Chocolate Rain cellar time?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Jholcomb, Jun 3, 2015.

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  1. Jholcomb

    Jholcomb Crusader (484) Jan 5, 2014 Illinois
    Trader

    I recently acquired a CR 14. With the high Abv combined with BA just wondering from someone who has had fresh and cellared how long to cellar to get the best balance out of this brew.
    Cheers
    Jermey
     
    #1 Jholcomb, Jun 3, 2015
  2. RDMII

    RDMII Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2010 Georgia

    It's balanced beautifully as it is, though more boozy fresh it will always have that big alcohol punch no matter how long it sits. Go ahead and open it, you'll love it.
     
    #2 RDMII, Jun 3, 2015
    Ruderaven52, maximum12 and supramkivtt2jz like this.
  3. maximum12

    maximum12 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,686) Jan 21, 2008 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yup. We opened one last week & it's downright sublime. Not sure how it could improve...drink it now!
     
    #3 maximum12, Jun 3, 2015
  4. pagriley

    pagriley Pooh-Bah (2,382) Oct 27, 2014 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Awesome to know - I am sitting on a bottle... not for much longer! Thanks for the question OP!
     
    #4 pagriley, Jun 3, 2015
  5. AndrewK

    AndrewK Savant (1,123) Oct 20, 2006 California

    I usually don't cellar Chocolate Rain (outside of one bottle of each vintage for purely scientific reasons), but I do plan on doing 2014 vs 2015 in the next week or so, so I will let you know.
     
    #5 AndrewK, Jun 4, 2015
  6. MisterKilderkin

    MisterKilderkin Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2011 California

    They age well, not sure they get better, but I wouldn't say they get worse. The advantage of big boozy beers like CR is they will withstand time and can get better, but certaintly wont turn into vinegar or a bland malty mess.
     
    #6 MisterKilderkin, Jun 4, 2015
  7. stakem

    stakem Grand Pooh-Bah (4,070) Feb 20, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I havent had the 2014 batch yet but I have had prior vintages shortly after their release and can tell you that drinking a 2013 bottle a couple weeks ago completely changed my view about that beer. Yeah its big and boozy and adjunct laden but I think 2 years of aging really melds that beer and turns it from good to great.
     
    #7 stakem, Jun 5, 2015
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