovely type of funk I really enjoy. Wish i was able to try this fresh

 

Dogfish Head Bourbon Barrel Aged World Wide Stout



Weather is finally turning winter like so time to break out this cellar dweller bottled on 11/1/2019. Bourbon continues to dominate the smell which at 18.3% isn't exactly a shocker. However the heat in the taste doesn't take your breath away, similar to the experience over a year ago. Rather it's nicely smooth. As you sip you get brown sugar, chocolate and dark fruit tastes. Very nicely balanced. I expect the remaining two bottles to benefit from additional cellar time.

 

Thank you for opening this 2022 thread @Beersnake1 !

My first selection is a beer that "expired" in August 2020 per the cork. I rated a fresh draft version last week, really liked it, and will compare below whether the ravages of time impacted this beer deemed 17 months beyond best conditions.

Brouwerij Verhaeghe Duchesse De Bourgogne



Bottle Notes: Unsure when this was purchased, but it was properly cellared until 11/28/21, and refrigerated for the final five plus weeks before opening. Expiration 8/2020 per the cork.

Appearance: Consistent fresh draft vs. this bottle.

Aroma: Mostly consistent, the primary difference noted was less tart / vinegar vs. my fresh review notes.

Taste: Consistent with my review notes, this one is excellent, no ill effects, including no loss of tartness. Really enjoying the first pour (about 8-9 oz).

Mouthfeel: Feeling an improved experience in terms of more tart than the sweeter draft version, body feel and carbonation consistent between the two versions.

Overall: This beer is perfectly fine, less sweet more tart, and I actually like the taste better than my OG review notes, though I really would have to compare side by side to determine whether this bottle which expired August 2020 per the brewer is actually better, or whether my review notes were not as precise as they should have been.

In either event, I am glad I'm enjoying, though will finish the rest later as I don't necessarily want 750ML of tartness to start the day.

Keep your beers properly cellared and they will serve you well. Happy New Year to All, and looking forward to enjoying and reading of your enjoyment of cellar beers throughout the year!

 

Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot, about 3 years old- bottled March 2019

Pours a dark amber in color, clear with some ruby highlights. Head quickly fades. Big aroma of light brown sugar, a little buttery toffee, a touch of plum. Similar flavors in the taste, sweet but not cloying, slightly boozy. Sticky mouthfeel.

 

The three Chicago annual Barrel Aged stout releases I look forward to most each year are Revolution's Deth Tar / Cafe Deth, Wild Onion's Drago (they are in the burbs) and this one, ranked 4th among all Illinois beers for good reason.

Haymarket Brewing Clare's Thirsty Ale



Can Notes: This was canned on January 5, 2021, so one year old, and refrigerated since purchase from the brewery shortly there after. 12 oz, 12% ABV. Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Raspberries.

OG Review Linked Here based on a six month old version of the December 2018 release in May 2019.

Comparison:

• Getting the same appearance, prevalent carbonation by sight and feel.
• Aroma consistent with review notes, wonderful blend of raspberry, bourbon emerges as this warms, smooth, packs enjoyable heat as it warms, but not for the fainthearted.
• Getting more sweetness than my OG review notes convey, both raspberry and cherry, roast malt present but in a supporting role.
• Body thinner than many of this style, carbonation holds 1 year in, no noted change.

Overall, today's one year old version held up very well. Negligible differences noted. Recommendation is to drink this fresh, or refrigerate until you can. Other recommendation is if you haven't had the chance to have one, and like raspberries you will most likely enjoy this very much. It's one of the best balanced and executed fruited BA stouts I've enjoyed over my 7 year craft journey.

Only one musical accompaniment comes to mind this morning.

 

Hitting a few of the "bombers" in my cellar, this one from Central Waters which continues to brew this in the better (at least single) serving size of 12 oz.

Central Waters Brewhouse Coffee Stout



Bottle Notes: 22 oz, no date (I believe this is a 2017 or 2018 bottle), 7.4% ABV per brewer online. Made with Fair Trade coffee specially roasted for us by Emy J's. Kept in proper cellar conditions until placing in the refrigerator 12/23/21, pulled this morning and sat for five minutes at room temperature before opening.

Appearance: Thin dark brown black base, creamy white light tan head evaporates instantly beyond leaving creamy ring above the base rim and a smidgen above the rest. 3.75

Aroma: Nice roast coffee aroma leads, get some bitterness. Next is a pleasant roast malt and bakers chocolate, also hints of maple syrup though none was added to this. Medium to strong in terms of strength, balanced, bitterness balances out sweetness. 4.5

Taste: Strong dark roast bitter coffee held up very well. Bitter but not too, just right for me. As this warms get light hits of the bakers chocolate and roast malt, but this is mostly coffee. Impressed at how this held up, zero pepper notes. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Very thin, thinner than most CW offerings which are known to be thin. Slightly sweet creaminess pops up every so often, but mostly dark roast and pleasantly bitter coffee. Drinks very light for a 7.4% ABV, faint carbonation throughout, light coffee aftertaste. 4.0

Overall: This held up very well, no ill effects noted. Bitter and strong coffee as is my preference, nice complementary notes as well. Will definitely seek out a fresh version to compare and contrast, updating this review as warranted, but this one is great. Well done Central Waters! 4.25

Can't say at this juncture whether age has improved it, but for a coffee stout, which typically degrades over time, this one really held up well.

 

I’m here today to discuss a beer I did not enjoy. 2017 Spring House Blind Witchery. An Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon barrels that I believe were Buffalo Trace. The flavor profile was meant to be that of a “Salted Chocolate Brownie”. When I first had the beer in 2017 I thought the flavors were fine (Buffalo Trace, Cocoa Nibs, Caramel, and Vanilla Beans) but the beer was way too carbonated.

My first pour netted a lot of carbonation. With the thinness of the body the beer still feels like a Diet Coke. As it sits the carbonation goes away but then you’re just left with a thin flat-ish beer. The nose is some chocolate and cola which transform into a pungent almost astringent odor. The flavor is an oaky soda, like you oak barrel aged Pepsi for several year then drank it flat at room temperature.

I had initially hoped that aging would even out the carbonation and their sweet doughy yeast would stand out against the adjunct flavors however none of that is the case here. If you have any left, move along move along.

 

Thank you! You live and you learn. I greatly enjoy cellaring/aging beers and love the info I get from this group so I’m happy to share my findings. The good, the bad, and (hopefully not too often) the ugly.

 

My first cellar pull for 2022 is a 2013 bottle of Trois Pistoles. Pours without much head, and carbonation is a little muted. Lots of sediment stuck to the bottom of the bottle. Classic aroma of dark fruits and brown sugar. Body is a little thin, but taste matches the aroma. Likely better fresher, I have a lot of 2-3 year old bottles tucked away that I should sample soon. A good beer for a cold night.

 

Concentrating efforts to clear most of the 2015-2019 beers from my refrigerator and cellar this year, pulled out a beer that is no longer made (perhaps one day), but many still may have these stashed away.

2016 Bourbon County Brand Barleywine Ale



OG Review - 2015 Draft

Bottle Notes: Bottled 10/18/16, 16.9 oz, 13.6% ABV. Develops in the bottle up to 5 years (2 1/2 months past that mark today). Barleywine Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels, Chicago Made, English Style. oak, charcoal, hints of tobacco and vanilla with signature bourbon character. Enjoy in a snifter.

Comparison vs. 2015 Draft Version:

Sight and Smell
Think I got the colour wrong originally, perhaps the brewpub too dark, as this is a darker copper pour vs. black. Aroma doesn't not seem to have dropped off, nice scents of wine, malt, smooth bourbon and oak after allowing this to warm about 20 minutes after opening.

Taste and Mouthfeel
Consistent with the fresh version except didn't detect cherry notes today. About 30 minutes in, nice sweet malt and rose wine leads, a fine smooth bourbon backs well. Well blended, this is an excellent barleywine, and has aged well. Bourbon steps on the gas as I cross the halfway point, delicious, strong like bull. Was drinking with nominal effects until the halfway mark, than the powerful ABV kicks in with a vengeance. Thin persistent small fizzy carbonation bubbles declares I'm alive, and adds depth the the creamy medium to full body.

Final Thoughts
Coffee and Barleywine were and remain my favorite two variants. Perhaps one year they will return. Until then, this ranks up the among the better barleywines available. This aged well, and based on my review notes and perceptions from today, this aged 5 1/4 years is as good, perhaps slightly better, than fresh. Really, really glad I opened today. 4.5

Planning on pulling a 2017 vintage next Monday, to see how the two compare.

Hope you have an equally enjoyable cellar pull this week.

 

I've done an 11 year Bigfoot vertical over the last few weeks. I did it this way because my tolerance is low and palate fatigue is real. I did them in semi-random order to help make the distinct, culminating in a fresh 2022 tonight. I've found that I like them fresh more than I used to, but I think 6-8 years is my sweet spot.

These were all purchased fresh and cellared in a dark, cool place.






2014. Maybe the sweet spot. Rich toffee and brown sugar, these are wonderfully candy-like, subdued caramel, faint dark fruits, and minimal hop/alcohol burn on the end. Hell yeah


2018. Some toffee but more caramel. Minimal brown sugar and no dark fruit. Pine has gone to aspirin and pithy grapefruit, a bit bitter and hot at the finish. Not a bad b-wine to spend some time with.


2012. Falling off a tad. The toffee has a mildly unpleasant, faint char note. Still plenty of rich sweetness, but a bit diminished compared to the '14. The dark fruits have a dried out potpourri quality. The finish is a little muddled, some aspirin and just a touch of cardboard. Still a dang fine b-wine.


2020. The pithy citrus and sharp toffee are quite strong but the caramel is nice. The lingering bitterness was potent. Enjoying this more than expected.


2016. Lots of rich toffee and brown sugar, bordering on barleywine candy. Some caramel, not really getting any fruit. Some aspirin and a bit of a booze burn. Not quite what the 2014 was, but I'm splitting hairs. Damn good.


2021. I didn't expect to like this much, just trying to be thorough. Not quite as bitter as when fresh, still plenty of aspirin, pine, grapefruit rind, and charred caramel. Kind of muddled. Not bad at this point, but just a shadow of what it will become.


2017. Nice rich caramel up front, layers of toffee and brown sugar join in. Lots of citrus surprisingly, bitter grapefruit and juicy orange. The bitter tingle at the end doesn't manage to crush all that sweetness. This is a touch hot at the very end. Drinking really nice right now.


2013. Tons of toffee and to a lesser extent brown sugar and caramel comprise the dominating sweetness. There is a charred quality at work here. Hints of raisin underneath. Subdued, lingering leafy hops, faint citrus and low aspirin bitterness. Magnificent.


2019. Not bad but maybe my least favorite so far. Charred, biting toffee dominates. Aspirin and citrus rind at the finish doesn't overwhelm the toffee. Good, but in a bit of a dumb phase.


2015. This one's appearance stood out as ugly. Tons of suspended particulate and a murky body, lower than normal carbonation. The flavors are muted. Muddled caramel, sharp, biting toffee, and listless bitterness. Hope this bottle is an anomaly, I have 10 more. Purchased fresh and cellared properly since.


2022. Never had this fresher, one month and two days after bottling. The hop assault is intense but not fresh and vibrant. Earthy pine and underripe citrus pith almost completely crush hints of caramel and sugar cookie.

 

Nice, I'd love to read your thoughts!

 

So an unusual post here both for this thread, and also for myself. The back story I've posted here.

But anyway, this is a review of a (2015?) bottle of Clausthaler Premium Non-Alcoholic, dated "Enjoy the best taste before end: 04/2016", that has been refrigerated for almost all of that time.

Before I open it, there was a thin layer of sediment at the bottom of the bottle. When the cap is popped, it gushes a bit of foam up the neck as I pour into the glass, that pushes the sediment up to leave specks on the inside of the bottle. But it still is very clear in the glass, with thin layer of white head that actually stays to the bottom of the glass as I drink. Aroma is quite sweet, but not unpleasant. Grainy, a lot of corn - but dried corn, not cooked corn. Taste is similar, but actually not as sweet as the smell suggests, with a fairly short finish. Thin to medium bodied, the mouthfeel is actually decent, with appropriate level of carbonation. Overall much more drinkable than I expected, no problem finishing it.

 

Pulled two more from the cellar. I did not write a formal review for the one enjoyed yesterday, since it was a one off by Revolution using Binny's bottles (Thundertaker released September 2020), but I am happy to report it is nearly identical to the one enjoyed on release day at the Brewpub.

Today's pour was prompted by a discussion in yesterday's WBAYDN with @DoctorZombies . This may have been a one off as well, though I am not certain and they very well may bring this back.

Central Waters Peruvian Morning Brand Stout



Bottle Notes: 2018 Vintage, four pack purchased in August 2019 refrigerated at the Amherst, Wisconsin brewery, properly cellared until refrigerating from November 17, 2021 until this morning. No ABV listed, 11.7% per online search.

Malt beverage aged in used oak bourbon barrels with coffee added. A bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout made with freshly roasted Emy J's Coffee. This beer is as complex as it gets. Flavors of vanilla, tannins, and coffee meld together to create a flavor as deep as the ravines of the Peruvian Andes.

Appearance: Dark brown murky base, significant floaters, thin light tan head dissipated near instantly, leaving a thin ring above the base. Light visible carbonation persists throughout the pour. 3.75

Aroma: Getting light vanilla, bourbon, roast coffee and malt in that order. Smells good, strength and perhaps other attributes have possibly faded over time. 4.0

Taste: Enjoying this after the first gulp about 20 minutes after opening. Nice roast coffee leads, roast malt and light vanilla follows, and maple syrup which wasn't added to this beer. As this warms up further, the bourbon emerges slightly, more in strength than in taste over the other components. Enjoyable nonetheless. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Body light to medium, enhanced by the creamy texture. Overall sweet, but pretty well balanced with the roast coffee and malt offsetting the sweetness. Drinks lighter than the ABV at first, though the strength starts to hit you in the second half, sweet aftertaste for a hot minute. Light carbonation sustains depth throughout the pour. 4.0

Overall: At a loss at this point to compare to a fresher version, but have enjoyed today's bottle. Really enjoyed the taste, more subdued than the typical Central Waters BA Stout, particularly in the barrel component, but I'm chalking that up to the 3 1/2 years or so cellared. Will revisit this and adjust as necessary if I come across a fresh version down the road. 4.0

Won't revisit the other three in this thread, may in the event I enter 2023 with any of the remaining three in my cellar.

 

Not a one-off, it previously was an annual release, but there were a couple years in a row that were infected.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/peruvian-morning-infected-again.157008/