Beer in the new era

I had a 2010 celebration the other week, it was pretty good.

I also have a 2011 120 minute IPA in my closet. Supposedly it ages well.

I'm always impressed by anyone who has the self-discipline to keep good beer in the cupboard for any length of time.

I used to think it would be impossible, but I just started buying so much that I couldn't possible drink it all. Put it in the closet and sort of forget about it. Getting it out of the fridge is the key. I do worry about the temp in the closet though. It's okay through the winter, it's usually 65 or lower, but this summer I feel like I should look for alternatives.

i try to finish ipas w/in like 3 mos. of bottling date. the "couple of weeks" crowd is weird and paranoid but it makes no sense to let an ipa sit around either.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8293771973_26d79896ec.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8293771473_4a44d1851f.jpg

Using the word 'cellar' strikes me as especially aggrandizing, so I'll just say I've stashed the following in a Rubbermaid in the corner of my basement. Not the most impressive, but it's a solid start I think:

-Two 2012 Abyss. Really going to commit to aging these- the two bottles put together cost more than my typical trip to the liquor store, so I'm going to do it right
-Three Backwoods Bastard (this one ages really well imo)
-4 pack of BCS (so affordable, so good)
-1 Narwhal, found this one too hoppy and boozy, hoping it mellows
-I think an Old Rasputin or two?
-6 Homebrewed Tripels

Also, buddy of mine was over the other night, and we cracked some 2011 Darkness, that shit really gets better with age! I didn't find the 2011 so good last year when it came out, but the 2012 now came off as impossibly sweet in comparison. I don't know if it was the age or a difference in recipe, probably both.

I should get a few Rochefort 10s for my don't-call-it-a-cellar. Hmmm.

Also, Jeff, is that Founder's bomber a Bolt Cutter or a Frangelic? If it's the Mountain Brown, I would recommend pouring it directly down the drain. Also, I've heard mixed things on aging Breakfast Stout. I just didn't bother because it was so good fresh, don't know what you think.

drink breakfast stout for breakfast: y/n?

Duhhhhh. Do it.

I have bolt cutter and mountain brown. I love the mountain brown, already drank 2 bottles of it. Haven't tried the bolt cutter yet but have read mixed reviews.

I'll drink the breakfast stout sooner rather than later. Just need to move it to the fridge.

i'm pretty suspicious of aging any beer with coffee notes

^^ That was my worry on Breakfast Stout. It seems similar to an IPA in that the element you bought it for would fade w/ time.

And to each their own on the Frangelic, I found it tasted like some Nescafe shit.

I could see that, but maybe I just like Nescafé.

Agree with the coffee beers. I don't plan on leaving everything in there for years. I'll drink all my bourbon county coffee sooner because it is so good fresh.

a great startup beer for cellaring/stashing/holding/etc that i'd recommend is north coast's old stock ale. phenomenal beer to begin with (and glad it hasn't reached the hording status of bourbon county) and pretty easy to track down, even previous year vintages. bell's expedition and goose island nightstalker also benefit tremendously after a year left alone imho.

had brooklyn blast on tap tonight -- imperial ipa -- good!

v. drinkable for a 9% ipa imo

wish that one came up this way

are you supposed to refrigerate ale?

Struck by them having Abbot Ale in the menu - it's really no good, if I'm in a pub in which Abbot is the only cask ale I'll drink something else entirely. By a street the worst beer in the building, I reckon.

I read that Abbot Ale is Tim Martin's favourite beer, which I assume may be one of the reasons it is available in all Wetherspoon's. I don't think I've ever drunk it. This is partly because it seems like a boring choice, plus I tend to avoid beers above about 4.5% in strength.

Regarding "coffee beers", I had Dark Star's Espresso the other day (hand pump at the Toll Gate, Turnpike Lane) and it was really nice.

i think ale should be stored in a fridge if temperature fluctuates in your abode, but not served that cold. personally prefer verying temp. depending on the brew. beers are served too cold for their own good in bars (in the states)in general; exception at my local being cask conditioned that doesn't get refrigerated

xpost

i've definitely found that to be true - esp w/ stouts - that when they're too cold the temp overwhelms a lot of the flavor

had st austell's proper job & williams bros' citra dry-hopped impale IPA recently

two of the best pale ale's I've had in a while

Full Sail has a coffee/chocolate (neither actual ingredient is added) out now in their LTD series. Not bad for a $7/6-pack beer. Don't really taste any chocolate, but the coffee flavor is there.

I always love Anchor's Christmas ale, but this year's tastes extra amazing to me right now.

Selection in Dublin isn't amazing, but managed to get a Brooklyn chocolate stout and some Brewdog stuff, which will do fine.

The sales guy at my local beer store recommended me to try a Black IPA since I told him I was looking for something dark like a stout but with more flavor. They had about half a dozen different Black IPAs in stock, none of which I'd tried. He steered me to a 4-pack of Uinta Brewing's Dubhe Imperial Black IPA. They're okay, I guess, but a little too bitter. I think I'm just not that into the ultra-hopped American IPA thing so much these days.

black ipas are *really* hard to get right imo.

you should maybe just drink some porters?

Yes, I'm thinking a porter next time. Maybe with some unusual spice or flavoring added.

For black IPA's I like the Wookey Jack by Firestone Walker.

yeah, wish that was more available

Somehow Lindeman's fruity lambics have become a holiday transition in my and my gf's families. Currently sipping a large glass of the raspberry stuff, not usually my thing but it's tasting damn good right now for whatever reason.

transition = tradition

Consumed last night:

Bell's Turn It Up To 11 - American Strong Ale, massive hop bomb, 98 on ratebeer
Scaldis Noel - Belgian Strong Christmas Ale - fruitcake in a snifter, 97
And topped them off with a Summit Winter Ale, since I changed venues and that was the best they had

this bottle cost $2 and it's pretty good

http://i.imgur.com/hObTc.png

jars

the more beer i drink the more i think the russians were otm w/ russian imperial stout

what is the german beer purity law

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinheitsgebot

every time i drink german beer (seldom) i am mindful of this

thank u cad, u saved me the need of typing it into wikipedia

:) i couldn't remember the german word (obv)

I'd just like to point out that Duck Rabbit beers are the shit

wait i am sure i have read this wikipedia page before

i'm drinking a german beer right now actually!

http://thefullpint.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Korbinian.jpg

I brought some Brown Ales and Milk Stouts back from Atlanta via Nashville and I am a super happy man right now

while traveling during the holidays I had various regional beers:

new glarus
surly
summit
schell
short's
bell's
keweenaw

Saw a website today where I could order some surly and coffee bender. Tempting.

I often feel like I ought to take orders for Surly when traveling to MN.

Lagunitas Sucks and Founders Imperial tonight right off the handtruck at my liquor store before any of the other animals could bet their hands on it. Drinking the Sucks right now and oh my god.