Vintage Beer? Whoda thunk it

drssouth

Stephen South
Didn't really know there was such a thing but...

D. Carnegie & Co. rgng 2004 Stark-Porter, Starkl, product of Sweden, alc 5.5%, 1pt9oz, $6.95...rich cream soda like consistency with caramel, coffee,mocha and a little honey like sweetness... extremely smooth and satisfying with homemade TNT chili and homemade cornbread
 
i drank this exact beer at publican in chicago a couple months ago. delicious paired with a dessert of honey ice cream and some type of cobbler.
 
I haven't seen it for a long time, and I am not sure it is still being brewed, but Thomas Hardy ale, which was intended to age in the bottle, used to have a vintage date on it, iirc.
 
Fullers does vintage dated ale. sierra nevada celebration ale and ,i think, their big foot barley wine ale are vintage dated. so are large format chimay blue.
 
originally posted by Chris Weber:
I haven't seen it for a long time, and I am not sure it is still being brewed, but Thomas Hardy ale, which was intended to age in the bottle, used to have a vintage date on it, iirc.

That is still the case.
 
Stone Vertical Epic- dated releases starting from 02/02/02, 03/03/03, etc. Designed for cellaring until the anticipated final release on 12/12/12, at which time you're supposed to consume the whole lineup.
 
originally posted by Seth Hill:
Stone Vertical Epic- dated releases starting from 02/02/02, 03/03/03, etc. Designed for cellaring until the anticipated final release on 12/12/12, at which time you're supposed to consume the whole lineup.
To celebrate the end of the Mayan Long Count?
 
originally posted by Arjun Mendiratta:
Anchor Christmas ale as well. Actually, I don't think there's a vintage printed, you just have to know the code; you know how it is.
This reminded me that the big one around here is the Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout by Three Floyds. They have a big release party at the brewery for it every year and about a thousand come to get it. It's only available on that one day... I've had a taste of the last two years' and a taste is all I need. To me, it's like the Mollydooker of beer.
 
JW Lees and Thomas Hardy's are probably the classics...vintages from the late 80's are drinking really well now. Also--the regular size Chimay blues are vintage dated, but its on the cork, so not too much help in terms of knowing how old a particular beer is unless you know the store/distributor.
 
There's a lot number from the '90s onwards on one of the bottom corners. Their magnums also have lot numbers, although I didn't see magnums till maybe about 4-5 years ago.

Vintage beers have been around longer than I've been alive.
 
originally posted by Yixin:
Chimay BlueThere's a lot number from the '90s onwards on one of the bottom corners. Their magnums also have lot numbers, although I didn't see magnums till maybe about 4-5 years ago.

Vintage beers have been around longer than I've been alive.

I'm sure the same is true for me BUT...I guess I just hadn't stumbled on yet another example of beverage geekdom that had been previously out of my view...
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
Some Panil is and some Panil is not, I think.

You're probably right. Panil makes a lot of different ales, only a few of which are imported to the US as I understand it. I was just adding to the list of producers who do vintage dating, and should have been clearer. I don't know that everything Goose Island makes is vintage dated, either; I've only ever seen their reserve line, which is.
 
I had a long talk with the brewermaster of the Belgian brewery that makes Abt 12. He said he liked it either new or with 10 years on it - claiming it went through a shut down period! I stashed a case.
 
A lot of the Belgian Quads I've had at 5 or 6 didn't seem shut down, but I guess I don't have the benefit of constant tasting the way a head brewer in Belgium would. You should also try to stash some Rochefort 10 and, for a less expensive option Ommegang Three Philosophers
 
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