September Cellar Reviews

2012 Backwoods Bastard:

Still awesome. Hasn't changed at all.

 

Planning to try this next to '13 Central Waters Brewer's Reserve BB Scotch Ale and probably again when get '13 Backwoods Bastard.

Had '11 Founders Imp Stout (probably 8th in last 4-6 months) and still awesome. I don't like it fresh.

 

Just cracked a Portsmouth Brewery Royal Impy Stout. Lost some of its dark coffee bitterness, acquired a dried fruit/sherry flavor from the oxidation. So far I enjoyed it fresh better. I have one more to try down the line.

 

Midnight Sun Arctic Devil 2007, 2010, 2011 & 2013. Huge variations from year to year. The '07 & '13 were much darker and enjoyable. The 2011 was very light compared to the others, with a nondescript taste. The 2010 was a big disappointment, odd off flavors that I couldn't place made this a near drain pour.

 

Have a cellar temp aged Dissident I was thinking of opening soon; hoping for better results.

 

According to the description from Midnight Sun, each batch is different. With that said, I had the '11 several times last year and thought it was really good. This time around it was Meh at best.

 

I had a 2009 BCBS 12oz that was definitely past its prime. It was still pretty good, but it was not what it had been 8 months ago.

 

2010 Cantillon 100% Kriek 375ml

It seems to be in a weird in-between stage. The cherry has faded quite a bit but it wasn't too sour. The Brett character was subdued. It doesn't have that bright, fruity character of the <2 year old Kriek but it has yet to develop those musty, bretty qualities of some older examples I enjoy so much.

(this was stored in my wine fridge at 54 degrees since I received it in 2010)

 

I had a 2012 Dissident a week or two ago and it was superb. Go for it!

 

2002 Westy 12 - Even with a full 11 years on this thing, it was absolutely great. I'd say I prefer the 3-4 year old ones I have had a bit more though. This seemed to be a bit thinner than the 3-4 year old Westys. Overall, the flavors were very complex and it showed no noticeable off flavors at all. Really cool to drink.

GI Rare - I don't have a bad thing to say. This is my first taste so I can't say if it's up or down. However, I can say that it's magically complex and still very bourbon forward. Phenomenal beer.


2012 Mother of All Storms - Having this after the GI Rare may skew my review of this a bit... not sure. However, I think it's sort of in a weird state right now. I had it fresh and thought the bourbon burn was AWESOME in it. That part has mellowed out some, but not to get to a very mellow/rounded out beer yet. I had a 2010 with 2 years on it and that was when it had reached the point of pulling out those complex, rounded flavors. I have 2 more and think I'll hang onto those another year before I open them.

 

2012 Sierra Nevada Narwhal

Had this next to a 2013 and we all found it to be the better of the two. Strangely, the aroma was stronger and better, and it had an overall less sweet and roastier flavor than the 2013. I think the hops taming let the malt character come forward more. A year of aging was well worth it!

 

This is dead on with my experiences. Mother of All Storms is very good fresh, goes through a strange adjustment period, & once it hits two years is just sublime. I buy/trade for a couple bottles every year & have stopped drinking them before that two-year point. Have a '10 I hope to put down soon.

 

Yeah I feel like Backwoods Bastard is a similar animal to me. I LOVE them both fresh because the bourbon is insanely in your face. However, when that mellows a bit... it has to FULLY mellow to get back to being a great, albeit different, beer.

 

Pulled a 2012 Backwoods Bastard out of the cellar two nights ago- man was it fantastic. The heat has subsided a bit and the true caramel flavor of the malt comes out. Pours nearly flat with a big bourbon nose. The taste follows suit with bourbon up front which transitions into a toffee sweetness on the back end. Alcohol lingers for a moment then dissipates, leaving behind a malty-sweet aftertaste that could not be better. Stellar beer out of the gate, but galactic with almost a year on it. I'm really, really happy that I have a few more of these to enjoy as winter approaches.

 

jah, I'm looking forward to aging my last one for another couple months. Thanks for the hype.

 

I had a bunch and they were all stellar. Got 1, lonely, single bottle left.

 

Firestone Walker 14.

The look, well, hasn't changed.

Smells and tastes oaky, lots of dark fruits, big sweet chocolate, lightish carbonation but still creates a handsome, though short lived, head of foam. Hot as in hot but the alcohol will never go anywhere. I reckon I opened it before it had a chance to go downhill in a noticeable. way. Quite the treat.

 

I respect your opinion but I've had nothing but greatness from The Dissidents I've had.