Cellared Beer Reviews

[barleywinefiend]

I just don't understand the bad rep this has gotten, the one I opened two weeks or so ago was actually pretty delicious too. Glad I have one or two more buried somewhere.

In a world of double barrel goodness I think it was more of a letdown for Founders having this big anniversary barley wine with out the barrel. It seemed to simplistic for today's palate. I enjoyed then and now. It was pretty hot fresh but still good Imo. This beer proves that a barleywine can have great legs and complexity without a barrel.

 

[danbanana]

In a world of double barrel goodness I think it was more of a letdown for Founders having this big anniversary barley wine with out the barrel. It seemed to simplistic for today's palate. I enjoyed then and now. It was pretty hot fresh but still good Imo. This beer proves that a barleywine can have great legs and complexity without a barrel.

"Made to Celebrate Founders 15th Anniversary, Bolt Cutter Barley Wine is an American barley wine that pours deep copper color and is strong, sweet and malt-forward, with a spicy complexity. Typical of the style, it is very cellarable. The final product is a blend using beer that was aged in Bourbon barrels, some from aged maple syrup Bourbon barrels and some from standard fermentation. After blending, the beer was allowed to mature in bottles and kegs for a few months before releasing."

I definitely got barrel in it fresh. But it was masked by the gross sweet hop-syrup thing that made it a particularly not-good beer.

 

[barleywinefiend]

"Made to Celebrate Founders 15th Anniversary, Bolt Cutter Barley Wine is an American barley wine that pours deep copper color and is strong, sweet and malt-forward, with a spicy complexity. Typical of the style, it is very cellarable. The final product is a blend using beer that was aged in Bourbon barrels, some from aged maple syrup Bourbon barrels and some from standard fermentation. After blending, the beer was allowed to mature in bottles and kegs for a few months before releasing."

I definitely got barrel in it fresh. But it was masked by the gross sweet hop-syrup thing that made it a particularly not-good beer.

Great follow up. I never detected any barrel treatment, old or new, I do know that it had grown over the years.
I felt it was sweet, syrupy, and hot fresh.

 

[user 305963]

Great follow up. I never detected any barrel treatment, old or new, I do know that it had grown over the years.
I felt it was sweet, syrupy, and hot fresh.

Founders has had the base barleywine on tap before. It is the definition of hot. Last BC I had was Nov 13 and it tasted like fresh from the tap. I'm excited that it's still holding on.

 

[harrymel1]

2009 Mirror Mirror

No Brett. Not ever.

Robey tones. Unfortunately, this was best about a year ago IMO. It's got a bit too much wood/board, mild dustiness and some cherry character. Caramels and toffee have all but died out from their former lead role.

Last bottle must be sold on MBC obviously.

 

[harrymel1]

Black Butte XXIV, 2011

Date in the nose, figs in the mouth, dark chocolate (hershey's syrup like), oak, tannic, some sweetness.

Good enough.

 

[harrymel1]

Doing some Deschutes this week:

2012 Dissident. As I've mentioned in the past, I have a mixed relationship with this beer. Tonight it's got some chill haze about it. Smells decent with some candied cherries, oak and grain. Flavor is better than usual with the cherries really shining, the acidity polishing the high grain bill into a flavor component rather than a domineering characteristic. Would bang again.

 

[barleywinefiend]

2009 Mirror Mirror

No Brett. Not ever.

Robey tones. Unfortunately, this was best about a year ago IMO. It's got a bit too much wood/board, mild dustiness and some cherry character. Caramels and toffee have all but died out from their former lead role.

Last bottle must be sold on MBC obviously.

I just posted my last one.
$75.00

 

[barleywinefiend]

For some reason I was never a fan of these. However, impartial review says it's doing well. It's still got a lot of barrel and a light tart funky thing creeping on. Definitely Double Bastard.

 

[Jnorton00]

I just don't understand the bad rep this has gotten, the one I opened two weeks or so ago was actually pretty delicious too. Glad I have one or two more buried somewhere.

I blame King Henry getting everyone super hard over BA barleywines.

 

[beerandraiderfan]

Drank some cellar stuff for the fights Sat night.

Kept expectations real low on this ~5 year old barleywine. Everyone was pleasantly surprised, mellow fellow, hops fallen off, no heat, a real enjoyable $4 bottle at the time. No detectable oxidation, but a smooth ride during the Gunnar Nelson fight.

Batch 2 ToD. Drank a batch 1 in March. These beers don't change. Which is great, because I think its the most underrated beer the Bruery makes. Shelf turds, no respect.

Can't compare it when fresh, but everyone agreed its better than King Henry.

Seriously enjoyed this one (batch 1!). Made for winter, great around the pool in summer.

Doesn't change

No change. Only 1 year old though.

A few years old. Meh, truth in advertising

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

I've noticed that Bruery beers don't develop much with less than 5 yrs. In the past couple of months I've had several of their beers between 2010 and 2012 and noticed a similar experience as you. Anything blended with Fruet, you ******* know it right away. Most are so high ABV I think it will take a decade to move the needle on those guys.


Cracked a 2010 BT on Saturday:

Beer was awesome, enjoyed it much more than 13 or 14 Reg/Rum versions. For 18% it sure as **** didn't drink like it. Smooth, dark chocolate, bit of smoked meat. Never had '10 fresh, but compared to 13/14 it had a fuller body, less oil slickness, and the bourbon was better integrated.

 

[matedog]

I've noticed that Bruery beers don't develop much with less than 5 yrs. In the past couple of months I've had several of their beers between 2010 and 2012 and none changed. Most are so high ABV I think it will take a decade to move the needle on those guys.

I've been wondering that lately. Namely any batch 1 Black Tuesday or at least 08/09 Saison Rue or something that might develop.

My friend put away a bottle of Chocolate Rain for his wedding to be opened at their 5 year anniversary. All i could think was, "that's just going to taste like Black Tuesday."

 

[sacrelicio]

Drank some cellar stuff for the fights Sat night.

Kept expectations real low on this ~5 year old barleywine. Everyone was pleasantly surprised, mellow fellow, hops fallen off, no heat, a real enjoyable $4 bottle at the time. No detectable oxidation, but a smooth ride during the Gunnar Nelson fight.

Batch 2 ToD. Drank a batch 1 in March. These beers don't change. Which is great, because I think its the most underrated beer the Bruery makes. Shelf turds, no respect.

Can't compare it when fresh, but everyone agreed its better than King Henry.

Seriously enjoyed this one (batch 1!). Made for winter, great around the pool in summer.

Doesn't change

No change. Only 1 year old though.

A few years old. Meh, truth in advertising

Smooth Criminal is so damn good.

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

I've been wondering that lately. Namely any batch 1 Black Tuesday or at least 08/09 Saison Rue or something that might develop.

My friend put away a bottle of Chocolate Rain for his wedding to be opened at their 5 year anniversary. All i could think was, "that's just going to taste like Black Tuesday."

Had a 2012 CR Recently and you're spot on. Pretty much BT with a hint of vanilla/chocolate. Still an excellent beer, but that one is better fresh.

Same with that 1 yr old GM we had a while back. The hazelnuts were pretty much nonexistent.

All well, never know til you try.

 

[jedwards]

For 18% it sure as **** didn't drink like it.

Presumably by now they've started testing the ABV on their BA beers post-barrel-aging? Back in '09/'10, my recollection is that they'd tested the 100% BA Papier and found that the barrels added some ridiculous percentage (like 3%), then simply used that number for future BA beers (i.e. added it to the ABV calculated from the FG). That number is possible, but at the very high end for aging in a (very) wet barrel. I remain suspicious that early 100% BA Bruery beers are in reality at least a percentage point or two lower in ABV than stated on the bottle.

 

[barleywinefiend]

My, oh my. Still a gem. No issues at all on flavor or feel. The nose was not as robust but dat' pour was sluggish. Loads of tobacco, chocolate, and dark fruit on the palate. A little tamer on the heat as I recall from my first several years ago. Damn,this ****** is so good.

 

[user 305963]

My, oh my. Still a gem. No issues at all on flavor or feel. The nose was not as robust but dat' pour was sluggish. Loads of tobacco, chocolate, and dark fruit on the palate. A little tamer on the heat as I recall from my first several years ago. Damn,this ****** is so good.

 

[stupac2]

Trade for a 2009 bomber. It's better. (Or at least it was last time I did a side-by-side.)

 

[user 305963]

Had Rare once back in March 13. It was glorious. Never had an 09 bomber.....yet.

 

[danbanana]

Trade for a 2009 bomber. It's better. (Or at least it was last time I did a side-by-side.)

Had an 09, 11, and a Rare on consecutive days in May. Rare was barely better than the 11, but 09- which at one point was Rare-level- was way down.

 

[stupac2]

Had an 09, 11, and a Rare on consecutive days in May. Rare was barely better than the 11, but 09- which at one point was Rare-level- was way down.

I've had 09 recently, I didn't think it was way down.

But when you're talking about bottles that are this old (5+ years) storage and randomness start to play a big part in everything.

 

[barleywinefiend]

BA Monster 29. Poured flat like burn Quaker State motor oil. Smelled of bourbon booze, raisins, dates, prunes, and almost every dark fruit you could imagine smothered in dark chocolate.

Base Monster 29 was just as good. I almost enjoyed it more. Free from the barrel the base beer produces that big strong dark fruit presence but with a light char and smoke. Very chewy, light carbonation, and amazingly solid 360.

This was my last ones unfortunately. I feel these beers were highly underrated and overlooked then and now. Sadly, not many of these probably still exist. If they do, me want.

 

[waltersrj]

BA Monster 29. Poured flat like burn Quaker State motor oil. Smelled of bourbon booze, raisins, dates, prunes, and almost every dark fruit you could imagine smothered in dark chocolate.

Base Monster 29 was just as good. I almost enjoyed it more. Free from the barrel the base beer produces that big strong dark fruit presence but with a light char and smoke. Very chewy, light carbonation, and amazingly solid 360.

This was my last ones unfortunately. I feel these beers were highly underrated and overlooked then and now. Sadly, not many of these probably still exist. If they do, me want.

Those two beers are killer. Made the mistake of drinking BA Monster without looking at abv after I already had other beers on a fricking weeknight...

 

[barleywinefiend]

Those two beers are killer. Made the mistake of drinking BA Monster without looking at abv after I already had other beers on a fricking weeknight...

Yeah. Deez heavyweights are legit!

 

[drgarage1]

BA Monster 29. Poured flat like burn Quaker State motor oil. Smelled of bourbon booze, raisins, dates, prunes, and almost every dark fruit you could imagine smothered in dark chocolate.

Base Monster 29 was just as good. I almost enjoyed it more. Free from the barrel the base beer produces that big strong dark fruit presence but with a light char and smoke. Very chewy, light carbonation, and amazingly solid 360.

This was my last ones unfortunately. I feel these beers were highly underrated and overlooked then and now. Sadly, not many of these probably still exist. If they do, me want.

Just did some reading on this beer. They claim it's 17% ABV from a 42 Plato wort? That would be a final gravity of 14.75 or so. That is INSANE.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Just did some reading on this beer. They claim it's 17% ABV from a 42 Plato wort? That would be a final gravity of 14.75 or so. That is INSANE.

Yea it makes Dark Lord look like a well attenuated normal beer in comparison. It is pretty delicious when viewed through the prism of a still after dinner drink though.

 

[barleywinefiend]

This 2014 was un drinkable. It had a sharp twang and pronounced souring note that I couldn't overcome.
Lots of vanilla present. I drain poured 90%.

 

[robertgoulet]

I compared a best before 10/18/15 to a best before 05/13/18 Westvleteren 12 the other day. The older bottle had a weaker head that was light and fizzy which quickly dissipated to a film which did hang around a while. The younger beer had a substantial head that was more resilient. Both were a dark ruby.

The nose on the older bottle was all sweet prunes and booze soaked fruit cake. Lots of the expected dark fruits. Baked apple and light molasses. Very mild oxidation. The fresher bottle was more clove, banana, bubblegum, figs, plum, spicy and less booze.

The older tasted of boozy dates, prunes, dark fruit - but not the typical raisin. Booze heat and medicinial notes (Robitussin). The fresh bottle was typical dark fruit - fig, with a caramel spicy bite. Also grape and burnt toffee notes

I prefered the mouth feel on the older bottle which was a nice medium body and quite coating. The fresher bottle has a distinctive carb that seemed to overpower the mouthfeel.

Both were very enjoyable.

 

[barleywinefiend]

My, oh my. This 2013 is drinking so damn fine. Lots of chocolate, toffee, and dark fruits. The heat had tapered a wee bit.
This is, without a doubt, one of the best non BA barley wines around.