Steve's Cellar Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Total Beers: 113 | Unique Beers: 39 | Breweries: 21
83
30
| Consumption History | When |
|---|---|
| Drank 650 ml of Imperial Compass by Southern Tier Brewing Co (2015) | March 10th, 2018 |
2018-03-10
This was a 2015 bottle given to me, along with others, by a friend cleaning out her beer fridge in anticipation of moving. It poured a slightly dark yellow with a large white head which slowly dissipated with moderate lacing in a Nonic glass.
I don't thing aging this served it well. I could barely smell any rose hips and citrusy hops which surely have faded with time and they were borderline nonexistent in the taste. In fact it tasted like a generic American Pale Ale which I'm sure was not Southern Tier's intention. The good news is that this is the last bottle I received that should be negatively impacted, or not enhanced, by aging.
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| Drank 750 ml of 2 Turtle Doves by The Bruery (2009) | February 23rd, 2018 |
2018-02-23 I don't have a younger version of this to compare it to but to me this is what the epitome of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale is all about. It poured into a long stemmed tulip a very dark brown with a full dark tan head which dissipated quickly with almost no lacing. Smell is still pretty boozy with lots of dark fruit flavors and the taste almost perfectly reflects that although as it warms the interplay of flavors becomes more complex. Mouthfeel is what it is for a sipper like this. I don't detect any off tastes that sometime get associated with aging. I'm not aware of what The Bruery's game plan was for this was, like maybe I should've waited longer until all 12 days of Christmas had been released before drinking this. Or maybe today was the absolute optimum time to be drinking this bad boy. The only thing I regret is not sharing this 750 ml with someone who would likewise appreciate it. But I am definitely up to the task of seeing this through. | |
| Drank 12 oz of KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) by Founders Brewing (2017) | February 19th, 2018 |
2019-04-26 This is the second half of a vertical starting with a 2019 which was, quite frankly, a disappointment. It tasted like a slightly better Breakfast Stout with next to no barrel presence. This had slightly less carbonation but was far from flat. The coffee smell and taste was reduced but still present but, wow, the barrel presence was back and left no doubt that I'm drinking something barrel aged in bourbon barrels. This was the opposite of what I expected, which is why we do these tests. | |
2018-11-12 Another 2017 in an Abbey long stemmed tulip. I think this is very balanced now and am thinking of gradually finishing the 2017s between now and late spring 2019 to ward off any off tastes or the barrel tastes disappearing and it becoming something less pleasing than it currently is. | |
2018-08-26 Had another of the 2017. Poured into a DFH tulip I think the head was slightly smaller than when fresh. The barrel and booze smell is still prominent but is slightly more balanced in the taste along with the chocolate and malts. Still a very rewarding experience in the waning days of August. Still three left to consume and compare
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2018-04-07 Having a 2017 after a year (time flies when you drink excellent beer) and the chocolate flavor has faded slightly but the barrel taste and alcohol burn are still present along with the coffee. This probably isn't a long term item to cellar but there's no urgency to consume the remaining four.
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2018-02-19 Still pretty hot but smooth. I'm hoping that aging mutes the alcohol burn and brings out more of the chocolate and other flavors. But if it doesn't this is still very good. | |
| Drank 12 oz of Backwoods Bastard by Founders Brewing (2017-08-26) | February 14th, 2018 |
2018-02-14 Wanted to follow up last night's consumption of a 2016 with this, particularly since starting in a month this will be available year round. I think the aging brought out some more complex flavors because this, while still excellent, just seems slightly less interesting. The barrel and molasses flavors are still here, but they're more out front and less balanced. I look forward to subsequent tastings. | |
| Drank 12 oz of Backwoods Bastard by Founders Brewing (2016-10-05) | February 13th, 2018 |
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 12 oz of Curmudgeon by Founders Brewing (2016-12-30) | February 12th, 2018 |
2019-11-23 No problem with it going flat because the carbonation hasn't subsided at all as the body continues to get darker. And the smell is still plenty rich and sweet with vanilla tones. But in the taste the molasses has faded somewhat leaving the bitterness of the oak barrel being somewhat grating on the palate. As it warms to room temperature this becomes less problematic as the sweetness returns to mask the barrel but I recall this being a better experience with less age under it. If/when Founders offers this again, I'll be so guided. | |
2019-04-25 Poured into a DFH tulip. Carbonation is still present with no obvious diminution. Not sure if the color has darkened more from 11/13/18 but it is decidedly darker than the starting point. Molasses and oak seem to be more blended. Aging hasn't hurt this at all but I'm not sure that it's improved at the same level as, say, North Coast Old Stock Ale. Still I only have one left and I'll wait until at least the three year point if not longer. | |
2018-07-21 Poured into a DFH tulip the color seems darker but there's no loss of head nor retention. The oak smell is still present along with a touch of molasses and a pleasant booziness. Taste replicates the smell but it seems more balanced than in the past. Bitterness in the aftertaste noted in February hasn't gotten any worse and might be less prominent. Cellaring hasn't negatively impacted this. | |
2018-02-12 Poured into a long stemmed Lost Abbey tulip I think the color has darkened some. Still a strong oak smell and taste. The taste has a slight bitterness at the end that I'm not sure I noticed a year ago; this was a gift from a friend moving and cleaning out her fridge so I'm not sure what the storage circumstances were, so I still have three more to further age and hopefully the bitterness doesn't get to the point that it's undrinkable. Maybe in another year there will be a fresh batch with which I can compare. | |
