White Chocolate

I think any beer that is brewed with Cocoa Nibs / Vanilla will lose some of that character over time, kind of what you would expect from aging a beer.

Do I think it will be better with time? We will have to wait and see how the bottles are drinking fresh and then make a determination as to how long the vanilla / chocolate will hang on.

I thought Bourbon County Vanilla was not an enjoyable beer at release time (almost an artificial vanilla candle kind of flavor and aroma), but it is drinking amazing right now.

Time will tell.

Cheers!

 

Yeah, if you don't like it at release because certain elements are overwhelming (alcohol burn, vanilla, chocolate), it might help to age for awhile. It also might make things worse. ABV alone doesn't make for good aging.

 

This this this this this this this! Same thing (I think) will go for Bourbon Vanilla Dark Lord (tasted like marshmallows fresh).

I'm really hoping White Chocolate is killer right off the bat though!

 

I think you're all correct. There are some on here that have it for aged beer, and those people will begin complaining 3 months after it's released that the cacao and vanilla are all but gone from the beer. In the same vein, there are some who will be able to pick up those flavors for the next few years.

The comment above about Bourbon County Vanilla is especially poignant as I remember having the discussion with my friends about cellaring or drinking the bottles, and they kept spouting that the Vanilla flavors were all but gone after 6 months. Fast forward to July 2012, we cracked open a bottle and it was phenomenal. The vanilla is still very present, but it's not overdone, and it's a f*cking great beer right now!

 

DRINK FRESH ALWAYS DRINK FRESH. Even Abyss and best after dates, I still drink them fresh and THEN after the best after. You can't appreciate it fully until you drink it fresh. Even with the harder to find beers, it's hard to get over it but you need to just suck it up and swallow.

 

I predict that it will be very sweet in a year. I have high confidence on this.

 

Haha.

 

I've had WC 3x now and find the flavors/alcohol very well balanced and ready to drink right now. BTW, probably the best aroma of any beer I've tried - sweet cake and vanilla with hints of other flavors like coconut and caramel.

 

I get the impression this isn't the first time he's said this to someone...

 

This is worth emphasizing. When a beer has no track record it makes sense to try it, and then see if there are flaws that tend to age away (such as heat) that you didn't enjoy. If a beer doesn't have those flaws then aging is mostly about whether you like what age does to that kind of beer.

For instance, I thought DDBA was a bit bitter and hot fresh. So I want to see what a few months does to it, since bitterness fades pretty quickly. But this year's Parabola was pretty much perfect for me fresh, so I don't have real plans on aging it (although that's happening anyway for want of time to drink it...).

 

Quite literally just finished a taster at the Bruery, and it's drinking pretty perfect right now. Incredibly rich, no heat, and a wonderful white chocolate finish. If the vanilla/chocolate were to fade from this, Im afraid of what would happen.

Which is horrible, as I'm pretty sure my fiance has decided were drinking my bottles next summer at our wedding.

 

First World Beer Geek Problem right there Red fiance wants to drink excellent craft at the wedding next year

 

Yeah, woe is me.

I'd be happier if she didn't seem to love the taste of all things rare. How am I supposed to hoard the walez, bro?

 

At least you didn't get the Hoarders invite, right?

 

Oh man, thankfully not.

"sorry babe, we have to push the wedding back because the Bruery needs even more of my money. But look at all these rare beers I get!"

Actually, she might buy that..... ISO: someone to split a hoarders membership with?

 

I have 8 bottle of White Chocolate waiting for me right now. I plan on doing a lot of experimenting with aging. I'm going to drink a couple right away, one in 6 months, one in a year, and I'll go from there. I think i need a hoarders society membership.