Lambic Discussion Thread

[BelgianChris]

My system is that I have no system. I’m constantly surprised by what is in boxes in my cellar. It’s worked so far.

Works for me too.
Chaos can be a good thing as well

 

[stupac2]

It seems to me that there's some tension between two reasonable goals one might have when "getting organized"

1. to have some easily accessible (e.g., on a phone) catalog of what one has
2. to be able to see one's options when physically perusing the cellar

Spreadsheets are great for the former. The hang tag approach is great for the latter. The QR code approach would be a way to get the best of both worlds, assuming you could set up some scanning software in place that automatically populates/unpopulates a database based on the scan of a code. On the tag production side, you'd just have to set up your tag so it prints a QR code that has the relevant information for the database.

My memory sucks in most ways, but for whatever reason I don't have any issues finding bottles. I know the approximate location of everything I know that I have, and even if I find something on my spreadsheet that I didn't think I had, I'll have a very good idea of where it would be just based on what it is. Maybe it's like the memory palace, I dunno. It probably helps that I have a pretty strong system for what goes where, but even random things thrown in odd places stick in my mind.

Of course, I can never, ever remember to actually update my spreadsheet, so that's my real issue.

I do like those tags from a visual perspective, but am personally waaaaaaay too lazy to use them. I want to replace my racks with something where the storage is a bit more dense, and now that I'm fluent with my table saw it's a real possibility. We'll see if I have the energy this summer, I've got a lot of **** to do, but I'm nearly out of space as it is (though I don't really think I want to have over 800 bottles...)

 

[The Red Viper]

I keep my spreadsheet perfectly updated (I obsess over lists and things like that anyway) then have bottles on racks sorted by brewer/producer. One Fantome rack, one De Cam, one Cantillon and Tilquon, one for 3F and Boon, etc. Minimal physical sorting required and everything is easy to find. The only thing I ever struggle with is 375ml bottles which are all just in boxes, with sheets of paper on each box in theory listing everything inside them, but I haven’t been good at keeping those sheets updated. If I had just numbered each box to begin with and recorded box # in the spreadsheet that would’ve solved the problem.

 

[andrewcschultz]

If I had just numbered each box to begin with and recorded box # in the spreadsheet that would’ve solved the problem.

It's never too late!

 

[Shrimp Store]

Excel is the easiest. Each cell contains the beer that coincides with the location of that beer in your cellar. Done.

 

[Shrimp Store]

Also, that feel when you don't have enough bottles to forget what you actually have.

 

[skrip]

My system is that I have no system. I’m constantly surprised by what is in boxes in my cellar. It’s worked so far.

I try to misplace bottles on purpose because it’s fun!

 

[BeerandNoise]

Works for me too.
Chaos can be a good thing as well

Agreed. Embrace the chaos. Love discovering beer I wasn't expecting, happened today.

 

[iong516]

I just went through some notes and discovered forgotten lambic as well

 

[andrewcschultz]

Closing the circle on the hang tag discussion I started earlier. Some folks on the FB group asked if I could share the code, so I set things up for others to use this if they like. You can find the relevant files (plus documentation for using) at https://github.com/andrewcschultz/Hang-Tags. (It's probably worth looking at the README file while you're there.)

Let me know if there are any questions, or if you'd like to see things changed.

 

[boogercrack]

This is really interesting, and I think your move to the tags is going to simplify things (& it'll look great!).

I'm curious how people with substantial cellars log what they have, where it's stored, etc.

I keep 98% of my cellar in my actual cellar. Bottles are in boxes inside those big blue storage bins. Nothing is organized. A few times a year I add to my cellar with new acquisitions and/or pull bottles I'd like to drink in the near-ish future. I keep a Google Spreadsheet which I try to maintain as best as possible. Until I either a) buy a house or b) start renting an off-site cellar, this sorta seems like my only option.

this is very close to the same spreadsheet I have, except with columns for which drawer in my 300 bottle wine fridge it's in, and front or rear.

It's roughly organized by style, then producer... then all bets are off. and when I get a box from etre it's all fucky because it's hard to move things up and down efficiently.

 

[tbub18]

What is the best age to drink Iris? It's probably the regular rotation Cantillon I've had fewest times, I have only two bottles (from 2011 and 2013) and probably won't actively look for more, and wondering when I should plan to drink them. Obviously "fresh" is not an option at this point so I'm basically asking if they'll likely continue to improve or if I should just drink them soon.

I like Iris when it’s freshly bottled or as old as possible. I’ve found it to be kind of muddled when it’s only a couple years old

 

[JulianB1]

So what's up (or not) with Bokkeryder?

 

[infi]

So what's up (or not) with Bokkeryder?

Raf is still around, but the name won't. Brand name claim by a fellow Belgian brewery (****'t up) with a beer of similar name, Bokkereyer (note, no "d"). Leading to Raf with a name change.

 

[stupac2]

Last night I had the De Cam Framboise Vlier and Tros Bessen. The former was fantastic, fruity and funky, the latter merely good, somehow it seemed to have more of that weird elderflower stuff going on than the Vlier that, you know, actually had elderflower in it.

 

[iong516]

Speaking of De Cam, had a very nice "2009" Oude Geuze 375 tonight. By taste I'd guess it was bottled between 2009-12, anyone have recollection or .info when they bottled in 375s?

 

[SeaWatchman]

Speaking of De Cam, had a very nice "2009" Oude Geuze 375 tonight. By taste I'd guess it was bottled between 2009-12, anyone have recollection or .info when they bottled in 375s?

It had always been sporadic up until right around 11/12 I think. I had a 375 Oude Lambiek that was around that age.

 

[bostonvert]

Raf is still around, but the name won't. Brand name claim by a fellow Belgian brewery (****'t up) with a beer of similar name, Bokkereyer (note, no "d"). Leading to Raf with a name change.

Have some of those glasses in my cellar, from that brewery they've been around for more then 20 years so who's the smart one?

 

[Digita7693]

Have some of those glasses in my cellar, from that brewery they've been around for more then 20 years so who's the smart one?

I have no idea what you are saying. I suspect it’s dumb, but I can’t tell.

 

[pen15clubmember]

I believe I confirmed this, but A&G and OG would never have the same blend number from the same year, right? I did an inventory this weekend and I think I mixed up a bottle.

 

[SeaWatchman]

I believe I confirmed this, but A&G and OG would never have the same blend number from the same year, right? I did an inventory this weekend and I think I mixed up a bottle.

Yeah each blend is its own number on the year

 

[davey101]

I'd say at least 21, although when I was that age I didn't have the advanced palate to truly appreciate a unique expression of a beer like Iris. So maybe like 28?

I first had Iris when I was 28...

 

[pen15clubmember]

Agreed. Embrace the chaos. Love discovering beer I wasn't expecting, happened today.

I agree with this in spirit, but my concern is letting beers go way past their prime. When I was taking stock this weekend I found a few that were probably quite good a few years ago, but are now likely a damn mess like my '09 Imperial Stout Trooper. Also, I have no idea why I bought 4 ******* Stone IRS in 2012.

 

[quirk6]

I first had Iris when I was 28...

I'm going on 44. It's something I'd love to try, but as I read through this thread and see the energy and money some of you put into lambic I accept that I am unworthy.

 

[Lamnic]

I'm not sure how some of you are so organized with your beer. Chaos rules. It means zero effort, which pairs well with my love of drinking.

 

[primebeer]

I'm going on 44. It's something I'd love to try, but as I read through this thread and see the energy and money some of you put into lambic I accept that I am unworthy.

I think we've had this conversation before, but let me know the next time you're in the New Haven area. Would be happy to open an Iris and some other bottles. Any other CT'ers welcome as well.

 

[quirk6]

I think we've had this conversation before, but let me know the next time you're in the New Haven area. Would be happy to open an Iris and some other bottles. Any other CT'ers welcome as well.

Doing anything Wednesday? I'm usually only in New Haven when I have a reason to be there.

 

[iong516]

I'm going on 44. It's something I'd love to try, but as I read through this thread and see the energy and money some of you put into lambic I accept that I am unworthy.

Don't judge my spending habits

 

[quirk6]

Don't judge my spending habits

I'm not judging. Well, maybe a little but not in, like, a super-judgey way. I just don't choose to make the same foolish mistakes with my money.

 

[OkayBrendan]

Doing anything Wednesday? I'm usually only in New Haven when I have a reason to be there.

In!