Random Beers

[kickstand]

The rest of the case is in the basement. I've got 1 2009 and 2 2010s down there, too.
Some people have a wine cellar, I have a beer cellar. Only like 4 different beers down there, but hey, it's a start.

So, let me ask this - how long is it OK to age beers for? And does the bottle need to be corked - as opposed to caps - for it to work properly. Reason I ask is I had some OLD Sierra Nevada Bigfoot that I thought would age well. When I cracked one open, it was flat and absolutely nasty. I'm not a huge barley wine guy anyway, but I was hoping aging them might improve the taste to me.

I also have a Lawson's Finest Maple Nipple and a Rock Art Vermontster in the fridge that are a year or more. I really don't want to ruin either one of them, especially the Lawson's. Getting up to the MRV on a delivery day is akin to the planets aligning for me.

 

[ctenidae]

So, let me ask this - how long is it OK to age beers for? And does the bottle need to be corked - as opposed to caps - for it to work properly. Reason I ask is I had some OLD Sierra Nevada Bigfoot that I thought would age well. When I cracked one open, it was flat and absolutely nasty. I'm not a huge barley wine guy anyway, but I was hoping aging them might improve the taste to me.

I also have a Lawson's Finest Maple Nipple and a Rock Art Vermontster in the fridge that are a year or more. I really don't want to ruin either one of them, especially the Lawson's. Getting up to the MRV on a delivery day is akin to the planets aligning for me.

Depends on the beer and the cap style. The Alstrom brothers say it well:

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/store

 

[drjeff]

This came into the 18 tap rotation at Mount Snow's Station Taproom this past week.

Smuttynose Scotch Ale. Really suprised me with how much I enjoyed this beer, since Scotch Ale's usually aren't my thing. A nice dark brown color, a wonderful scotch like aroma, and a very smooth, malty taste at first with a finish that is slightly hoppy and definatey oak/peat like finish highly reminiscent of a single malt scotch. With an 8.2% ABV, it was a very worthy beer for me to sip and enjoy as I was watching some of the numerous fights during the Bruins-Cannucks game on Saturday afternoon! :beer:

 

[marcski]

Just opened a growler of Stone Double Bastard.

 

[severine]

Just had a Brooklyn Chocolate Stout and now I'm enjoying an Allagash Four, based on my server's recommendation. Nowhere near the same kind of beer, but not bad.

 

[roark]

So, let me ask this - how long is it OK to age beers for? And does the bottle need to be corked - as opposed to caps - for it to work properly. Reason I ask is I had some OLD Sierra Nevada Bigfoot that I thought would age well. When I cracked one open, it was flat and absolutely nasty. I'm not a huge barley wine guy anyway, but I was hoping aging them might improve the taste to me.

Bigfoot is more like an IIPA on 'roids. Best young. That said I have 05-current. The 05 is not good at this point.

I have an imperial stout I made in the late 90's that was fantastic the last time I tried one 2 yrs ago. FWIW it was positively undrinkable for the first 5 years, if that gives you any idea of the kind of beer you'd want to age that long...

 

[snoseek]

Bigfoot is more like an IIPA on 'roids. Best young. That said I have 05-current. The 05 is not good at this point.

I have an imperial stout I made in the late 90's that was fantastic the last time I tried one 2 yrs ago. FWIW it was positively undrinkable for the first 5 years, if that gives you any idea of the kind of beer you'd want to age that long...

Have you been to golden city brewery yet aka the second largest brewery in golden? I reccomend you try their beer.

 

[ctenidae]

Shackmeister Ale at Shake Shack in Westport- 2 for 1 special, couldn't resist. Tasty beer, went great with burgers, fries, and even chocolate custard.

And to top it off, I had a reason to care about football for a few minutes. Not who was playing or anything, but that it existed.

 

[severine]

Had a Harviestoun Old Engine Oil last night. That was an interesting one. Pretty good! Described as "viscous, chocolatey, & roasty"--definitely a bit roasty/reminiscent of coffee, but not too much.

 

[drjeff]

Stone More Brown than Black - A collaboration between the folks at Stone and the Brewmaster at The Alchemist! An IPA with 7.5% ABV -was apparently only 3 barrels were sent to New England and 1 ended up at Mount Snow's Station Taproom! :beer: Starts off nice and hoppy with a very smooth finish that lingers with a slight bitter, almost floral like taste similar to a Harpoon IPA to my taste buds! Tasty enough that i'm about to order pint #2!

 

[ski stef]

Hopzone..pretty good. At the bozeman brewery listening to some bluegrass

 

[ctenidae]

Had a Harviestoun Old Engine Oil last night. That was an interesting one. Pretty good! Described as "viscous, chocolatey, & roasty"--definitely a bit roasty/reminiscent of coffee, but not too much.

Tasty, but you rarely need more than one, I find.

 

[severine]

Tasty, but you rarely need more than one, I find.

You must be a lightweight.

 

[ctenidae]

You must be a lightweight.

It's the flavor, not the alcohol- more than a couple, and you can't taste anything else for a week. Tastes great, really filling!

 

[marcski]

Hopzone..pretty good. At the bozeman brewery listening to some bluegrass

Sounds tasty. The beer, Bozeman and the bluegrass.

 

[severine]

It's the flavor, not the alcohol- more than a couple, and you can't taste anything else for a week. Tastes great, really filling!

If I'm at a bar, I tend to mix it up anyway. Take advantage of the opportunity to try different brews with each order.

 

[ctenidae]

If I'm at a bar, I tend to mix it up anyway. Take advantage of the opportunity to try different brews with each order.

I'm with you- the worst part about bars with extensive selections is that perusing the list kills all conversation...

 

[drjeff]

I'm with you- the worst part about bars with extensive selections is that perusing the list kills all conversation...

But after you on on your 3rd or 4th or 5th peruse of the list, very often the conversations end up getting quite entertaining, both at that moment, and over the next day or so when folks tell ask you "Do you remember what you said about....." :lol:

I could be in for one of those nights tonight as I'll be in Boston, with one of my good dental school friends at a bar that has 30+ beers on tap! :lol:

 

[Jeffs LexToy]

Had a 24 oz bottle of Long Trail Centennial Red last night that I got from the local Market Basket. 7.9% and real smooth!

 

[severine]

Heading out to the Hooker tap takeover at Backstage EDL so I can try their new Munson's Chocolate Stout.