What are your thoughts on verticals?

Sounds like great vertical action - and I'd imagine the trade value for a set of any of those would be pretty high...

 

They can be fun, but don't go too far back. With most beers I think they start to slide downhill at 3-4 years.

 

They're a lot of fun, and really make you appreciate the nuances of the beer itself. Honestly even two different years can be really interesting and illuminating.

 

I'm building the same sets (BCBS and KBS)...it's fun!

 

This. but also, if you only have 1 of a beer sometimes it is best to just focus on it...sometimes i find myself wishing i would have just spent more energy on a single beer if i am not going to be able to have it again.

 

If you care to learn about beer, they are invaluable lessons in what happens when age is introduced.

 

Personally I find verticals to be exhausting... would rather drink beers from various different styles / breweries than the same beer over and over... yes they are different from year to year and age will have changed them but its still basically the same beer.

 

Idk I find it to be a fun excuse to have a "beer event". I'm working on putting together The Bruery winter series and am looking forward to hosting a party when it comes time to try it. Same deal with what will be my 4-5 year KBS and BCBS verticals. I'll get a group of friends and we'll all sample them together and share notes.

Fun excuse to drink together with a focused theme.

 

Agreed.

Verticals are a great way to see what the aging process does to a beer. I've had verticals of Backwoods Bastard (4 yrs), SN Bigfoot (6 yrs) and Rahr & Sons BBA Winter Warmer (3 yrs) and it was interesting to see how they evolved over time. It's also a great way to familiarize yourself with the taste of oxidation since around 3-4 years, as Domingo said, it starts to set in. That being said, I detected oxidation in the '11 and '10 Backwoods as well as the oldest vintage of the Rahr & Sons (can't remember the year) but I could not detect a single hint of oxidation in even the 6 year old Bigfoot. It was bought at the new SN brewery in Mills River so that means it had to travel from California. No idea how they managed to keep those bottles at perfect cellar temp during that entire time period. That's the only way I can rationalize that there was literally zero oxidation (that I could tell) in every single beer. Pretty remarkable actually. Sorry I went off on a tangent but I really wanted to share that.

Edit: Totally just realized that the reason the BB and Rahr were oxidized a bit but Bigfoot was not was probably because they were barrel-aged and therefore had already been exposed to oxygen before bottling.

 

I have 2011-2014 BCBS and 2011-2015 KBS going. I did 11-13 KBS a year and a half ago, and the 11 was pretty well over the hill. I had one more left, so I figured why not do another?

The BCBS though I have 2x2011 and 2x2012, so I figure I will try now and make a judgement call on when to do it again.

 

While it's true that the barrel aged beer would certainly develop oxidation sooner after being bottled, I wouldn't say a 6 year old Bigfoot would show no signs of oxidation. Part of aging beers is having them oxidize, it's just you want certain tastes of oxidation. Notes of sherry, madeira, port, cardboard and wet paper are all signs of oxidation. Bigfood tends to develop notes of sherry first and eventually cardboard. I would be surprised if you tasted neither in a 6 year old bottle.

 

Working at a bar that has taken the time and effort to do tap verticals, they usually go over really really well. We're just winding down our Abyss vertical ('12, '13, '14) which was awesome. The double vertical we did before that, more fun for Halloween than anything, was a Pumking and Warlock side by side ('13 and '14 of each). We still have some '14 Warlock left.... I have zero doubt the brews you have will be FANTASTIC as vertical set-ups.

 

I hear that. I had to experiences where verticals pretty much took over the party and became more of a mountain to climb than a river to canoe in. If you catch my drift (sorry).

When I've done it I've tried to keep it light... just a couple BCBS shared among friends, each taking just a bit. It wasn't even part of a tasting event. Just a little something something before heading out to dinner or a hike.

 

I have a couple verticals im trying to start, I have some of the similar as you KBS, BCBS, and I/ will have a 4 year vert of dark lord soon.

 

Verticals are great because it gives you a chance to invite some friends over and enjoy the nuances of beer. I've done a vert of 2009-2014 abyss and 2010-2014 parabola with some buddies and both have been great experiences.

 

I'm starting to build a few verticals of different things, and I'm ADDICTED. From Ipas to barleywines to stouts... I LOVE seeing how they develop over time. Right now, I need some '08 Bigfoot to fill my hole between '07 and '09 so bad, I can't STAND it!!!!

 

Super fun. Have done a few and they are great, good and bad. Fun to see how things evolve. Do it blind, even more fun

 

Only one of my favorite things to do with my craft cellar.

 

Generally speaking how did Pumking and Warlock hold up once aged? Two of my favorite brews. I put a Warlock down last fall, but assumed what I love about Pumking would fade. Any thoughts to RBA Pumking as well?