Let's Remember Some Beers (In Memoriam: Old Whales)

[matedog]

It was brewery only and before any society was started (the RS started Jan of 2010). I believe there was a presale prior to the release and any info went out, as I remember passing on them thinking I would grab some once I heard if it was good or not . Once the first ticking notes came out before the release the hype was building. Release day was a cluster ****, way more people than allocations. Starting the next year they did the online releases with a pickup party (where my profile pic came from).

Also, not a ton of BA stouts at the time and none in the 18%-20% abv range, so that was a big part of the hype train. Now that BT is relatively commonplace, 09 remains mythic really because of its scarcity and difficulty to acquire at the time. It's passed off as this "20 malts, tastes better than other vintages" thing, but I think that's probably BS. Not definitive, but most other vintages have similar untappd ratings with 2011 having an even better rating.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

KtG and .rar corals: master pairing.

 

[mjohnson171]

Who remembers the first highly sought after HF “whale” in 2012: Ann.

For me that’s the one that got away. Always wanted to try, probably never will, and I’m sure the price of admission isn’t worth it at this point.

 

[sacrelicio]

I almost moved to Hooksett and was pretty jazzed I was gonna have a local brewery. Until I visited. They were located in an old pool supply store, which I'm pretty sure was still selling hot tubs when I was in there. I spent some stupid amount for a vertical of stouts they aged in Utopias barrels. Hand numbered and so limited! The guy said it's the best beer they've ever made and was so proud of them. All but one was a drain pour and even that one wasn't good. Their Anniversary beers were more expensive then shelf Doesjel at Julio's Liquors...

Anyone remember this turd? I went to some beer store and asked about it and the guy laughed at me saying I should have beer here at 7 am. I finally found one after visiting a few stores.

These sat around forever

Me and my wife stopped at WB in 2012 because they were supposed to be good...guy working the tasting bar was really excited about their Flanders red, said he loved to cook with it. Not sure what he was cooking but it would have tasted like dog puke.

 

[JCastle1]

Who remembers the first highly sought after HF “whale” in 2012: Ann.

For me that’s the one that got away. Always wanted to try, probably never will, and I’m sure the price of admission isn’t worth it at this point.

Mimosa came before Ann but yeah I don't remember as much commotion over that one. Never managed to land an Ann.

 

[KevSal]

Who remembers the first highly sought after HF “whale” in 2012: Ann.

For me that’s the one that got away. Always wanted to try, probably never will, and I’m sure the price of admission isn’t worth it at this point.

jesus was it that long ago!

 

[jmgrub]

Mimosa came before Ann but yeah I don't remember as much commotion over that one. Never managed to land an Ann.

Juicy was right around then too, right?

 

[trickytunadicky]

I member when Juicy was a HF beer.

 

[JCastle1]

Juicy was right around then too, right?

Yeah sort of, Mimosa came out in February and Juicy came out around October same year.

 

[Jnorton00]

Who remembers the first highly sought after HF “whale” in 2012: Ann.

For me that’s the one that got away. Always wanted to try, probably never will, and I’m sure the price of admission isn’t worth it at this point.

Just drink any other HF saison and pretend it's Ann and that's pretty much what it tastes like.

 

[lb304854]

Who remembers the first highly sought after HF “whale” in 2012: Ann.

For me that’s the one that got away. Always wanted to try, probably never will, and I’m sure the price of admission isn’t worth it at this point.

It wasn't worth it back then either. It was fine.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Who remembers the first highly sought after HF “whale” in 2012: Ann.

For me that’s the one that got away. Always wanted to try, probably never will, and I’m sure the price of admission isn’t worth it at this point.

I mean... people were losing their **** about HF beers before Ann. Mimosa was huge. Even the batch of E. that was aged in the Mimosa barrel was a 2nd tier whale in its time. Damon, B1 Biere de Norma.. Lots of various dogs and/or ghosts were in the mix.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

I wanted to do a little roll call of Belgian whales who lost their shine to later batches or straight up disinterest in the style:

'99 Framboos (you can fite me on this)
'07 Hommage
'07 50N
Rodenbach Alexander
Rodenbach Vin de Cereale

With the exception of the Rodenbachs, these bottles are still desirable, but their demand went from every tasting group trying to shoot their shot for one to being the purview of jaded old-moneys swapping in back-channel discussions.

 

[wuntrikpony]

Rodenbach Alexander

Had an old bottle(1999?) a couple years ago and it was far better than the more recent batches. Wonderfully balanced for it's age. The newer bottles are too 'tussin for my taste.

 

[KevSal]

I wanted to do a little roll call of Belgian whales who lost their shine to later batches or straight up disinterest in the style:

'99 Framboos (you can fite me on this)
'07 Hommage
'07 50N
Rodenbach Alexander
Rodenbach Vin de Cereale

With the exception of the Rodenbachs, these bottles are still desirable, but their demand went from every tasting group trying to shoot their shot for one to being the purview of jaded old-moneys swapping in back-channel discussions.

there was a time ‘99 framboos was at the very top of what every whale list they had at the time, 2010 maybe?

 

[lb304854]

Rodenbach Alexander

Gonzoillini and I were just talking about how we drank from three different bottles of '99 Rodenbach Alexander at Delilah's sour fest two years ago. They weren't upstairs with the heavy hitting lambics and didn't have a line the whole time we were there.

 

[NAD1983]

All available on the shelf at Bottleworks. $120 ish for the Folie and way less for the Fish beers.

 

[Phischy1]

I can't believe they made a beer called that. I came up with that name at a Bruery Anni Party. I don't recall which one, I think it was the last time they held it at their brewery. They had the tasting room bar open and another bar way around the back.

De-runk about half way through and I asked the bar if they would blend samples, they said yes. So I got 2, and then started making puns off a combo of the beer named in the glass. Dirty Beaver Juice was one and because it was a great blend and a dirty name, I had more and more people going to the bar to order it loudly. riko and stawn I think we're there.

This was before Julian opened Beachwood and he was there with a bunch of Homebrew IPA that was phenomenal.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

there was a time ‘99 framboos was at the very top of what every whale list they had at the time, 2010 maybe?

Oh, absolutely.

When the 2011 vintage was announced I remember making a comment that interest in the '99 was going to trail off which was met with big resistance from the "deep beer knowers". But srsly, as soon as 2011 existed the cost of ticking 'boos went from Certified Pre-Owned Lexus to Geo Metro. Who's gonna drop big $$$ on the bottle that's seen the inside of a FedEx distribution center a dozen-plus times and could very well be past its prime?

Same forces, different strength for Hommage. Then, I guess people forgot Malvasia Rosso existed...

 

[FoudreGuy]

All available on the shelf at Bottleworks. $120 ish for the Folie and way less for the Fish beers.

I was in there yesterday, I think Leviathan was only $25.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Had an old bottle(1999?) a couple years ago and it was far better than the more recent batches. Wonderfully balanced for it's age. The newer bottles are too 'tussin for my taste.

I believe it. On top of the stickiness, nobody cares that much about Oud Bruin/Reds. Not many funky brewers in the states are tripping over themselves to adhere to the strict, regimented processes of the Flemmish masters.

 

[stupac2]

Then, I guess people forgot Malvasia Rosso existed...

That beer was pretty fantastic. Imagine what would happen if 3F released a grape lambic now? It would be such a clusterfuck.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

That beer was pretty fantastic. Imagine what would happen if 3F released a grape lambic now? It would be such a clusterfuck.

Imagine if those stone fruit Twisting the Fate bottles were suddenly made available to-go? Blood in the streets.

 

[nanobrew1]

How have we gotten this far and not mentioned M






or I missed someone already bringing it up.

 

[JulianB1]

How have we gotten this far and not mentioned M






or I missed someone already bringing it up.

I mentioned it casually near the start in my post about the Gratitudes, talking about how the whole Barleywine Is Life meme has renewed interest in old-school barleywhales that had dropped off the map a bit.

 

[stupac2]

Imagine if those stone fruit Twisting the Fate bottles were suddenly made available to-go? Blood in the streets.

******* I need to get back to Belgium.

 

[beerandraiderfan]

Juicy was right around then too, right?

I member when Juicy was a HF beer.

I always found it weird that HF, with their rustic, small batch anti corporate vibe would promote and market their beer in a way that seemed antithetical to their own modus operandi.

There has to be some DDB like merch forthcoming someday. Neckbeards waiting in line with branded Trill Farmstead branded juicy sweatpants and white new balance shoes. . .

Dare to dream. . .

 

[mjohnson171]

Have we touched on this yet?

This was always near the top of want/whale lists.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Have we touched on this yet?

This was always near the top of want/whale lists.

I think people still care about Dave, or at least are aware of it, mostly because there are Dave tastings at bars in Copenhagen.

Also: Where the **** is all of this Dave coming from?? For as un-gettable as this beer was always touted to be there sure seems to be a low bar to entry nowadays. I'm wondering if it's because it's becoming more acceptable for brewers to tell customers wanting ultra rare bottles, "look: just give me a lot of ******* money."

 

[JulianB1]

I think people still care about Dave, or at least are aware of it, mostly because there are Dave tastings at bars in Copenhagen.

Also: Where the **** is all of this Dave coming from?? For as un-gettable as this beer was always touted to be there sure seems to be a low bar to entry nowadays. I'm wondering if it's because it's becoming more acceptable for breweries to tell customers wanting ultra rare bottles, "look: just give me a lot of ******* money."

I believe brian4beer has brought this up before, but there's legitimate questions to be asked about the provenance of the "Dave" that HotD has been selling in recent (2010s) years, such as the bottles that are listed as available for on-site consumption at $1500. By which I specifically mean that it's not the same juice as the original 1994 batch that won the legendary 1998 Toronado barleywine competition, but rather Alan Sprints has rebrewed it on the sly in various intervening years.