Infected Rare BCBS?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by JAXSON, May 2, 2012.

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  1. JAXSON

    JAXSON Maven (1,336) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Rare BCBS has elevated itself to the absolute top echehlon of barrel aged ales over the last year in my opinion based on four bottles I've drank from over the last 6 months. I've suspected that the beer might be at/near it's peak, but has been marvelous every time.

    Tonight I opened a bottle and the carbonation was really strong, and there is a distinct burned rubber, almost sour quality to it at points. It still has the super rich marshmallow, fudge brownie, but the body is thin compared to all other bottles and the flavor profile is just off. This bottle was traded to me by a local guy, not sure what storage conditions were like.

    Anyone else who has had the beer multiple times finding this? I'm really not trying to cast the beer in a bad light as I absolutely love it, but I'm concerned after opening this bottle.
     
    #1 JAXSON, May 2, 2012
  2. MarkIntihar

    MarkIntihar Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2010 Michigan

    I've had it several times now and haven't experienced anything that would suggest infection. My guess would be that storage conditions were not great...
     
    #2 MarkIntihar, May 2, 2012
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  3. Sean9689

    Sean9689 Pooh-Bah (2,332) Mar 17, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've had 7-8 different bottles over the last 6 months and all have been perfect.
     
    #3 Sean9689, May 2, 2012
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  4. JAXSON

    JAXSON Maven (1,336) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I think it's subtle at this point, but these threads might come along more often in about 6 months. It's far from a blatant infection, I'm still enjoying it. Moved from like 4.6 to 3.8, still better than any Bruery beer ever made.
     
    #4 JAXSON, May 2, 2012
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  5. sarro

    sarro Initiate (0) May 12, 2009 Michigan

    Probably stemmed from bottling
     
    #5 sarro, May 2, 2012
  6. cpinto6

    cpinto6 Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2010 Georgia

    You expected it to be at or near its peak that quick? Doesn't its style usually hold on for awhile? at least the time its held up until now x2 I would think.
     
    #6 cpinto6, May 2, 2012
  7. JAXSON

    JAXSON Maven (1,336) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I thought that based on tasting it multiple times, just a hunch. It was bottled about 18 months ago and was aging in barrels for two years prior to that, so it's not surprising to me that it might begin to decline in the near future.

    I should say that as the beer opens, it's certainly better. I'm chalking this one up to bad storage conditions and one of those freak things for now.
     
    #7 JAXSON, May 2, 2012
  8. cpinto6

    cpinto6 Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2010 Georgia

    Shit, forgot about the 2 years in the barrel bit...yea, I think you're right. Funny how time flies, doesn't even feel like 18 months since it was released.
     
    #8 cpinto6, May 2, 2012
  9. Azurescens

    Azurescens Initiate (0) Aug 3, 2010 Washington

    Yes, Rare BCBS is severely infected. Please send your bottles to me so I can dispose of them properly.
     
    #9 Azurescens, May 3, 2012
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  10. FUNKPhD

    FUNKPhD Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2010 Texas

    I'm with this. If you free that you think your bottle is infected, please send it my way...
     
    #10 FUNKPhD, May 3, 2012
  11. djcorrao

    djcorrao Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2009 Illinois

    Greg Hall showed up at my regular bar (while living in DC) a couple years ago with 5 year cellared bottles of rare that still tasted absolutely incredible...
     
    #11 djcorrao, May 4, 2012
  12. podunkparte

    podunkparte Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2009 Washington

    That wasn't Greg Hall and that was turpentine.
     
    #12 podunkparte, May 4, 2012
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  13. peteinSD

    peteinSD Initiate (0) Apr 25, 2010 California

    did you see him pour the beer? or did he just tell you it was "rare"? by chance was the beer warm and sorta yellow looking with a minimal head . . . . he might not have been serving beer. just saying.
     
    #13 peteinSD, May 4, 2012
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  14. shufon

    shufon Initiate (0) Dec 15, 2008 New York

    Had a 2010 BCBCS a few weeks ago and it was showing definite signs of infection. I thought I might be crazy at first but others who were at the tasting were getting the same thing from it.
     
    #14 shufon, May 5, 2012
  15. wyatt

    wyatt Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2009 Louisiana

    Seems like these days everything is infected.
     
    #15 wyatt, May 5, 2012
  16. djcorrao

    djcorrao Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2009 Illinois

    11/26/10 (rare release day if you forgot): http://twitter.com/#!/churchkeydc/statuses/8316880703987712

    He brought vintage bourbon county, newly released rare, and hand marked personal bottles of "5 year aged rare" to share with everyone... but you're right, it might have just been turpentine, who would experiment with aging their beers before publicly releasing them? Insanity.
     
    #16 djcorrao, May 7, 2012
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  17. yamar68

    yamar68 Initiate (0) Apr 1, 2011 Minnesota

    A beer doesn't somehow become infected as it sits in the bottle...
     
    #17 yamar68, May 7, 2012
  18. acurtis

    acurtis Grand Pooh-Bah (4,540) Sep 27, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    No but a small Infection might be not be noticeable until it develops over time in the bottle
     
    #18 acurtis, May 7, 2012
  19. tewaris

    tewaris Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Minnesota

    Haha, give it to him!
     
    #19 tewaris, May 7, 2012
  20. Highbrow

    Highbrow Pooh-Bah (1,770) Jan 7, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    not saying i don't believe it but like others it sounds a bit sketchy.

    first of all keep in mind, to make actual "Rare", he'd need spent 23 year old Pappy Van Winkle barrels, and he'd need them back in 2004 or earlier to have 5 year old Rare "a couple of years back". i suppose it's certainly possible, but i'm slow to say it's probable.
     
    #20 Highbrow, May 9, 2012
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