Cellared Beer Reviews

[jedwards]

Went to an excellent C&C La Folie vertical put together by schwartzoid today:

It was really fun to drink these side-by-side, there's an incredible amount of variation year-to-year. This was '02, '04-'09, Bottleworks X, and Twisted Spoke.

2007 was a strong favorite for me, really mellow integrated sourness, nice balance of sweetness, very drinkable. 2004 came in second though this was not a group favorite -- more oxidized than the '02, had that stewed fruit/sherry thing that was totally in sync with the sourness of the beer. Juicy. The 2009 & 2008 came in next for me, bright, very enjoyable. The 2002, 2005, and 2006 varied a bit, were all intensely sour, and really only at the bottom because the bar was set so high.

Bottleworks X has held on extremely well, lighter and livelier than the rest and quite well-balanced. Twisted Spoke had some musty oxidation but a really excellent almond/kirsch thing going on.

 

[stupac2]

Went to an excellent C&C La Folie vertical put together by schwartzoid today:

It was really fun to drink these side-by-side, there's an incredible amount of variation year-to-year. This was '02, '04-'09, Bottleworks X, and Twisted Spoke.

2007 was a strong favorite for me, really mellow integrated sourness, nice balance of sweetness, very drinkable. 2004 came in second though this was not a group favorite -- more oxidized than the '02, had that stewed fruit/sherry thing that was totally in sync with the sourness of the beer. Juicy. The 2009 & 2008 came in next for me, bright, very enjoyable. The 2002, 2005, and 2006 varied a bit, were all intensely sour, and really only at the bottom because the bar was set so high.

Bottleworks X has held on extremely well, lighter and livelier than the rest and quite well-balanced. Twisted Spoke had some musty oxidation but a really excellent almond/kirsch thing going on.

Agree. The 04 was really interesting/complex, while not being quite so "bash your face in" sour as the 2002. It was cool to basically go down the line and taste them get younger/less oxidized.

 

[JBP]

Yuck. This has gone way downhill since release. I know most people weren't crazy about it initially but I thought it was interesting and at least drinkable. Pretty gross now.

 

[matedog]

Went to an excellent C&C La Folie vertical put together by schwartzoid today:

It was really fun to drink these side-by-side, there's an incredible amount of variation year-to-year. This was '02, '04-'09, Bottleworks X, and Twisted Spoke.

2007 was a strong favorite for me, really mellow integrated sourness, nice balance of sweetness, very drinkable. 2004 came in second though this was not a group favorite -- more oxidized than the '02, had that stewed fruit/sherry thing that was totally in sync with the sourness of the beer. Juicy. The 2009 & 2008 came in next for me, bright, very enjoyable. The 2002, 2005, and 2006 varied a bit, were all intensely sour, and really only at the bottom because the bar was set so high.

Bottleworks X has held on extremely well, lighter and livelier than the rest and quite well-balanced. Twisted Spoke had some musty oxidation but a really excellent almond/kirsch thing going on.

You guys didn't try the new, pasteurized version for reference did you?

 

[stupac2]

You guys didn't try the new, pasteurized version for reference did you?

That ****'s for chumps.

 

[matedog]

That ****'s for chumps.

Well, yeah.

 

[furley]

no fancy pictures to accompany but Central Waters 17th Anniversary is great right now. i've always thought the BA stouts were a bit hot and thin at first. the anniversary versions not as much but still a bit of a burner for a while.

this one, just short of a year out was gold. silky smooth. looking forward to picking up some 18 in a few weeks.

 

[jedwards]

You guys didn't try the new, pasteurized version for reference did you?

I already risked wrath by bringing a growler of IPA over, so I didn't think I'd mess it up further with a non C&C La Folie as well. For what it's worth, I enjoy the new version, and have been part of a couple blind side-by-sides of the two 2009 versions where we couldn't tell which was which. Will probably put another together sometime next year to see how they're both evolving.

 

[Jb123]

2014 BB4D. Magnificent! Mouthfeel amazingly sticky. Bourbon flavor on point. Smell unreal.

 

[claaark13]

23.03.14 cap. This bottle has some sentimental value as it was procured while in Belgium prior to us having kids yet post marriage. Thanks for the 50th time to @brabander for his help.

Tons of dark fruit on the nose transfers well to the flavor. Magnificent upfront grapes with slight bread backbone to hold it all together. No sign of booze, complete smootheness. My wife says, "It's funny I don't mind the coffee aftertaste, but I don't like coffee." I have no ******* idea what she's talking about. The grapes turn into plums with a slight about of dry bitterness. Fantastic all around after 4 years, maybe the overall best Westy I've ever had, going back to the early 80s. My experience is that between 5 and 10, not a ton great happens, so that's why we opened now. Zero regretful feelings.

 

[sacrelicio]

Jesus. This **** ages like damn. Root beer and cream soda mixed with whiskey. Thxx harrymel bb

 

[GMRfx]

Friends 29th birthday, not often I have anything in the cellar from someone's birth year!

No carb. Rich dark fruit character. Plums and dates. Almost port like. No heat. Much better than expected.

 

[GMRfx]

One more from the weekend. 4 year vertical of the first 4 narwhal releases. Did them blind. Everyone Got the youngest correct. Hot, rather hoppy and a bit of acetaldehyde. We also guessed the same sample as being the 2012 (and favorite) but we got it wrong. It was actually the 2014. Smooth. Big chocolate char. Full, soft mouthfeel. Low, but good supporting bitterness. Heads above the other 3 years. I def would buy more '14 if I saw it turding up shelves.

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

One more from the weekend. 4 year vertical of the first 4 narwhal releases. Did them blind. Everyone Got the youngest correct. Hot, rather hoppy and a bit of acetaldehyde. We also guessed the same sample as being the 2012 (and favorite) but we got it wrong. It was actually the 2014. Smooth. Big chocolate char. Full, soft mouthfeel. Low, but good supporting bitterness. Heads above the other 3 years. I def would buy more '14 if I saw it turding up shelves.

Been thinking about doing this for a while, glad to hear they're still chugging along.

 

[GMRfx]

Been thinking about doing this for a while, glad to hear they're still chugging along.

I didn't pick up any oxidation in any of the vintages, so I think they'll continue to do well.

I had a four pack of each, so I can do it a few more times. If anyone has a 4 year vert of anything else interesting they'd like to swap for a vert of the Narwhal, hit me up.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Friends 29th birthday, not often I have anything in the cellar from someone's birth year!

No carb. Rich dark fruit character. Plums and dates. Almost port like. No heat. Much better than expected.

Good to hear, I've still got x2 86 Thomas Hardy's left that will be cracked next year for my 30th and in 11 years for my 40th.

If I'm still around I guess.

 

[LSMroz]

If I'm still around I guess.

 

[trickytunadicky]

3 years is about perfect on this. The heat has faded away and leaves a caramely sweet finish, very well rounded. One of my favorites Bell's makes with a little age on it. Kicks you in the teeth when fresh.

 

[Der Fuchs]

08 Alaskan smoked porter is still holding strong. Smoky like a mug.















10 Alaskan smoked porter is on top. So well rounded. Perfect balance of smoke and sweetness. I needs more.

 

[libbey]

Just checking in to say that Bell's Expo 11 and 12 are drinking like champs.

No real surprise. This will always be a staple for my cellar.

Also popped a 2011 Big Eddy that I found in a box. That beer surprised me with how well it aged. Big fudge bomb.

 

[PHBoiler]

Bottle 2466 as far as we could tell. Cork mostly broke apart, so bottle was poured through a sieve. Very reserved nose. A faint woody character, plenty of maple, and some oxidized booze scents. The taste is full but reserved. Maple forward. Booze is incredibly mellow at this ABV. Raisins, caramelized/brandied figs, brown sugar, overripe pineapple, and biscotti. The mouthfeel is quite thin. No carb. Like an after dinner drink. Not terribly oxidized on the whole but some sherry notes. Very unique experience. The flavors were more pronounced and the entire drinking experience was better once I had Utopias 10th anniversary in the sidecar.

First time having Utopias of any kind. Smoother than I expected. Bottle has been open for 2.5 years, but oxidation was fairly minimal. Dry, bready port with raisins, oatmeal cookie, and almost like a watery bourbon note. Overripe dark fruits was more apparent with a sip of water to wash around the flavors lingering in my mouth.

Not a bad one-two punch for a Sunday afternoon at your buddy's house for an hour and a half. Most of the fun was just being there for his excitement to crack into MMM. It wasn't ever anything I needed to have, but it was great to participate with him cracking his personal white whale.

 

[sweemzander]

Finally opened my 2008 Vigeronne
Minimal white wine notes, but primarily a heavier oak funk than this usually has. Good sourness without being enamel stripping. Great experience, but would not age this one this old again - you lose too much of that bright white wine grape note

 

[stakem1]

So I spent the past 3 days working through these in reverse order. I wanted to attack it with an approach like jedwards mentioned - revisiting the opened beer every 24-48 hours or so. Well, I started to do that and then failed because I enjoyed these so much that I killed the bottles either within 12 hours or at the 12 hour mark.

Cuir was the first opened. It was excessively carbonated and actually tasted the most oxidized of the 3. This surprised me but if you consider the solara method, it kinda makes sense since it includes beer (of some percentage that is a year and 2 years older.) I just never expected it to taste THAT much older than Coton and Papier.

Cuir (freshly opened) smelled of raisons, sweet caramel, molasses, dry toasty malt, booze and some papery oxidative qualities. The taste was raisony with toasty malt, cocoa, molasses and slight herbal character. Some oxidative notes added great complexity and focus on the dryer side of the maltiness present.

Cuir (12 hours later) was a much better experience. It had less carbonation which actually feels more fitting of this big beer giving it a richer, creamier feel. Papery oxidation initially that gives way to lots of fruit like raison/prunes and a seemingly completely masked alcohol inclusion. The aftertaste has a bit of fall foliage feel with herbal bitterness contrasting the caramelized sugars.

Coton (freshly opened) was like a mirror image of Cuir at 12 hours after opening except less oxidation and more of a vinous alcohol character. This is also where the first notes of leather, char and mild oak were noticeable. However, as it got warmer, this one felt solvent and more bitter than both Cuir experiences.

Coton (12 hours later) vinous and oaky with almost a stale coffee character that blends with the earth and leather. Oxidation is faint but evident.

Papier - its not that noticeable from my pictures but this beer is significantly darker than Coton and Cuir. Like, almost black where the other 2 were clearly dark brown/mahogany. Papier straight out the gate had visually less carbonation than the other 2 and I kinda liked that about it. It also had minuscule suggestions of oxidation and really was not showing its age. Where Coton hinted at chocolate notes, that is the leading role in Papier with bourbony tang, leather and burnt molasses being the finisher. (Sorry, no 12 hours later notes because I drank the entire bottle in 1 sitting - yeah, that good.)

There is either huge bottle variation in Papier or cellar conditions play a very significant role because my experiemce here was phenominal and id kill for more of these whereas thats simply not the reaction ive read with most others.

 

[CatsUnderTheStars]

Crooked Stave Wælz Blood - May 15, 2013 Bottling Date:

Drank this today at the Crooked Stave Taproom during their 5th Anniversary releases.
Was lucky enough to grab one of the 12 bottles they had available for on-site consumption.
We let this one open up for about 2 hours before really getting into it.

Appearance: Deep brass tone, with a rose tint from the hibiscus. With the dregs added in it looked almost like grapefruit juice. Luckily i got a bottle with decent carb- small head on the initial pour, but some of the other bottles were almost completely still.

Nose: This was intense! Fresh peach fuzz, leather, candy-like acidity, herbaceous, and seriously funky! After letting this one open up, this brew had some of the most intense peach aromas I have ever gotten. Fresh sliced barely under-ripened peach

Taste: Mind-bottling. This was like drinking sour peach juice! I was very impressed with the amount of fruit after 3 years of conditioning. Peach jam with a nice herbal spice from the hibiscus, high acidity but not enamel stripping. Peach dominates this beer with an amazing brett funk on the finish. Hibiscus is hard to detect but adds a nice earthy complexity.

Mouthfeel: Minimal carbonation, with that peach fuzz tingle. After adding the dregs it became very velvety and rich, like a peach nectar.

Overall: This is one of those 'desert island' type of beers right here. Worth seeking out, truly one of the better american wild ales out there. Intensely peachy with a great balance of acidity, and I don't think it will be falling off any time soon. Was a treat to drink this today with some buddies at the taproom.

Cheers!

 

[poonamibaxter]

2012- muthafucka this is perfect. The nose is toasted marshmallows with alcohol heat and that is exactly what you taste with a slight addition of brown sugar fruits. Not sure why I opened this tonight but glad I did. Zero oxidation. If you have two drink one now and hold one for one more year.

 

[jedwards]

This year's quick Vail Big Beers notes:
1994 Sam Adams Triple Bock -- still the same bottles as two years ago, still the same quality. Either they brought less or people were more excited because they ran out earlier than usual, but I still got several pours.
Utopias -- tried both the 2012 (10th Anniversary) on tap and 2006 which I think was a bottle that one of the Sam Adams folks was pouring from a Nalgene (<-- why Big Beers is great). I couldn't ID any vintage of Utopias blind (except maybe 2013) but these were very different -- 2012 was fruity, nutty, light burn, 2006 was dark, leathery, and had almost no burn. Both great but as usual not terrific "fest" beers.
Bell's Batch 9000 -- I really wish I hadn't drunk or traded all these years ago. It's aging incredibly well, the licorice has transformed almost completely into rich, molasses-y fruit flavor, body is quite viscous, incredible coffee/roast/char nose without any umami that I detected.
Alaskan Smoked Porter 2008 -- sampled next to the 2015, and in comparison had a much more mild & integrated smoke flavor. Less bitterness & char, extremely drinkable.
Left Hand Widdershins 2003 -- a nice old bottle from Left Hand. Body was thinning, but lots of toffee & caramel, some fig/prune flavors, and no unpleasant cardboard as I've gotten from some of the older barrel-aged Widdershins.

And a final non-cellaring note for any Denver-area aged beer enthusiasts... seek out the Former Future Black Project Cat Sabbath. A rare and well-done experiment in intentional oxidation.

 

[Der Fuchs]

2002 old stock is perfect. touch o carb, minimal oxidation, so many leather shoes and chocolate covered prunes. hhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggg

 

[stakem1]

2002 old stock is perfect. touch o carb, minimal oxidation, so many leather shoes and chocolate covered prunes. hhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggg

im all about dem chocolate covered raisons that is the 2000/2001 vintage

 

[libbey]

2011 Dogfishhead World Wide Stout.

The beer pours a pitch black tiny head that flattens out quickly.

Nose is all dark fruit and dark chocolate. Zero hint of oxidation and a whiff of booze.

Taste follows suit with loads of heavy dark malt. Leather, dark cherry and bakers chocolate. The beer has rounded off with the booze being way more integrated into the flavors. The heat is there but it doesn't have the same bite as it does fresh.

Down side the beer is dead flat. It doesn't really deter to much because of the style but some carb would have been nice.

Overall this could go another 5 years and probably not seem very different. Big beer and a fun sipper this afternoon.

 

[bendrinksbeers]

Cracked open a 2008 Old Ruffian last night.

Terrible. It was all cardboard and a weird, flat bitterness that was super unappealing. We drain poured it.