sucaba question

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by shredder83, Mar 14, 2014.

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  1. shredder83

    shredder83 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2013 Illinois

    This year ('14) was the first time I got sucaba and while I thought it was good I was slightly underwhelmed, I know, blasphemy. Is this beer better fresh or aged? I have three more bottles in my temp controlled wine fridge.
     
    #1 shredder83, Mar 14, 2014
  2. chrisbokmuller

    chrisbokmuller Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2011 Michigan

    My personal opinion was it is better with a year or two on it. I did the '11, '12, and '13 at a tasting in December and felt that the '11 and '12 were much more "together" than the '13 was.
     
    #2 chrisbokmuller, Mar 14, 2014
  3. shredder83

    shredder83 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2013 Illinois

    I get that" together" thing, I liked the bourbon heat and the beer was good, but fresh it seemed a bit muddled. Like the flavors hadn't meshed together yet if that makes any sense.
     
    #3 shredder83, Mar 14, 2014
  4. chrisbokmuller

    chrisbokmuller Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2011 Michigan

    Exactly. I love that beer, but fresh it feels to harsh and I don't get the caramel flavors as much. It still has some heat with age, just a little more rounded.
     
    #4 chrisbokmuller, Mar 14, 2014
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  5. Fluteswell

    Fluteswell Zealot (633) Feb 15, 2011 Maryland
    Trader

    Just drank an Abacus a couple of weeks ago. Lot's of wood, little less bourbon. Really good imo.
     
    #5 Fluteswell, Mar 14, 2014
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  6. shredder83

    shredder83 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2013 Illinois

    Yeah I didn't get much caramel barleywine flavor from it as I hoped, I think I'm going to age the few I have for at least a year until next winter, hopefully then it'll be more balanced. I love those big malty flavors, that's the reason I like barleywine so much. I have a feeling with some age this will be phenomenal.
     
    #6 shredder83, Mar 14, 2014
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  7. IKR

    IKR Maven (1,490) May 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    I just had a 2011 Abacus last week. Still good but I know I won't age one that long again. The flavors were smooth and melded together well but all the hard work that went into the barrel aging were wasted to some extent, they were muted compared to fresh and even with 1.5 years of age. My sweet spot is 9 months to 1.5 years years old (stored at 52F).
     
    #7 IKR, Mar 16, 2014
  8. MarcWP

    MarcWP Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2012 Arizona

    I like it fresh. Oldest I had was one year old and I thought it was much the same. Haven't had the 2014 yet. Still one of my favorite English Barleywines as it tones down the fruitiness and ups the caramel, bourbon, and vanilla flavor. Different than say Arctic Devil or MOAS.
     
    #8 MarcWP, Mar 16, 2014
  9. shredder83

    shredder83 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2013 Illinois

    Barleywines, especially English, are one of my favorite styles and I think they need that fruity caramel sweetness even with a barrel aged version. I found bcbbw and central waters bbbw to have great oak, caramel and bourbon flavor while still maintaining those great English bw characteristics, even being fresh. Sucaba is just a little different than those two examples I suppose, not a bad beer by any means I guess everyone just has different tastes.

    I'll age them a bit and revisit sucaba in 9-12 months, see how out changes over a little time.
     
    #9 shredder83, Mar 16, 2014
  10. hooliganlife

    hooliganlife Pooh-Bah (1,759) Apr 12, 2007 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    i had one with 1-2 years on it, and it was very mediocre. way better fresh. FW in general is better fresh IMO
     
    #10 hooliganlife, Mar 17, 2014
  11. rmercier

    rmercier Initiate (0) Apr 30, 2014 Virginia

    I was calling the local shop every week since February...I called today and they said they sold out in 30 mins...They got 6 bottles in...maybe next year
     
    #11 rmercier, Apr 30, 2014
  12. Toonces

    Toonces Crusader (455) Oct 25, 2005 New Jersey

    Fresh was so magnificent that I couldn't keep my hands off it TO age! :grinning:

    Sucaba might just be my favorite beer ever though so I'm a little bias. :flushed:
     
    #12 Toonces, May 3, 2014
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