Cellar Reviews (2024)

Stone, Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale (2013)
Drank on 4/14/2024. 11 years old. I got this bottle from @Mdog
Look: slightly hazy/murky amber. a short head that was persistent leaving some nice fine lacing
Smell was ok but you can tell it's age. fruity esters, oxidation.
Taste was Ok till the finish. fruit like apricot with a hint of plum. A little caramel. At the finish oxidation showed up. The hops fell apart. there was some lingering bitterness in the after taste.
Mouth feel is medium thickness, smooth slightly soft.

It was OK , I'm sure this beer was better 5 years ago
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/487464/

 

Native Wild 2019/2020 - Oxbow

The head rapidly retreated from 3” within about ten seconds of the initial pour, crackling loudly and leafy no lace. The carbonation continued to express itself loudly for several minutes, as it energetically maintained a thin head. It is gem clear, behind the condensation.

Aroma a bold blast of tartness, with light farmhouse funk. White wine, lemon, and green grapes and apple mix with oak that waxes and wanes throughout the session. Flavor is similarly tart, with high acidity. The bitterness and sweetness are high, yet overpowered by the sharp tartness. Orang zest, green apple, white wine, and oak are all prominent. The finish starts strong, then settles to a dull lingering drone for a long while.

Light body, course silken texture becomes stiff as it warms. Alcohol is more pronounced than expected. Very dry, with scrubbing carbonation that never lets-up. I’m finishing the Mimolette from last night and it works well. The rest of the bottle is being reserved for seared salmon tonight.

 

My final pull for this version, it didn't sell well for the brewery so don't think we will see it again anytime soon.

Revolution Maple Jacket (2021)



Can Notes: Canned 12/6/21, 14.4% ABV, refrigerated since purchased until opening this afternoon.

Previous Cellar Review of Same Batch: October 23, 2023.

• Still looks great, base and cover. (4.75 Appearance - No change)
• Not getting cardboard today, and also more barrel and less syrup, so works for me. (Aroma 4.5 - No change)
• Now deep in, getting the same high level of sweetness on this one. Nothing off, the Maple supposed to make an already sweet English Barleywine, but this is why it's not among my favorite offerings. Still enjoying it, just bracing for the sweetness (Taste 4.0 up 0.25 due to a stronger barrel presence to help balance things out).
• Mouthfeel gets about the same revised 3.75 due to the very sweet nature of this offering, at least in terms of my preferences.
• Overall: Staying consistent with this one as well, 3.75 for the solid effort within style, just not one of my favorites due to the sweetness level.

So relatively little change from my one and only cellar review from six months ago. Would drink these now as they are still relatively fresh, and any excess sweetness doesn't seem to be dissipating over time.

Cheers!

 

cambridge brewing co., "This Mortal Coil" 2021: malibu-soaked fig newton energy; still spittin' bunson burner blue flames of rum barrel esters after a few years in barrel.

 

2018 KBS

Still drinking well, but likely past its prime.
Might be down to one 4 pack left.
Cheers!

 

Wow, two in a row. Last night’s was 2018, tonight is 2019.

I found this one way too sweet when fresh and now it’s just a little too sweet. How they made it so sweet using the same barrels as previous years, though it could have been Blis that made the change and why Founders parted ways with him.
In any case, cheers!

 

Tonight’s is a jump in years to 2022-

Might be the best of the last few, or maybe I was just in the mood for one of these. Either way, it’s really good. Glad for the 12 oz size too!
Cheers

 

Some of us carry several beers, perhaps more, of special "last one" offerings. I'm trying to get through the rest of my older bottles before it gets too warm to drink BA stouts. Thankfully I'll have Summer appropriate cellar beers to continue in this thread.

This brewery was recommended by one of my few co-workers who enjoyed craft beers. I picked up IIRC two bottles at a 2018 August release which surreptitiously coincided with a work trip to Anaheim. I shared one with my brothers and my comparison to the current 5 /12 year old vintage will be explored below.

Bottle Logic Fundamental Observation (2018)



Bottle Notes: Picked up during August 2018 release, cellared then refrigerated at an undetermined date until opening this afternoon. 16.9 Oz, 13.2% ABV. Barrel Aged Imperial Vanilla Stout aged with Madagascar Vanilla Beans in a blend of bourbon barrels.
Store below 40F, cellar and save. Drink Fresh. (Ha!). Brewed and bottled by Bottle Logic Brewing, Anaheim California. Food Pairings: 1. Cambozola; 2. Ribeye; 3, Chocolate Budino. Cheers

Level 1 Summary: Look closely - You've just discovered an imperial stout full of Vanilla's Fundamental Flavor. This beer was aged in four different brands of bourbon barrels with heaping additions of Madagascar Vanilla Beans. Sit back, relax, and observe the world around you. End Transmission..************

• Appearance OG: Bottle split three ways poured into snifters. Pitch black pour, thin tan head. 4.25
• Appearance Today: No change, would add to my OG notes the head was a creamy dark tan color, looks really good. 4.25

• Aroma OG: Rich cocoa malt and vanilla aroma, hint of bourbon. 4.25
• Aroma Today: Fundamentally different, with bourbon, a bit sweet like Jim Beam which I'm hoping it doesn't taste like Jim Beam, both at the open and even strong after letting this warm for about 15 minutes. Getting some vanilla as well but no chocolate, malt or base. 3.75

• Taste OG: Nice sweet vanilla and chocolate malt taste, hint of bourbon. Strong abv well masked. Flavors more pronounced as beer warms to room temperature. 4.5
• Taste Today: Waited 25 minutes before first sip. Vanilla not only held up but threw down and declared itself boss. Tastes like a vanilla jelly bean. Getting some bourbon back and thankfully more like reformulated Jack Daniels than Jim Beam, but nothing outstanding. This is pure desert, and the vanilla and sweetness is overwhelming for my palate, but is likely quite enjoyable for those not sensitive to sweetness. Lost the complexity of the base / malt flavors. Total miss cellaring this. 3.25

• Mouthfeel OG: Thin texture, slightly creamy, very smooth drinking. 4.0
• Mouthfeel Today: Thin texture, slightly creamy, overly sweet. Seems strong though I'm still in the early stages. May split this over two days not for the ABV as much as for the cloying sweetness that feels as though I'm attempting to eat a pound plus of vanilla jelly beans. 2.75

• Overall OG: Overall excellent pour. 4.25
• Overall Today: Too sweet, somehow the vanilla managed to increase over time or perhaps this is more a shift of my palate. Would really have liked to enjoy the complexity and balance I found four plus years ago. 3.25.

YMMV

 

Second one of these in 2024, but didn't conduct a Cellar Review the first time. Have two left in the refrigerator.

Revolution Dark Mode (2021)



Comparison vs. January 30, 2023 Cellar Review - Same batch, same refrigerated storage:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/cellar-reviews-2023.670640/page-2#post-7696991

OG Review of draft version (called Barrel Aged Lynott's Stout until the 2021 release):

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22072/377391/?ba=ChicagoJ#review

Can Notes: 12 oz can filled 12/2/21, purchased in December 2022. 13.8% ABV (14.3% ABV in 2018). Imperial Milk Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. Refrigerated since bring home.

Appearance & Aroma: Consistent with the 2023 cellar review, degradation of the aroma with cardboard notes the primary change from fresh.

Taste: Still getting that strong chocolate fudge consistent with the 2023, primary change here is the whiskey is stronger and a bitter harsher than the smooth lighter touch from before. The significant improvement, at least for me, is the sweetness noted in the OG review is more balanced by the change of flavor and stronger bourbon presence.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation held up well, would say this feels a bit thicker than the "thin and watery 2023 cellar observation, or extremely thin texture noted fresh. Digging the balanced taste, though some sweetness lingers with the bourbon on the finish.

Overall: Enjoyable today, cellar improved my preference of shift from sweet milk stout to chocolate fudge with stronger whiskey and also the mouthfeel. The aroma is the primary degradation, though don't notice it while enjoying the drinking. This is one of the few cellared stouts I'd say stayed or perhaps improved over time, though my inflated / generous OG scores would be a bit lower if rescored today based on the minimal release notes. Could have changed barrels as well.

 

That was one of my favorites from the Extreme Stout box. Maybe my favorite stout from them period. I've since tried other BBA Milk stouts but none come close to that one. Cheers!

 

Yes, I was surprised I'd like it as much as I did with the milk sweet stout, but everything was in proper measure as Revolution usually delivers.

Pulling the second of two 2017 bottles, the first I reviewed late 2021 for New Beer Weekend and didn't like as much as I typically like to love this brewery's offerings.

Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee (2017)



Link to OG Review performed 11/28/21

Looks the same. After letting warm for about 20 minutes, getting more bourbon and minimal brown sugar, a significant change I'm enjoying. Not getting much Belgian yeast or traditional quad flavors similar to last go.

My sips as this was warming were promising, which is why I began the cellar review, but at this stage getting the same bourbon sugar cocktail vibes needing more ice that I did with the OG review. Not sure if my palate, but cellaring hasn't hurt or improved my initial take. Mouthfeel also consistent.

Bottom line, I was hoping significant cellaring would somehow balance out excess sweetness, and while that has somewhat happened, this is still about the same disappointment for me.

All that said, I'd try a fresh version down the road and see if it's me or the aging.

 

And now for something completely different- a man with three noses…
Oh, wait, that’s a different sketch.
This is a 6 year old BBA porter from Deschutes Brewery. Hasn’t lost a step. Not sure if I got any of the Dutch cocoa but got lots of good bourbon and oak. Very good beer.

 

Pulled one of these to kick off my participation in the 2024 Cellaruary Thread, but pulling my final one to close out my stock in the 2024 Cellar Review Thread.

Revolution Supermassive Cafe Deth (2021)



Can Notes: Canned 6/30/21, 12 oz, 14.3% ABV.

December 7, 2023 Cellar Review Thread Notes

Observations from Today

• Appearance: Looks great, richer darker head. 5.0
• Aroma: Pepper notes consistent with December 2023 cellar pull. 3.5
• Taste: Getting more pepper notes in the taste than noted during Cellaruary. Still enjoying the coffee, bourbon and chocolate fudge. 4.0
• Mouthfeel: Creamy, rich, decadent. Pepper notes the only flaw. Drinks strong from Go! 4.75
• Overall: This is a very solid beer, like everything and the stronger oxidation / pepper notes are OK, not really harming everything else. 4.25

It took will power to not pick up the latest outside the season ticket sale release to keep working down the cellar where I'll hopefully be in good shape regarding Barrel Aged Stouts by the end of next Winter.

 

I’ve continued to work on depleting my beer fridge (though I did stock up on Orval when I recently found it at a good price at WF) but I’ve neglected to post much here. For no good reason I decided to open this little gem today. Stickee Monkee has always hit my palate more as an English barleywine than a Belgian quad, but that’s what FW calls it. Can’t say age has had much effect on this beer, it’s sweet and loaded with dark fruits and brown sugar, some barrel character. Good enough to sip on a rainy Seattle afternoon. Cheers!

 

Decided to open another FW beer today—I like the smaller format and it’s led me to reach for these rather than the bombers and 750s in my beer fridge.

Never had this one before, so I’m posting a proper review below. I might have some revisions but these are my first impressions. Cheers!

Firestone Walker 25th Anniversary
4.4/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle into a tulip. Pours a dark cola brown with a thin beige head.

Aroma is sweet and malty with notes of dark fruit, caramel, and bready malt.

Taste is rich and complex—dark cherries, figs/dates, brown sugar, warm vanilla, some red wine notes.

Mouthfeel is nicely balanced—not as heavy as might be expected but it coats the palate. A sipper.

Overall a tasty, well crafted blend of FW barrel-aged beers.

 

Revolution Straight Jacket "Filled: 01-04-2019 12:58:03" and the can cites 13.1% abv, but the Straight Jacket entry here says 2019 was 15.8%. there must be a release v filled distinction I don't understand. Either way:

This is a year older release than my review of the 2020 can, and a 4 years later tasting. My thoughts include: Body is now murky, near opaque, yet a gorgeous yellow-orange glow when backlit, and briefly supporting a 1/2" head of khaki colored mixed bubbles that falls to the ring. Sheets of lacing develop with agitation leaving a thin film behind.

An almost orange juice influenced aroma at the start that, with warmth, settles to citrus pith soaked caramel.

Flavor, feel, and finish remain similar to the 2020 in notes and I make no change to the numbers.

From my earlier review: " Smooth, full mouthfeel allows the whole palate to enjoy the sweet fruity flavors, barrel tannins and bourbon notes, and leaves a wet finish."

In both tastings, letting the beer rest and come up to temperature is required to fully appreciate the complexity.

I can't imagine any improvement from here on, so I'm happy to not have waited any longer, but I'm also sure that it will be just fine for a few more years if you still have one.

 

Captain Lawrence Rosso E Marrone, Batch 4 (2012 release)

All but still, just a few bubbles rise. Clear garnet brew that looks tempting.

Nose is a faded version of itself, missing all barrel notes, with red wine, sourdough tart, and hints of bretty funk all that remain of a once incredible aroma.

Taste is pretty much what the nose promised, with bretty notes more prominent, and some sweet vinegary aspects added to the yeast flavors.

Too thick due to no carbonation, and not enough fruitiness along with too much vinegar in finish.

This may sound like a harsh take, but this still was quiite enjoyable despite it being a shadow of its original greatness. Well past its prime sums things up.