Something From the Cellar

After returning hime from a recent range trip, I dug through some of the boxes in the basement and pulled out an older bottle of Dogfish Head Chicory Stout. The date stamp indicated the beer was bottled on October 9, 2009. Although this is a low-alcohol beer, at just 5.2% ABV, I suspected it had held up just fine. And I was right.

The beer poured very dark, but slightly translucent, brown with a large beige head. The aroma was that of dark chocolate and espresso. The flavor brings out more roasted coffee and bitterness. The chicory bitterness seems to increase in the aftertaste and lingers pleasantly in the back of the mouth. Mouthfeel is thin with a light body. This is not a heavy stout, but still one that packs significant flavor.

I've been getting itchy to break into some of the beers I've put away over the past 3-5 years. Although the beers I've managed to "cellar" are young in comparison to the collections of some craft beer enthusiasts, I am sure there are many treats to be had. Most beers set aside for aging fall into the robust, high-alcohol realm; just right for upcoming winter evenings. I suspect we'll be opening more old beer soon.