12/9/18

Alaskan - Baltic Porter - 2015
Bad Weather - Due Date 2 - 2018
Ballast Point - High West BA Victory at Sea - 2017 (2)
Ballast Point - High West BA Victory at Sea - 2018 (4)
Boon - Framboise - 2013
Boon - Kriek - 2012 (2)
Bruery - Melange No. 14 - 2016
Bruery - So Happens It's a Tuesday - 2017 (2)
Bruery - White Chocolate - 2017
Bruery - Terreux Frucht: Lemon and Cherry 2017
Bruery - Terreux Gypsy Tart - 2016
Bruery - Terreux Rueuze - 2015
Bruery - Terreux Sans Pagaie - 2017
Bruery - Terreux Tart of Darkness - 2017
Cantillon - Gueuze - 2014
Central Waters - Black Gold - 2018
Central Waters - Brewer's Reserve Barleywine - 2018 (3)
Central Waters - Brewer's Reserve Belgian Quadruple - 2016
Central Waters - Brewer's Reserve Cherry Stout - 2017
Central Waters - Brewer's Reserve Stout - 2015
Central Waters - Brewer's Reserve Stout - 2016
Central Waters - Satin Solitude - 2017
Central Waters - Twenty (2)
Chapel - Imperial Stout - 2018
Deschutes - The Abyss - 2013
Deschutes - The Abyss - 2014

Deschutes - The Abyss - 2015
Deschutes - The Abyss Cognac - 2015

Deschutes - The Abyss Rye - 2015

Deschutes - The Abyss - 2016
Deschutes - The Abyss Brandy - 2016 (2)

Deschutes - The Abyss Scotch - 2016

Deschutes - The Abyss - 2017

Deschutes - The Abyss Rum - 2017

Deschutes - The Abyss Tequila - 2017
Deschutes - The Stoic - 2015

Epic - Brainless on Cherries - 2017
Evil Twin - Aun Mas a Jesus
Evil Twin - Aun Mas a Jesus Brandy BA

Evil Twin - Aun Mas Chili Jesus
Firestone Walker - Parabola - 2018
Forager - Basket of Puppies (3)

Founders - Backwoods Bastard - 2013
Founders - Backwoods Bastard - 2014
Founders - Backwoods Bastard - 2015
Founders - Backwoods Bastard - 2016
Founders - Backwoods Bastard - 2017
Founders - KBS - 2016
Founders - KBS - 2017
Founders - KBS - 2018
Fulton - BA Expat - 2015
Fulton - BA Libertine - 2015
Fulton - BA Maitrese - 2015
Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Barleywine - 2013
Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Barleywine - 2014 (5)
Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Barleywine - 2016 (2)

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Barleywine - 2017 (2)
Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Coffee Barleywine - 2018

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout - 2016

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout - 2017

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout - 2018

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Northwoods Stout - 2017 (2)

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2014
Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2015

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2016

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2017 (3)

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2018 (4)

Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout - 2018
Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine - 2018
Goose Island - Proprietor's Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2016
Goose Island - Proprietor's Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2017

Goose Island - Reserve Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2017 (2)

Goose Island - Reserve Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2018

Goose Island - Noel - 2017
Lagunitas - Imperial Stout - 2017
Lagunitas - High Westified Imperial Coffee Stout - 2016
Lagunitas - Willetized Coffee Stout - 2017 (3)
Lagunitas - Willetized Coffee Stout - 2018
Lift Bridge - BA Silhouette - 2018 (2)
Lift Bridge - Commander - 2017
Lindemans - Cuvee Rene - 2018
Modist - Lord Humungous - 2017
New Holland - Dragon's Milk Reserve Banana Coconut - 2018 (4)
Odell - The Meddler - 2016
Prairie Artisan Ales - Bourbon Paradise
Prairie Artisan Ales - Paradise
Prairie Artisan Ales - Pirate Noir
Schell's - Cave-Aged Barrel-Aged batch 5 - 2018 (6)
Southern Tier - Creme Brulee - 2014
Southern Tier - Creme Brulee - 2015
Southern Tier - Creme Brulee - 2016
Southern Tier - Creme Brulee - 2017
Stillmank - BA Porter - 08/24/17
Stillmank - BA Porter - 11/21/17
Stillmank - Squeezins - 2018
Stone - Woot Stout - 2017
Summit - 120 Shilling (3)
Surly - Darkness - 2014
Surly - Darkness - 2015
Surly - Darkness - 2016
Surly - BA Darkness - 2016
Surly - Darkness - 2017
Surly - BA Darkness - 2017
Surly - Darkness - 2018
Toppling Goliath - Naughty Temple - 2018
Toppling Goliath - SR-71 - 2018
Wild Mind - Wind in the Willow - 2018
Wild Mind - Winter's Edge - 2017

1/29/2017

Alaskan - Smoked Porter - '08
Alaskan - Smoked Porter - '13
August Schell - Harmony of Spheres - '16
Bruery Terreux - Tart of Darkness - '16
Cantillon - Gueuze - '15
Cantillon - Kriek - '15
Cascade - Sang Noir - '16
Central Waters - Bourbon Barrely Barleywine - '16
Deschutes - Abyss - '13
Deschutes - Abyss - '15
Deschutes - Scotch Barrel Abyss - '16
Fulton - Worthy Adversary - '15
Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Stout - '15
Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Stout - '16
Hardywood - Gingerbread Stout - '14
Hardywood - Bourbon Barrel Gingerbread Stout - '14
New Glarus - Serendipity - '16
Odell - Jolly Russian - '16
Prairie - Bomb - '16
Prairie - Christmas Bomb - '16
Southern Tier - Creme Brulee - '13
Southern Tier - Creme Brulee - '14
Southern Tier - Creme Brulee - '15
Stone - Xocoveza - '15
Surly - Darkness - '13
Surly - Darkness - '15
Toppling Goliath - Chain Smoker - '16
Weyerbacher - Tiny - '13
Weyerbacher - Tiny - '14
Wicked Wort - Tsar Bomba - '16

6/4/2016

Updated Cellar List:
Bad Weather Baril De Pluie '16
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout '12
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout '14
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout '15
Bruery Terreaux Tart of Darkness '16
Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic Bio '15
Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic Bio '15
Cascade Sang Noir '14
Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Barleywine '16
Central Waters Cassian Sunset '16
Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout '13
Deschutes The Dissident '15
Engquist Homebrew Gingerbread Imperial Stout '13
Engquist Homebrew Perpetual Propagation '15 (x4)
Engquist Homebrew Smoked Robust Vanilla Porter '13
Goose Island Matilda Belgian Style Pale Ale '13
Half Acre Shrub Tundra
Hardywood Gingerbread Stout '14
Hardywood Barrel Aged Gingerbread Stout '14
Mother's Foggy Notion '13
New Holland Dragon's Milk Reserve '16
Odell Friek '15
Southern Tier Creme Brulee '13
Southern Tier Creme Brulee '14
Southern Tier Crème Brulee '15
Southern Tier Warlock '15 (x2)
Stone Xocoveza '15 (x4)
Summit Old Blaggard Barleywine '15 (x3)
Surly Darkness Imperial Stout '15 (x2)
Two Brothers Bare Tree Barley Wine Style Weiss Beer '13
Victory Liquid Luxury '15
Weyerbacher Tiny Imperial Stout '13
Weyerbacher Tiny Imperial Stout '14

2/26/2016

My crown jewel has been consumed.  I brought the 2014 Assassin (to a Super Bowl party at the Baders' house and shared it with several friends, including Shaun, Beau, Tony, Tap, and of course Christa. I may be forgetting one or two folks who were there...it's been a few weeks now.

This beer is undoubtedly the greatest non-sour beer that I've ever had, and might be #1 overall.  I regrettably did not take detailed tasting notes, but the aroma and flavor were incredibly rich and complex with "enourmous bourbon" and plenty of sweet chocolate and roast, with exactly the right amount of subtle fruit esters.  Christa noted tobacco The mouthfeel was the most impressive part, maintaining a thick viscous motor oil consistency after about 20 months in the bottle. 

An interesting note, this was a second consecutive 5-star Untappd check-in for me, after having just sampled Goose Island's 2013 Bourbon County Backyard Rye aged on three kinds of berries.  That beer was wonderful and unforgettable more for it's fascinating uniqueness, and despite being a perfect 5 in itself, the Assassin outshone it by a sizeable margin.


The other cellar selection I contributed to the Super Bowl party was the Brau Brothers Bancreagie Sour Peated Ale.  My notes were simply "Very little peat, if any.  Tartness is soft & nicely balanced."  I recall hearing from friends prior to drinking this that it was not very good at all, and even a couple of friends at the SB party didn't care for it much, but I really enjoyed it - 3.75/5 stars.


Updated Cellar List:
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout '12
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout '14
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout '15
Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic Bio '15
Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic Bio '15
Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout '13
Engquist Homebrew Gingerbread Imperial Stout '13
Engquist Homebrew Perpetual Propagation '15 (x5)
Engquist Homebrew Smoked Robust Vanilla Porter '13
Goose Island Matilda Belgian Style Pale Ale '13
Hardywood Gingerbread Stout '14
Hardywood Barrel Aged Gingerbread Stout '14
Mother's Foggy Notion '13
Mother's Raspberry Imperial Three Blind Mice Brown Ale '15
Odell Friek '15
Southern Tier Creme Brulee '13
Southern Tier Creme Brulee '14
Southern Tier Crème Brulee '15
Summit Old Blaggard Barleywine '15 (x4)
Surly Darkness Imperial Stout '15 (x2)
Two Brothers Bare Tree Barley Wine Style Weiss Beer '13
Unibroue Don de Dieu Triple Wheat '14
Weyerbacher Tiny Imperial Stout '13
Weyerbacher Tiny Imperial Stout '14

12/10/15

Notes on just a few of the beers I've tasted since last update.

Cascade Bourbonic Plague '14 - drank at 1 year wedding anniversary 5/31/15
-This is one of the top 5 beers I've ever had, if not top 3.  The complexity of the sourness covered the gamut, from Lacto to Brett to Acetic to Wild.  If that weren't enough, the aroma and flavor both provided rich dark fruit and light roast notes with a hint of tobacco to complement the funk.  This is a beer that I will absolutely seek out in the future.

Cantillon Vignerone - other than Bourbonic Plague, this is the only other beer I've rated a perfect 5 out of 5.  The sweet green grapes mingle amazingly with the signature Cantillon funk.  I had a very difficult time finding good descriptors for this marriage of sweet and funky, all I can say is that this beer made my mouth as happy as it's ever been!

Squatters Outer Darkness '14 - drank mid-October 2015
-Sadly, this beer was underwhelming.  The aroma was quite oxidized, possibly due to poor aging.  The heavy coffee-like dark roast was quite astringent, and lingered well after the finish.  The lone redeeming note I made was that there was a nice sweet chocolate that came through more as it warmed.


Updated Cellar List:
Brau Brothers The Bancreagie Sour Peated Ale '14
Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic Bio '15
Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic Bio '15
Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout '13
Engquist Homebrew Gingerbread Imperial Stout '13
Engquist Homebrew Smoked Robust Vanilla Porter '13
Goose Island Matilda Belgian Style Pale Ale '13
Hardywood Gingerbread Stout '14
Hardywood Barrel Aged Gingerbread Stout '14
Southern Tier Creme Brulee '13
Southern Tier Creme Brulee '14
Summit Old Blaggard Barleywine '15 (x4)
Surly Darkness Imperial Stout '15 (x2)
Toppling Goliath Assassin Imperial Stout '14
Two Brothers Bare Tree Barley Wine Style Weiss Beer '13
Unibroue Don de Dieu Triple Wheat '14
Unibroue Trois Pistoles Dark Ale '14
Weyerbacher Tiny Imperial Stout '13
Weyerbacher Tiny Imperial Stout '14

3/9/15

So my intention of updating this list monthly has fallen by the wayside, but nevertheless I will update the list after quite a birthday haul.

But first...a few notes about a few bottles that I've tasted since December.

Deschutes Class of '88 Belgian Style Ale '13
-Much sweeter than I expected.  The grapes added during wine barrel aging certainly add a very unique complexity, however I would have liked to get a bit more of the belgian yeast esters shining through.  The 10.9% is completely masked by the fruity sweetness and hint of woodiness from the barrel aging.  Although a very unique and enjoyable drink, I don't think I would seek this one out again.

Homebrewed Gingerbread Imperial Stout '13
-The flavor profile seems to have been hijacked by the deteriorating spices.  It still shows hints of dark malt complexity, but is vastly overshadowed by the almost tangy spiciness from the ginger and cinnamon.  I have one bottle left, but it appears this one peaked between 6-12 months.

Widmer Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout '13
-This one came straight from the brewery in Portland, and did not disappoint.  The subtle raspberry tart sweetness was magnificently blended with the deep complex roasted malt.  A slight warming alcohol was matched with just the right amount of light effervescence.  This is a world class beer that I will most definitely seek out again, and encourage everyone else to as well.

Hill Farmstead Nordic Saison '14
-A truly amazing beer, enjoyed during the 2015 Super Bowl.  The complex citrusy esters are beautifully complemented by a hint of honey sweetness, yet with a superbly dry finish.  It's sadly unlikely that this beer will find it's way to my cellar any time soon as it is distributed in a narrow region surrounding the Vermont brewery.  If you are in the vicinity of Greensboro Bend, VT, please do yourself a favor and visit this fantastic brewery, or at least find this or another of their beers to enjoy.  Or, even better, bring one back to Minneapolis to share with me!

1. Blacklist Coco Noir '14
2. Brau Brothers The Bancreagie Sour Peated Ale '14
3. Cascade Brewing Bourbonic Plague Northwest Style Sour Ale '14
4. Clown Shoes The Peace That Money Can't Buy '14 (5th Anniversary Belgian Style Quad)
5. Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout '13
6. Deschutes Not the Stoic Belgian-Styled (sic) Quad '14
7. Engquist Homebrew Belgian Dark Strong '14 (x8)
8. Engquist Homebrew Gingerbread Imperial Stout '13
9. Engquist Homebrew Smoked Robust Vanilla Porter '13
10. Fulton War & Peace Imperial Coffee Stout '13
11. Goose Island Matilda Belgian Style Pale Ale '13
12. Lift Bridge Biscotti '14
13. Lucid Goslar '14
14. New Glarus Cherry Belgian Red '14
15. New Glarus Raspberry Tar '14
16. Rogue Double Chocolate Stout '13
17. Schell Dawn of Aurora '14
18. Southern Tier Creme Brulee '13
19. Southern Tier Creme Brulee '14
20. Squatters Outer Darkness '14
21. Toppling Goliath Assassin Imperial Stout '14
22. Two Brothers Bare Tree Barley Wine Style Weiss Beer '13
23. Unibroue Don De Dieu Triple Wheat '14
24. Unibroue Terrible '14
25. Unibroue Trois Pistoles Dark Ale '14

12/6/14

I got to thinking, I have a good start to a collection of beers from all over the place, and I need some way of keeping track of what I have. Some are quite rare or hard to find, some are beers I just really like and want to try after a year or two, and some are homebrews that I want to try after aging awhile.  I've set a very informal goal of buying two new bottles per month, and drinking one bottle per month.  I'll try to post an updated list periodically, with notes from bottles that I've drank.

Brau Brothers The Bancreagie Sour Peated Ale '14
Cascade Brewing Bourbonic Plague Northwest Style Sour Ale '14
Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout '13
Deschutes Class Of '88 Belgian Style Ale '13
Deschutes Not the Stoic Belgian-Styled (sic) Quad '14
Engquist Homebrew Gingerbread Imperial Stout '13 (x3)
Engquist Homebrew Smoked Robust Vanilla Porter '13
Fulton War & Peace Imperial Coffee Stout '13
Goose Island Matilda Belgian Style Pale Ale '13
Rogue Big Ass Barrel Imperial Stout '13
Rogue Double Chocolate Stout '13
Souther Tier Creme Brulee '13
Toppling Goliath Assassin Imperial Stout '14
Two Brothers Bare Tree Barley Wine Style Weiss Beer '13
Unibroue Don De Dieu Triple Wheat '14
Unibroue Trois Pistoles Dark Ale '14
Widmer Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout '13