King's Ale - Leakage in Shipment

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by gory4d, Feb 22, 2012.

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  1. gory4d

    gory4d Maven (1,489) Apr 14, 2007 Texas

    I was fortunate enough to buy a bottle of the Bass King's Ale recently. It showed up today from the UK. The bottle was intact, but despite its being copiously taped, the bottle had leaked a bit: the level of the liquid is down about an inch and half below the bottom of the neck. Given this evidence that the seal is not perfect, what advice would you give as to how soon to drink this? My impulse is to do so within the next month or so, to avoid any further deterioration of the beer. What do you think?

    Thanks.
     
  2. gueuzer

    gueuzer Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2010 Colorado
    Trader

    Was there leakage in the package? If not, it could just be the normal ullage that any liquid experiences stored in a corked bottle. Assuming this is the version from 1910 or so 1.5" seems reasonable.

    If it did leak in the package, I would drink it sooner rather than later. Given the age of the beer, any acetobacter present will surely use that extra oxygen to make acetic acid. And considering the brewing methods when this beer was created, its probably pretty likely there is acetobacter in there.

    After a vertical tasting I had while back, I corked a bottle of 98 JW Lees harvest that was half empty, just to see the results. It turned quite vinegary after a couple weeks.
     
  3. gueuzer

    gueuzer Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2010 Colorado
    Trader

    Here is a guide regarding ullage in wine. Your bottle will depend on how full it was when corked, which I have no idea about.

    Ullage level (in/cm)​
    Appearance​
    Assessment​
    0.12 in (0.3 cm) High up to the cork Normal level for young wines
    0.2 in (0.5 cm) High in neck Good condition for any age
    0.6 in (1.5 cm) Top of the shoulders Normal for older wines. Good condition for wines over 15 years
    1 in (2.5 cm) Upper part of shoulders Generally okay in older wines, especially those over 20 years
    1.18-1.38 in (3-3.5 cm) Mid to mid-low shoulders Possible oxidation. Price should reflect the risk.
    2.36-2.75 in (6–7 cm) Low shoulders to below shoulders Extremely risky. Possibly undrinkable
     
  4. gory4d

    gory4d Maven (1,489) Apr 14, 2007 Texas

    Yes, some brown, beery stickiness on the bottle itself and in the tape. So definitely some leakage on the way over.

    Would you recommend putting it in the fridge until I'm ready to drink it?
     
  5. gory4d

    gory4d Maven (1,489) Apr 14, 2007 Texas

    Thanks for the guide - I'll keep it in mind for any other old bottles I have.
     
  6. gueuzer

    gueuzer Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2010 Colorado
    Trader

    Yeah a lot of oxidative processes are temperature dependent so it's probably a good idea.

    Let us know how it ends up. i have heard very good things about these beers.
     
  7. SeaShepherd

    SeaShepherd Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2011 Solomon Islands

    Bass Kings Ale is from 1902, not 1910.
     
  8. jedwards

    jedwards Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2009 California

    King's Ale is a tricky one, because while it was brewed in 1902, the "old" bottlings available are from 1905 (rare) and the large release in 1911 (up until the point of bottling, it was stored in cask and ullage is not a factor).

    Lots more details here: http://www.mpeterson.co.uk/kings.htm

    I don't know the effects of waxing on ullage... but I would imagine it to be significant. Rate of ullage is also highly dependent on storage conditions (basically, ullage as measure of possible quality is only effective if you also know the age of the bottle).
     
  9. SeaShepherd

    SeaShepherd Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2011 Solomon Islands

    Not to mention the 1977 re-issue. I've had versions of all three without any issue though. At this point the beer inside has pretty much gone through much of what will happen. So unless it's just totally exposed, I think you're OK.
     
  10. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Well, you had better luck than I did with the King's. Mine arrived broken despite the sender's great packaging.
     
  11. gory4d

    gory4d Maven (1,489) Apr 14, 2007 Texas

    The packaging was pretty poor on this one - so yeah, good luck indeed.
     
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