Steve's Cellar Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Total Beers: 113 | Unique Beers: 39 | Breweries: 21
83
30
| Consumption History | When |
|---|---|
| Drank 250 ml of Thomas hardy the historical by Thomas hardy (2018) | November 20th, 2019 |
2019-11-20 4.21/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Picked this up over the summer when someone in a local bottle shop who knows my tastes pointed this out along with a regular Thomas Hardy so I snagged them both. Didn't know how long to sit on them so I decided to try this now.
Poured 250 ml bottle #12523 into a DFH tulip. No carbonation: Zero, Zip, Nada. Color was a rich maroon amber with a little haze but no floaty things. Smell was of dark fruit, scotch and raisins. Taste mirrored the smell but with a tobacco and leather tinge. Almost no alcohol heat which at 13.7% is incredible. And no detectable hop presence even though it's listed in the ingredients. Mouthfeel was a little thinner than I expected but not bad.
I debated sitting on this longer; the owner of the bottle shop gave me a WTF look when I asked his opinion but he might be agnostic on the joys of aging. So this didn't quite reach my expectations but it was still a very pleasant experience in which I'm still basking as I type this.
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| Drank 12 oz of Double Barrel Dubbel by Brewery Ommegang | November 18th, 2019 |
2019-11-18 4.35/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2019 Limited Release. Saw this at a local bottle shop, thought "what have we here" and snagged it immediately with thoughts of a cool autumn night; like tonight.
Stored in the cellar fridge at 50 degrees. Poured into a DFH tulip, there an inch light tan head over a dark slightl reddish brown body. Smell developed as it warmed up into a sweet spicy barrel tinged wine smell. Taste was even better with all the smells plus some very complementary bourbon and brandy highlights. Mouthfeel was a little thicker than I was expecting from a dubbel but this is not a complaint.
This might be the best dubbel I've had. I've said before that barrel aging perhaps bastardizes styles by making them something different but frankly I don't care. This is superb. A long time ago Ommegang was a personal entry point into the craft beer world with their superb Belgian style ales. Through time I've drifted elsewhere but this is a good start on dragging me back. | |
| Drank 12 oz of Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout 2019 by Stone Brewing (2019-05-18) | November 16th, 2019 |
| Drank 500 ml of Framinghammer - Cordon Rouge by Jack's Abby (2019-04) | November 16th, 2019 |
2019-11-16 4.24/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bought this in September at Big Fatty's in White River Junction, Vermont.
500 ml bottle stored at 55 degrees poured into a DFH tulip. Dark brownish black body with a small tan head which dissipated quickly. Smell is a pleasant mix of brandy, barrel and orange peel. Taste reflects the smell but the brown sugar adds a sweetness. Mouthfeel is suitable for a baltic porter; not as chewy or full as an imperial stout.
This is a fine Baltic Porter. For some reason I'm not quite as satisfied as I was hoping to be but that was surely unrealistic on my part.
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| Drank 750 ml of CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout) by Founders Brewing (2017) | November 9th, 2019 |
2019-11-09 4.56/5 rDev -3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
The ratings I gave it originally were done in 2017 when I recall being disappointed that I couldn't detect the maple. In the intervening two years either the coffee and chocolate flavors have somewhat faded or my palate has become more discerning because the maple permeates the aroma and the taste. The bourbon and barrel likewise are less prominent although as it warms to room temperature they start to reappear.
I didn't buy this in 2108 because of mild disappointment in 2017, and from reviews at the time I wasn't the only one feeling that way. Either the aging has worked wonders on this or I was an idiot two years ago. Those aren't mutually exclusive. Anyway this is very enjoyable and I look forward to trying the current year. | |
| Drank 22 oz of Willettized Coffee Stout by Lagunitas Brewing Company (2018-08-14) | November 2nd, 2019 |
2019-11-02 In August I drank the next to last bottle of this and commented that the coffee hadn't faded. Welp either the colder weather has muted it, even though I consider the start of weather chill to be 100% imperial stout weather when you're not sure if you're channeling Dostoyevsky or Rasputin, or it faded away. Make no doubt about it, this is still very enjoyable but I think it passed its best by date. Oh well, the 2019s should be here soon. | |
2019-08-09 This reminds me of something that happened in February: it was cold as fuck in Cleveland and I was flying through Minneapolis to get to San Jose to drive to Santa Cruz. The flight got cancelled because of mechanical problems so Delta, being a quality airline, rescheduled me for the following morning and put me up in a local hotel so Mrs Hate didn't have to fuck around with picking me up in brutal conditions. I had dinner in the hotel's bar and they had Great Lakes Blackout Stout on tap. I ordered one and texted one of my fellow hops kissers in Raleigh, NC, and asked him if that wasn't what we split a growler of when he visited and got so blotto that Mrs H still uses it as a benchmark of overindulgence. He just responded "Dude...". So the tulip I ordered was totally enjoyable.
But I noticed a waitress walking by with a Jackie O's bottle and asked the bartender "you got Dark Apparition here?" She said hell yeah and told me I'd ordered from an old list. So I ordered one of those and the difference is why Jackie O's is, in my opinion, the best brewery in Ohio. I could smell and taste immediately that there was more richness and complexity in the Dark Apparition.
That's what I'm tasting tonight versus the Great Lakes Imperial Oyster Stout previously. In every category this is a much better stout. I know that others like the past Lagunitas versions but I can't evaluate this against something I'm unaware of. Perhaps the coffee has faded, although I'm not willing to concede that, but there's still a lot going on. Fortunately I have another bottle (these are extremely affordable) in my cellar to enjoy subsequently. | |
| Drank 12 oz of Underground Mountain Brown by Founders Brewing (2019-08-08) | October 19th, 2019 |
2019-09-21 I was really feeling paranoid about not finding this anywhere around me. Finally I located it by phone quite a way away and was internally weighing the wisdom of traveling so far and then found it when I took Teddy, my avatar, to a dog park and made an excursion, give or take a mile or two or TEN, and found it (is that what Founders *really* means?). Anyway it's still unseasonably hot around here so I was thinking of maybe a nice Oxbow farmhouse ale until I said to myself "just do it after all the horseshit you've been through". So here we are!
8/8/2019 12 oz bottle poured in a DFH tulip. Nice inch tan head over a dark brown body that never quite dissipated. Smell is very coffee forward with a nice booze barrel tinge. Taste was the big surprise because with all the flavors in the smell it's remarkably light (after all it is a brown ale) for the last Saturday of the summer while still packing a flavor heft. Mouthfeel is zesty and refreshing. A friend of mine told me he combined this with Founders Breakfast Stout which makes 100% sense.
All my bitching has been rewarded. This is at least as good as expected.
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| Drank 12 oz of Soaked In Sin by River Roost Brewery | October 19th, 2019 |
2019-10-19 4.08/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked this up at the brewery a month ago. Although this is listed as an American Barleywine it has no hop presence that I regularly associate with the style, with Founders Bigfoot and Bell's Third Coast being two examples. Having said that, although this is perfectly enjoyable for sipping now, it doesn't hold a candle to Jackie O's Bourbon Barrel Aged Brick Kiln, which I consider the gold standard of the style; particularly in the mouthfeel and taste which just coats your teeth with lasting awesomeness. This is much thinner and less satisfying. It's still good, and I like the apple brandy flavors particularly. It's just not as good.
I have another bottle but there's nothing out of balance here that aging should improve. I also have a Barrel Aged Brick Kiln... | |
| Drank 22 oz of Loonidragon 2019 by Clown Shoes (2019-01-12) | October 12th, 2019 |
2019-10-12 4.02/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I picked this up at Harpoon brewery in Vermont about a month ago. Since it's a big stout I wanted to wait until the weather cooled off and after a whopper cold front blew through thought "why not".
22 ounce bottle packaged on 4/22/19 poured into a DFH tulip. Dark brown body under a dark tan head which disappeared quickly. Smell was malty, barrel, vanilla and a slight tinge of coconut. Taste mirrored the smell but at first there was a distinct char taste on the back end that disappeared as either it warmed up or I just got used to it and didn't find it unpleasant. The alcohol in this was completely unobtrusive. Mouthfeel was surprisingly light; not sure if that's a bad thing or not.
This is a perfectly fine imperial stout at a time when there are a gazillion of them. That's not a negative comment except there's nothing about this that would make me specifically look for this. But if I unexpectedly saw it on tap I'd say "oh hell yeah". | |
| Drank 12 oz of Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout 2019 by Stone Brewing (2019-05-18) | October 5th, 2019 |
| Drank 12 oz of Backwoods Bastard by Founders Brewing (2016-10-05) | October 5th, 2019 |
2019-10-05 The smells and tastes of the barrel, the licorice notes and other dark sugars have blended extremely well into an easy drinking sipper. And, as usual, when it warms from the cellar fridge temperature of 50 degrees to room temperature it only gets better. The carbonation and lacing haven't fallen off at all. I honestly can't think of how further aging can improve this because it's perfectly balanced now so what could be gained? | |
2018-02-13 Poured into a Lost Abbey tulip. Age has not removed the barrel taste or the carbonation, still has a nice head, but maybe it's slightly more balanced and the mouthfeel is still outstanding. If nothing else, this makes me even more happy that it will soon be available year round. | |
| Drank 500 ml of Barrel Aged Farmhouse Pale Ale by Oxbow Brewing Company (2018-01) | September 28th, 2019 |
2019-09-28 4.41/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Picked up this 500 ml bottle in Big Fatty's in White River Junction, Vermont; difficult choice among many outstanding potentials. Bottled in January 2018 and the label said enjoy within 5 years. Obviously I didn't make it that far but it's an unseasonably warm last weekend of September, and first weekend in autumn, and the high alc heavy hitters will just have to wait.
As soon as I popped the cap lemony funk filled the immediate space. Poured into a DFH tulip a nice large bubbled head topped a golden straw colored body. As it warmed over the cellar fridge temperature white grapes and barrel smell came forward. The taste mirrored the smell with pear tastes emerging. Feel was like drinking a dry sparkling wine.
I'm not sure what additional aging would have done but if I ever find another of these I'll put it to the test.
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| Drank 12 oz of Underground Mountain Brown by Founders Brewing (2019-08-08) | September 21st, 2019 |
2019-09-21 I was really feeling paranoid about not finding this anywhere around me. Finally I located it by phone quite a way away and was internally weighing the wisdom of traveling so far and then found it when I took Teddy, my avatar, to a dog park and made an excursion, give or take a mile or two or TEN, and found it (is that what Founders *really* means?). Anyway it's still unseasonably hot around here so I was thinking of maybe a nice Oxbow farmhouse ale until I said to myself "just do it after all the horseshit you've been through". So here we are!
8/8/2019 12 oz bottle poured in a DFH tulip. Nice inch tan head over a dark brown body that never quite dissipated. Smell is very coffee forward with a nice booze barrel tinge. Taste was the big surprise because with all the flavors in the smell it's remarkably light (after all it is a brown ale) for the last Saturday of the summer while still packing a flavor heft. Mouthfeel is zesty and refreshing. A friend of mine told me he combined this with Founders Breakfast Stout which makes 100% sense.
All my bitching has been rewarded. This is at least as good as expected.
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| Drank 12 oz of Oil of Aphrodite - Rum Barrel Aged by Jackie O's Pub & Brewery (2019) | August 11th, 2019 |
2019-08-11 4.36/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12.7 ounce 2019 bottle into a Lost Abbey long stemmed tulip. Dark inky body with almost no head. Smell and taste are of boozy molasses and licorice with maybe some other flavors which I think is great. Mouthfeel is full and oily without being overbearing. This is another outstanding Jackie O's offering.
I approached this with some trepidation. First of all I had two 2018 barrel aged Dark Apparition get infected; tried them both on the same night and drain poured both. Fortunately the bottle shop where I snagged this has it on tap (for more jack per 10 oz than this set me back) and I'm confident they'd have made me whole. Also my experiences with rum barrel aging haven't been some of the better ones. I know I've tried rum barrel aged Pumking and thought it was worse than the original and I'm sure there are others that aren't coming to mind now. But Jackie O's knew what they were doing here. I'll try to snag another bottle. | |
| Drank 750 ml of Barrel Works Series Monstrosus by Southern Tier Brewing Co (2017-07) | August 10th, 2019 |
2019-08-10 When I bought this July 2017 22 ouncer, well before I started cellaring things in earnest, the guy at the grocery store said this would be good to age for a while. And here we are!
Pours a dark brownish color with very little head in the tulip. For whatever reason, the smell is the weak point of this. When first poured after 50 degree cellar temperature I couldn't smell anything significant. I was thinking WTF because, although I don't consider myself anything other than a regular guy when it comes to olfactory sensitivities, I usually detect something worth commenting on. Maybe it's seasonal allergies. When it warmed up some boozy chocolate and vanilla sweetness came to the fore. But the taste, dear God! A very thick malty mashup of sweet flavors (Southern Tier never scrimps on the sweetness) along with incredibly well hid booze and the barrel. A near perfect taste experience. The mouthfeel was up there too, thick but well carbonated too.
A very pleasant experience (plus somewhat esoteric music is sounding great). Too bad it was so damn expensive or I'd have bought more.
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