I was wondering...how long do you age this in the bottle before it really starts to shine?
I really wanted to comment on this because after seeing this thread pop up I decided I would grab a bottle and pop it open for tasting last night. I brewed on June 5, 2011.
I really liked the beer "young" from the start, but it was good, not the best beer ever. Based on the cost of the grain bill I pretty much was leaning on the, not going to brew again any time soon. In the begining the alc flavors were there but not overbearing. There was dark fruit, but not overbearing. Good brew, but $$ to brew (I did the new world).
So pan ahead to 6 months later when I cracked a bottle open last night. WOW. I have never seen a beer change this much over time.
When i poured into the glass I could smell a pronounced aroma, without even smelling the rim closely, this aroma lifted up an out readily where my face was about 2-3 feet away and I thought... **** it oxidized and that must be sherry notes. I took a closer smell and it was not, dark fruit, toffee and a slight almost roasty (burnt toffee roasty, slight coffee). I figured what the heck I will chew on it so I took a sip. Flavor was incredibly smooth. Alcohol flavor was not pronounced and it was incredibly... incredibly smooth. Rich dark fruit (sweet bing cherry reduced in cognac) and carmel toffee rounded flavors on the front end with a pleasant aftertaste. This stuff is fantastic aged at 6 months. It reminded me of the change in wines or ciders I make, never experienced that with beer before. My wife, who didn't like it young before, loved this one, had to grab my glass back!
Saq - my hat is off to you here. When i am looking for a quad to brew, this one is it. I would place this in the top five of my favorite beers I have brewed myself, and for me that is saying a lot.
This one will be a rebrew over the xmas break for certain.