Cellared Beer Reviews

[KevSal]

ive got a ba cuir and fruet chillin in the cellar i think its time i check those out. bummer to hear about bois, those variations were some of hte best beers ive had fresh

 

[stakem1]

ive got a ba cuir and fruet chillin in the cellar i think its time i check those out. bummer to hear about bois, those variations were some of hte best beers ive had fresh

Fruet was my favorite fresh anniversary release. I revisited 2 bottles within the past couple months and was not happy with them. I think I have another in my fridge right now just to drink it so it is gone. Not bad...but not as good as it was fresh which is weird for me to say because I really enjoy cellaring and drinking aged beer. I never had high expectations for any of the Bois and Sucre variations as those I thought were all fairly oxidized within the first year. (I wonder if the ratio of old beer in the solara blend has hit a point of diminishing returns.)

100% Cuir on the other hand... wow
That is a drainpour that you should just trade to me. (I kid I kid, 75/25 Cuir is probably my lowest rated anniversary beer but the 100% version is crazy good.)

 

[Der Fuchs]

The 2012 melange 3 we had on sat was pretty damn good.

 

[KevSal]

The 2012 melange 3 we had on sat was pretty damn good.

did that have the abv curving into the label or curving out? I have both in my cellar but forgot which was 2011 and which was 2012

 

[Der Fuchs]

did that have the abv curving into the label or curving out? I have both in my cellar but forgot which was 2011 and which was 2012

Curving in? I'm not sure what you mean. Abv is on the bottom left and is curved in this manner:

A
L
C
1
5
%
B
Y
V
O
L

Or something like that

Slanted from top left down to bottom right. Convex to to left side of the label.


Edit: the spacing design on the abv I put in doesn't come thru when I post.

 

[stupac2]

Curving in? I'm not sure what you mean. Abv is on the bottom left and is curved in this manner:

A
L
C
1
5
%
B
Y
V
O
L

Or something like that

Slanted from top left down to bottom right. Convex to to left side of the label.


Edit: the spacing design on the abv I put in doesn't come thru when I post.

Use the code tag:

A
   L
       C
           1
              5
               %
                B
                Y
              V
             O
            L

 

[Der Fuchs]

Use the code tag:

A
   L
       C
           1
              5
               %
                B
                Y
              V
             O
            L

thanks. im pretty stupid.

 

[nsh221]

Use the code tag:

A
   L
       C
           1
              5
               %
                B
                Y
              V
             O
            L

code? tag?

i'm pretty stupid, too.

i think it took me two years on this site before i realized that, as far as posting content was concerned, a gif was essentially the same as a jpeg.

 

[davey101]

Just before the drink by date. Nose is pretty mild. Muddled cherries, toffee, and some oxidation creeping in. Smells like an old fashioned. Taste is cherry cordials and an odd kind of papery oxidation. Light caramel and chocolate as it warms up. Really nothing like any aged Belgian quad I've had. It's lost most of the quadiness and it's more like an aged cherry strong ale. Really mild and light on flavor which makes it very drinkable. Nice and creamy mouth feel though. Meh, drink your old labels now if you got em.

 

[KevSal]

Curving in? I'm not sure what you mean. Abv is on the bottom left and is curved in this manner:

A
L
C
1
5
%
B
Y
V
O
L

Or something like that

Slanted from top left down to bottom right. Convex to to left side of the label.


Edit: the spacing design on the abv I put in doesn't come thru when I post.

great thanks, ha I'm going to label them with a sharpy now

edit: funny enough when I'm replying to your mesg your curve is intact correctly

 

[greg4579]

Not all that long ago I drank the first 5 Bruery anniversary ales and Cuir was among my least favorite of them all. This 100% BA version though is a completely different story.

Aroma is burnt sugar with a distinct bourbon tang of alcohol about it. Raison, plum, prune, dates, molasses, figs...all those dark sugary things are present with slight woodiness, vanilla and caramel. Taste includes a shockingly pleasant complex layering of all things bourbon meets wood and slight oxidation, mustiness and earth. Vanilla, caramel, toffee and molasses are all well represented along with a slight herbal bitterness to contrast.

I only drank half the bottle last night and im fully torqued to dome the rest of it tonight.

If people are still hating on the Bruery anniversary beetus and want to unload any of these im in. 100% in for acquiring any/all of these that might still be out there in the wild.

Your recent review was enough to make me pursue a bottle. This is one of those beers I always wanted to try and just never traded for one.

 

[KevinC1]

I had a bottle of Smokey and the Bois back in May that was knock-your-tits-off good. Like there's no way you could convince me there wasn't vanilla in it. It's interesting to hear that there are such varying experiences with big beers, especially when some of them aren't all that old.

 

[anteater1]

I had a bottle of Smokey and the Bois back in May that was knock-your-tits-off good. Like there's no way you could convince me there wasn't vanilla in it. It's interesting to hear that there are such varying experiences with big beers, especially when some of them aren't all that old.

I had Smokey and the Bois on tap at the Bruery when it came out and then again about a month ago. It was crazy good on tap, one of the best smoked strong ales I've ever had. It was also really good two years later, basically no smoke at all but extremely mellow.

 

[KevinC1]

I had Smokey and the Bois on tap at the Bruery when it came out and then again about a month ago. It was crazy good on tap, one of the best smoked strong ales I've ever had. It was also really good two years later, basically no smoke at all but extremely mellow.

That was the only time I had it, but it certainly was mellow. Might have to track another one down.

 

[ASUBeer]

Has anyone opened a Deal w/ the Devil b2 recently?

 

[KevSal]

excuse me if its side ways I tried taking a sideways pic this time

2012 bcbs and its tasting fantastic! I don't remember this being a beasty 15% but it definitly doesn't taste like it. bourbon soaked brownies all day

 

[Snarf1]

I usually forget to post stuff in here, but had this a few nights ago.

Last of these, sadly. The late 90s JW Lees have held up great, particularly '97. Much Tootsie. So roll. Not a ton of fruit going on, but it's an element. Really nice carb for the age, all around just a great example of barleywine.

 

[KevSal]

my very last 2012 white chocolate. there it is! I missed you so much. nothing that has come after has ever tasted the same, although admittedly I havnt felt like expiriencing the 2013 all over again so I've stayed away the last year. word has it this year is good tho

chewy white chocolate, not as bright as it was fresh but the vanilla and chocolate still take over. good news for som, not near as sweat as it once was, maybe it's the slight oxidation? either way it's very nice. No work tomorrow so I'm doin it solo. no reason to hang onto this any longer if you got em

cheers tb

 

[Number45]

my very last 2012 white chocolate. there it is! I missed you so much. nothing that has come after has ever tasted the same, although admittedly I havnt felt like expiriencing the 2013 all over again so I've stayed away the last year. word has it this year is good tho

chewy white chocolate, not as bright as it was fresh but the vanilla and chocolate still take over. good news for som, not near as sweat as it once was, maybe it's the slight oxidation? either way it's very nice. No work tomorrow so I'm doin it solo. no reason to hang onto this any longer if you got em

cheers tb

I've still got a '13 bottle that I've been dreading opening. Loved the two '12 bottles I had at release and traded for a '13 immediately after it was released and before I knew of anything bad...brutal.

Anyway, loved the '12 version. Glad to hear it's holding up great!

 

[PDXAmbassador1]

I usually forget to post stuff in here, but had this a few nights ago.

Last of these, sadly. The late 90s JW Lees have held up great, particularly '97. Much Tootsie. So roll. Not a ton of fruit going on, but it's an element. Really nice carb for the age, all around just a great example of barleywine.

The 2001 I had recently was one of the best barleywines I've ever had. Is there much batch variation among the early 2000s vintages? Are they all this good? Caramel, madeira, toast. That one and a B&B Royal Oil I stumbled upon (not to mention dontdrinkbeer's bw reviews) have gotten me on a rather sizable barleywine kick.

 

[JGlitz87]

Drank a 2013 Valley of the Hearts Delight the other night. Is that beer always that good?

The amount of apricot at the finish caught me off guard.

 

[matedog]

Drank a 2013 Valley of the Hearts Delight the other night. Is that beer always that good?

The amount of apricot at the finish caught me off guard.

It's changed pretty dramatically in its three iterations (four iterations? I have 2014 as first year?)
2014: Cherries and loquats along with apricots
2015: Just apricots, but it's Almanac so you can't taste any
2016: It's the new Almanac, fruit is ramped up and delicious.

(L to R: 2014, 2015, and 2016)

 

[JGlitz87]

Mine may have been the 2014, the bottle said it was bottled Feb. 2013.

However it said that it had cherries and loquats, so maybe it was the 2014.

 

[KevSal]

I got a few 2013/14 almanacs as well, might need to break into them soon. I have a few brandy barrel peche, I loved that one fresh, surprised they havnt re-released it.

nice comparison photos of the vohd

 

[matedog]

Mine may have been the 2014, the bottle said it was bottled Feb. 2013.

However it said that it had cherries and loquats, so maybe it was the 2014.

beerandnosh
Any insight on the number of Valley releases?

 

[bumbillbee]

Despite my love of mulberries I really didn't like the 2016, way too sweet cuz of the dates. First batch (with loquats and cherries) was incredible, didn't try the second. I'd love to revisit the first release.

 

[beerandnosh1]

beerandnosh
Any insight on the number of Valley releases?

Printing error on the bottles - was in fact 2014 bottle, incorrectly labeled 2013.

 

[PHBoiler]

These 2013 bottles are drinking as good as everyone says they are. It's not as thick as King Henry but it has similar brown sugar, raisin, and toffee character. Hints of oak and vanilla. Minimal booze/burn. Incredibly easy to drink at 12.1%. I think I've got 4 left and I may put 3 in the fridge now because I don't know how it gets better. Just leave one down there for science.

 

[Snarf1]

These 2013 bottles are drinking as good as everyone says they are. It's not as thick as King Henry but it has similar brown sugar, raisin, and toffee character. Hints of oak and vanilla. Minimal booze/burn. Incredibly easy to drink at 12.1%. I think I've got 4 left and I may put 3 in the fridge now because I don't know how it gets better. Just leave one down there for science.

I could give two ***** about BCBS, but this stuff makes my knees week. Wish I had a cellar full.

 

[FTowne1]

I could give two ***** about BCBS, but this stuff makes my knees week. Wish I had a cellar full.

Wish I wouldn't have drank all mine within a month of buying them.