Cellared Beer Reviews

[PurityControl88]

Vertical Epic 2012. Definitely better than expected, especially in a novelty beer like this. Fading but pleasant spiciness, some chocolate, savory sweetness, a little leathery and smokey. If anything a fun trip down memory lane.

 

[stakem1]

Has anyone had an original (2008) Pappy Eclipse lately, and can tell me how it's holding up? I loved Pappy Masterpiece -- so if the OG pappy eclipses are similar I'd love to hear how they're doing.

Follow up: There we're three different bottling dates for the 2008 Pappy Eclipse. Is there any known difference between them?

What kinda differences are you looking for? Tasting notes between the different '08 bottlings or ways to tell them apart? Ive personally encountered 2x '08 pappy bottlings - one was unwaxed, one had pink wax. Both were glorious and unlike any other bottle of exclipse ive had.

Do not expect pappy eclipse to be the same beer as pappy masterpiece. Granted, its been likev4 years since I had the '08 pappy eclipse but its very much different than the booze heavy masterpiece.

 

[stupac2]

I think you guys will like this one: ~1987 Westvleteren Quad:

I got this bottle in an IP trade on my first trip to Belgium, almost exactly 5 years ago. The guy didn't know how old it was, just "late eighties, early nineties", which matched my research based on the cap. IIRC it was used from like 1985 until 1992, something like that. So I said "**** it, 1987 is right in that range, I'm opening it for my 30th and calling it 1987".

I wasn't expecting a whole lot. I've never had a bad Westy from this century, but I've also never had one anywhere near this old, and as we all know once you start really pushing these it's all a matter of luck. I'm sure everyone's had bottles from the same year stored in the same place their entire existence, one was exquisite the other garbage. It's a crapshoot.

Fortunately, we got a good one. It opened with a very faint hiss, which had me worried, but it turns out I didn't need to be. While it was basically still, there was almost no gross oxidation, just plums and caramel and sherry. It was wonderfully different from the younger bottles I've had, but in the same vein. Very pleased to have tried it, and it turns out that I (somehow, because I have no recollection whatsoever of how I got it) have another bottle with the same cap, but it's in better condition so I'd guess it's younger. Can't wait to open that one in a few years.

 

[PDXAmbassador1]

What kinda differences are you looking for? Tasting notes between the different '08 bottlings or ways to tell them apart? Ive personally encountered 2x '08 pappy bottlings - one was unwaxed, one had pink wax. Both were glorious and unlike any other bottle of exclipse ive had.

Do not expect pappy eclipse to be the same beer as pappy masterpiece. Granted, its been likev4 years since I had the '08 pappy eclipse but its very much different than the booze heavy masterpiece.

Good info thanks stakem! Yeah I suppose I was curious if there were taste / formula differences between the '08 Pappy waxed / unwaxed...but sounds like both were stellar.

And these are old now! I know that something like '08 BCBS is cardboard & soy sauce at this point, so would be curious if similar vintage Eclipses somehow faired better!

 

[stupac2]

Good info thanks stakem! Yeah I suppose I was curious if there were taste / formula differences between the '08 Pappy waxed / unwaxed...but sounds like both were stellar.

And these are old now! I know that something like '08 BCBS is cardboard & soy sauce at this point, so would be curious if similar vintage Eclipses somehow faired better!

I believe the waxed vs unwaxed is just the party bottle in '10 vs the actual release in '08. I don't think they used wax until '09, but I could be wrong about that.

 

[sjstraub]

Drank at room temp.

Leather, caramel, and a bit of raisins on the nose. Really nice aroma.

Carb on pour, but minimal carb in the beer.

Initial taste is sweet dried fruit. Some hop characteristics on the back end.

Could probably sit a couple more years and get better. Very enjoyable beer.

 

[PurityControl88]

Goose Island - Nightstalker Bottled 11/2012. Getting raisons, savory malts, tootsie rolls and a port like sweetness with a mild nutty oxidation.
A once hoppy stout is now a slightly oxidized desert beer.

 

[Treebs]

2013 Matt



Chocolate, smoke, tobacco, barrel and oh so smooth. Viscous and oily, the mouthfeel was amazing. Held up ridiculously well.

 

[regularjohn]

2013 Matt



Chocolate, smoke, tobacco, barrel and oh so smooth. Viscous and oily, the mouthfeel was amazing. Held up ridiculously well.

Nice! i'm failing to complete my vert with this beer i think i'm just gonna crack them soon.

 

[Treebs]

Nice! i'm failing to complete my vert with this beer i think i'm just gonna crack them soon.

I would. This was easily the best bottle of Matt I've ever had and might have been the best experience with a HotD beer ever. Just amazing.

 

[furley]

jesus, it just dawned on me now that i have to move my "cellar" in the very near future.

too much to drink down (only a couple cases but my consumption rate isn't impressive) in time.


RIP broken bottles, in advance

 

[FTowne1]

jesus, it just dawned on me now that i have to move my "cellar" in the very near future.

too much to drink down (only a couple cases but my consumption rate isn't impressive) in time.


RIP broken bottles, in advance

I just recently moved about 120 corked and caged bottles of homebrew. Zero casualties. I was pretty shocked.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

2010 Pannepot Reserva from De Struise Brouwers

Dark fruit character from the malt and stone fruit ester character, rich malt profile highlighted by a bready melanodin front end with some sweetness and dark fruit (fig / raisin) back end. Very little oxidation which surprised me a bit, and the only real sign of age was the quick diminishing head and lack of carbonation as it lingers.

Some of the most underrated cellaring beer out there in my opinion (Pannepont / Reserva / St. Amatus, Grand Reserva is usually ready to go when it is released and hasn't benefitted as much from some additional time in my opinion).

 

[sjstraub]

I would. This was easily the best bottle of Matt I've ever had and might have been the best experience with a HotD beer ever. Just amazing.

This was from about a month ago. 2010 was aces. 2016 was awful. No carb.

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

Drank a 2012 M#3 last night to ease that buttpain from game 1 of the NBA Finals. No photo, but I'm pretty sure you guise know what the bottle looks like.

This was probably a top 5 bruery beer I have ever had. Shocked to not find it boozy, well balanced, ton of dark fruit/cherry with enough barrel presence to let you know it was in a barrel, but not enough to beat you over the head with it. M#3 starting with 2015 has become way too boozy for my taste, but I'll be holding onto my bottles of those hoping they mellow out like this one.

 

[PHILIPPE1]

2010 Pannepot Reserva from De Struise Brouwers

Dark fruit character from the malt and stone fruit ester character, rich malt profile highlighted by a bready melanodin front end with some sweetness and dark fruit (fig / raisin) back end. Very little oxidation which surprised me a bit, and the only real sign of age was the quick diminishing head and lack of carbonation as it lingers.

Some of the most underrated cellaring beer out there in my opinion (Pannepont / Reserva / St. Amatus, Grand Reserva is usually ready to go when it is released and hasn't benefitted as much from some additional time in my opinion).

Just bought a 2011 Reserva a couple weeks ago so glad the 2010 is drinking great! Will probably hold onto mine for 2-3 years. I had a 2009 Reserva and 2005 Vintage at Kulminator recently that were both drinking incredibly fudgy and delicious. Suprised there wasnt more fruity dryness.

Definitely agree on this being completly underrated, especially for aging.

 

[NAD1983]

This was from about a month ago. 2010 was aces. 2016 was awful. No carb.

But y no Bottleworks X?

 

[Der Fuchs]

RR Damnation batch 53 - 2009

Small pop when uncorked. Med carb with a hard pour. Almost 0 aromatics in the smell - faint graininess is about it. Taste is mild oxidation, straw, mild esters, yarrow. Reminds me of the SN 30th Charlie, Fred, and Ken helles bock with a few years on it. An extremely mellow drink overall. Decent experiment that isn't really worth repeating.

 

[furley]

RR Damnation batch 53 - 2009

Small pop when uncorked. Med carb with a hard pour. Almost 0 aromatics in the smell - faint graininess is about it. Taste is mild oxidation, straw, mild esters, yarrow. Reminds me of the SN 30th Charlie, Fred, and Ken helles bock with a few years on it. An extremely mellow drink overall. Decent experiment that isn't really worth repeating.

what does yarrow taste like?

 

[stakem1]

RR Damnation batch 53 - 2009

Small pop when uncorked. Med carb with a hard pour. Almost 0 aromatics in the smell - faint graininess is about it. Taste is mild oxidation, straw, mild esters.

Add to this taste description sherry/currant and your experience matches the bottle of RR Salvation I opened over the weekend. "Batch 010" which I think is at least 5 years old but dont know for certain.

 

[lazerviking]

Enjoyed this one on Saturday night. Placed into refrigerator the night before serving. Poured totally flat, cola-like in appearance. Body was heavy, with viscous mouthfeel similar to tawny port or other fortified wines. Nose was all raisins and figs with a trace of oxidation (mustiness). Taste was phenomenal: oloroso sherry, raisins, butterscotch, and a very slight perceived sourness. The oxidation present on the nose was barely discernible on the palate. For my tastes this bottle was just about perfect. I've got three more of this vintage and I will probably enjoy them soon as I don't expect them to get better.

 

[Der Fuchs]

what does yarrow taste like?

Soft floweriness (close to gardenia mixed with chrysanthemums) with a touch of honey and a mild medicinal bitterness. It tends to be very subtle, and is the main ingredient in lots of gruits.

 

[barleywinefiend]

Enjoyed this one on Saturday night. Placed into refrigerator the night before serving. Poured totally flat, cola-like in appearance. Body was heavy, with viscous mouthfeel similar to tawny port or other fortified wines. Nose was all raisins and figs with a trace of oxidation (mustiness). Taste was phenomenal: oloroso sherry, raisins, butterscotch, and a very slight perceived sourness. The oxidation present on the nose was barely discernible on the palate. For my tastes this bottle was just about perfect. I've got three more of this vintage and I will probably enjoy them soon as I don't expect them to get better.

That's my jam.

 

[davey101]

2006 bottle. Rough stuff. Tons of oxidation. Soggy cardboard and musky Welch's grape juice. Lot's of chunks and sediment. Couldn't finish the bottle. Had one about two years ago and liked it then.

 

[jdhende]

Batch 27 2010 bottle. Still holding up very well for being 7 years old. The champagne yeast is very nice on this.

 

[ExPimp]

Batch 27 2010 bottle. Still holding up very well for being 7 years old. The champagne yeast is very nice on this.

I really miss that beer.

 

[thebandit1]

From last week. Baller Stout.

Surprising amount of carb. Really mellow with a slight roast. Tastes like a well-aged Expedition Stout. This bottle has been moved a lot and been in some questionable situations (in and out of the fridge, cold basement, hot garage, etc) but drinks like a champ now. Really enjoyed it.

 

[lazerviking]

From last week.

2010 CSG. This was absolutely phenomenal and my second great experience with a 5+ year CSG. The herbal hops had faded almost completely and a bright lemon funk had taken prominence. The lemon gave way to a champagne-like dryness and dusty limestone that left me wanting more after each sip. I sadly don't have any other CSG bottles this age, but I'm definitely ISO.

 

[robertgoulet]

Nothing particularly old, but I wanted to see what a year would do to the peppercorns. This was probably the worst gusher I've had and lost quite a bit. Make sure you open it outdoors

The peppercorns have really subsided and the Brett has totally taken over this beer resulting in a really fruity beer akin to drinking a peach smoothie. Good stuff.

 

[lazerviking]

Opened this abomination last night.

1997 SA Triple Bock.

The cork was a nightmare - black, crumbly, smelly, awful. Poured through a coffee filter to get out the cork particles, the sickly brown liquid had no carbonation whatsoever. The smell was putrid vegetal matter, wet dog, sopping cardboard, and shame. Somehow, the taste was even worse than I was expecting given the lead up: spoiled food, excrement, maggoty garbage. I can safely say this is the worst thing I have ever tasted. I just got chills writing the description because it reminded me of the experience. Two sips and I was done.