Berkshire Gude Greg's Wee Heavy Private Reserve
(2010)
ABV: 7.25%
This bourbon-barrel scotch ale was a one-time release from the fall of 2010 (though I'm pretty sure bottles are still lingering on shelves around Massachusetts). I bought a few of these at the release strictly for cellaring purposes, and just drank my last one after 3 years of aging. There were lots of reports of this beer not holding up well with time, but mine drank just fine. The bourbon barrel compliments lots of nice sweet and rich malt flavors of caramel, toffee, and vanilla. Peat, light fruity and earthy hops, and touches of maple also present. Feels a little boozy considering the ABV. Not sure this has necessarily gotten better or worse with age, but I'm glad I drank my allotment when I did.
Serafijn Donker
(2007)
ABV: 8%
A solid dark Belgian ale that I have never tried fresh, but this drank surprisingly well at 6+ years old. Lots of smoothed out malty flavors of caramel, molasses, dark fruits, and toasted bread; with some chocolate and light spices. Nice aged feel without much oxidation or loss of carbonation noticeable. I have a few more bottles of this: I wonder how this will hold up after a decade…
North Coast Old Stock Ale
(2008)
ABV: 12.5%
Classic old ale, classic beer for cellaring. A nice enough beer when fresh, but after a couple years or more it seems to balance out (flavor and alcohol-wise) and really shine. At 5 years old this was pretty much a straight up malt bomb - lots of toffee, vanilla and raisins, with some cola, brown sugar, and buttery malts there as well. The sweetness and booze can be a bit much, but I always enjoy this one. I only have one bottle left of this vintage, but I will probably start picking up a 4-pack each year for further cellar experimentation fun.
Deschutes The Abyss
(2010)
ABV: 11%
One of my all-time favorite imperial stouts, for sure. Very cellar-centric as well, as the label recommends you wait at least one year after the bottling date to open it - and at that point it is indeed excellent - but even at 3 years old, it still retains awesomeness. Not many beers can pack this many great flavors in while remaining so balanced and smooth. Dark chocolate, licorice, caramel, roasted malts, espresso, molasses, dark fruits, bourbon barrel, well-hidden alcohol - The Abyss has it all. All the vintages I've had (2007, 2009, 2010) noted that they were partially aged in bourbon and oak barrels, but I read somewhere that more recent ones have added pinot noir barrels into the mix as well! Intriguing…
Cantillon Vigneronne
(2008)
ABV: 5%
Ah, Cantillon. Always an experience for sure, especially when it has been cellared. This particular lambic is brewed with Italian muscat grapes, and of course, aged in oak barrels. I was happy to share a 5-year old bottle with good friends the night before my 29th birthday. From what I remembered from previous, fresher encounters with Vigneronne, it was an especially funky beast of a beer. That was still pretty much true, though the funk lies more so in the aroma than in the taste. However, it was definitely more tart than I remember - very puckering sourness, oak, similar to a straight-up gueuze with somewhat of a white wine feel. A little low on the carbonation and very dry. Though the grapes obviously can't really stand up to the sour/funk annihilation as well as other more common lambic fruits (cherries, raspberries, etc.), this still delivers the trademark musty Cantillon qualities and was still very enjoyable. It really forces you to sip and savor.
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