beer shorts - cellar edition

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.

beer shorts

Cascade Kriek Ale

ABV: 7.2%

Picked up a bottle of the '2012 Project' over the summer. Nice teeth enamel-removing sourness, tart and fresh cherries; though they lean strongly towards tart. Lemons, oak, some vinegar, bready+herbal tones, and a decent dose of funk. Somewhat big-feeling for the style with high carbonation. A good example of an American kriek, though be prepared for an intense sourness stranglehold.

Jack's Abby Pumpkin Crop Lager

ABV: 5.5%

After two seasons of having it around now, this has become one of my must-buy pumpkin beers when autumn hits. Following in the Jack's Abby tradition, it's a lager - which is unique for the style and works well here, adding some bready and grainy tones. The mouthfeel feels a bit on the watery side, but the authentic pumpkin+squash flavors and restrained spices make this a winner for me. The lightness and drinkability is nice too, the low ABV is great. A definite standout in a style that can often be repetitive.

Sierra Nevada Narwhal Imperial Stout

ABV: 10.2%

Straight-up roasty and boozy imperial stout, no coffee/barrels/whathaveyou needed, great stuff. The scent is a little tame but the taste improves upon it. Big roasted malt/dark chocolate punch, dark fruits, light molasses sweetness, and perhaps some hops burrowing beneath this deep dark malt attack. Coffee ground-esque finish. Thick and viscous mouthfeel with some alcohol heat, which only compliments the boldness rather than detracting from the beer. Especially at the price, this is a nice 4-pack purchase during these cold months - good for cellaring too.

Dieu Du Ciel Route Des Épices

ABV: 5.3%

A rye ale brewed with peppercorns - unabashed peppercorns, that is. It is indeed a spicy sipper, but not quite overbearing. Other than rye, grassy tones, and general herbs/spices, there are also flavors that resemble ones found in a light brown ale such as nutty malts, toasted bread, and caramel. Carbonation is somewhat on the low side. Probably not for those with little spice tolerance, I love pepper and this still made me break a sweat!

The Alchemist Heady Topper

ABV: 8%

Watching this beer go from a sorta-hyped newcomer to a phenomenon has been an interesting experience to say the least. This has been a classic to me since my first visit to the brewpub (R.I.P.) in 2010, and though it's sort of cliche by now - especially coming from a New Englander - this still holds up as what may be my favorite Double IPA. This was definitely one of the first to nail the whole 'potent and balanced citrus/tropical/earthy/danky hops and warm biscuit malt' thing that so many IPAs go for now, and also remains one of the prime examples of this type. Standout characteristics for me: the level of bitterness, the mouthfeel, and the balance of hop and malt (but mostly hop) flavors. I'm also convinced they pioneered the 'hoppy beer in a 16 oz. can' trend, but that may have to be a debate for a later time.

beer shorts

Paulaner Oktoberfest-Marzen

ABV: 5.8%

This is the classic+standard German oktoberfest for me, along with the Ayinger. As soon as the weather showed even the slightest hint at cooling down for the season I ran out and grabbed a 6-pack. The scent is straight up potent toasty lager, the taste is great and quite complex for the style. Lots of flavor including toasted bread, crackers, light floral and herbal hops, and some clove-like spice. Finishes clean and biscuity. The mouthfeel for this beer always feels a bit watery, which is unfortunate, but the flavor makes up for it mostly. Great balance of sweet and toasty. Probably one of my favorite lagers and always a definite purchase for me come the fall.

Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA

ABV: 6.2%

A new fall seasonal from Sierra Nevada, I picked up a 6-pack of this soon after the release. A solid dark amber ale that is more balanced than expected, but still packs a nice plethora of hop flavor (pine, floral, earthy, citrus, pineapple). Malts are mostly toasty with some caramel sweetness. The mouthfeel is hefty and smooth with low-end carbonation and mild bitterness. Not super remarkable overall, but certainly a welcome addition to Sierra Nevada's lineup.

La Blaugies/Hill Farmstead La Vermontoise

ABV: 6%

This is a collaboration between La Blaugies of Belgium and Hill Farmstead of Vermont, a saison that intends to combine Belgian and American influence/ingredients I imagine. Great scents of baked bread, farmy yeast, herbal and grassy hops and white grape. The taste is maybe a tad hoppier, but really what we have here is a very traditional, well-made saison with some subtle herbal and citrus hop goodness. Lots of great fresh grain and yeast flavors, cracker-y malts and some earthy farminess to keep things interesting. With all the crazy brett-laden/aged in wine barrel/mega-hopped farmhouse ales coming out nowadays, the straightforwardness of this one is a breath of fresh air, definitely well made.

De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis (Bourbon Barrel-Aged)

ABV: 10%

Many different barrel-aged versions of this imperial stout were released in the past, and most were spirit-specific when labeled (Wild Turkey, Bunnahabhain, etc.) For this one, they decided to confuse everything and simply label it as "bourbon barrel-aged". But who am I to complain when I open a bottle that smells this good? It's slightly boozy and sweet, but quite decadent, with scents of chocolate-covered cherries, caramel, coconut, and bourbon of course. The taste, though very good as well, is a bit of a letdown after the scent. The alcohol and sweetness muddles the beer a bit; bourbon, chocolate and dark fruit still rule overall. Some brown sugar, oak, and char are noticeable as well. The mouthfeel is pretty lowly carbonated, oily and hot with alcohol. No doubt a good beer with nice flavors, but I would've personally preferred a heftier feel and less harshness. It's a sipper, for sure. I have 2 more bottles which I'm planning to age, maybe they will mellow out with some time.

De Struise Pannepot

ABV: 10%

A classic, one of my all-time favorite beers for sure. Huge scent of raisins, leather, chocolate and spice. Taste brings on an abundance of musty dark fruits; raisins, figs and dark cherries especially, along with nice dark malts, chocolate, molasses, and spicy notes. Finishes slightly peppery. The mouthfeel is absolutely velvety smooth with great carbonation. Waaayyyy too drinkable for 10%, I'm not sure what is more impressive, its flavor or ability to hide alcohol content. I've been lucky enough to try this beer a number of times: fresh, aged anywhere from 2 to 6 years, various vintages, etc., and have never been disappointed. This is a treat no matter what stage it's in/vintage it is, but I will say this one really does age spectacularly - don't be afraid to throw a few of these in the cellar!