The Brew Basement

Name: Blue/Grande Reserve
Brewer: Chimay
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Vintage: 2006
Cellared On: August 30th, 2007
Original Tasting: October 17th, 2007
I thought it would be only appropriate to follow up yesterdays post about aging the beers of Chimay with the results of my first Chimay Blue tasting.
I wasted no time in opening this bottle up. After I eagerly popped [...]

Name: Black Chocolate Stout
Brewer: Brooklyn Brewery
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Vintage: 2007
Cellared On: October 19th, 2007
Original Tasting: November 10th, 2007
Since I enjoyed the tasting of my first cellared Brooklyn beer (Local 1) I decided to come right back with a second Brooklyn offering. The eagerly anticipated Black Chocolate Stout (or BCS) is Brooklyn’s late fall/early winter seasonal [...]

Name: Local 1
Brewer: Brooklyn Brewery
Style: Belgian Blonde Ale/Saison
Vintage: 2007
Cellared On: September 28th, 2007
Original Tasting: November 8th, 2007
Today I finally get to talk about the first Belgian-style offering from Brooklyn Brewery, their Local 1 Belgian Blonde Ale. It always makes me happy to be able to write about a brewery that’s at least somewhat [...]

Name: Old Crustacean
Brewer: Rogue
Style: Barleywine
Vintage: 2006
Cellared On: September 21, 2007
Original Tasting: October 28, 2007
Trust me here - prepare yourself before you take your fist sip of this beer. Close your eyes, take a deep breath. Clear you mind, and try to be ready for the assault on your taste buds that Old Crustacean is [...]

Name: Oro de Calabaza
Brewer: Jolly Pumpkin
Style: Biere de Garde
Vintage: 2007
Cellared On: October 12th, 2007
Original Tasting: October 21st, 2007
To continue my pumpkin-based tastings this week (also check out my Weyebacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale first tasting) I have this fantastic brew from Jolly Pumpkin Brewery. I was overjoyed to see this beer in my local shop (Oliver’s [...]

Name: Triple
Brewer: Stoudts
Style: Belgian Triple
Cellared On: October 12th, 2007
Original Tasting: October 24th, 2007
As I popped the cap of this beer, I was absolutely not prepared for the fantastic array of smells that burst forth from the bottle. Belgian yeast dominated the odors, taking with it hints of spices and fruity esters. This has to be [...]

Name: 14th Anniversary Ale
Brewer: Avery Brewing Company
Style: The brewers aren’t even sure what to call this. Belgian Strong Dark Ale maybe?
Cellared On: September 28th, 2007
Original Tasting: October 13th, 2007
If you are looking for a unique beer tasting experience, go no further then Avery Brewing’s 14th Anniversary Ale. This brew combines some zesty Belgian yeast within [...]

Name: Samael’s Oak Aged Ale
Brewer: Avery Brewing Company
Style: English Strong Ale
Vintage: 2006
Bottled On: May 2006
Cellared On: Sept 7th, 2007
Original Tasting: October 11th, 2007
I have to admit I was a bit concerned when I noticed the bottling date of May 2006 on this beer (after I had already bought it, of course). With already nearly a [...]

Name: Storm King Stout
Brewer: Victory Brewing
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Vintage: 2007
Cellared On: August 30th, 2007
Original Tasting: September 26th, 2007
Every Victory beer I’ve tried in the past has been fantastic, so I’ve been really looking forward to trying their Storm King Imperial Stout.
Let me tell you, this is one dark beer, even for a stout. No hints [...]

Name: 2007 Old Stock Ale
Brewer: North Coast Brewery
Style: English Old Ale
Bottled On: Early Spring 2007
Cellared On: August 30th, 2007
Original Tasting: September 24th, 2007
Fall is coming here in Upstate NY. The wind has a certain crispness to it that wasn’t there a month ago. I can see leafs in the shades of yellow, brown, and red [...]