Time to roll out the barrel, or barrels might be more correct. Jim and I will be putting together another in our series of podcasts this week, and our theme is drinking stuff that came from barrels.
One segment that we haven’t done in a while is viewer mail. This is your opportunity to ask us questions about this episode, or about whatever. We’ll answer anything. I think someone should ask Jim about his preference of underwear (boxers, briefs, tighty whities…). So ask away, and of course we will still engage you here on the blog too.
Here’s what’s on tap for our upcoming session:
Jim and I both have a set of Glencairn glasses now so we will discuss their virtues a bit. He just got his yesterday and texted me that it felt like he was swimming in his whiskey because these glasses allow the user to get so close to the whiskey.
Also we will be discussing a couple of new whiskeys that we were both sent from New Holland Brewing. Yes they are getting into the artisnal spirits as well and they have sent us each a couple of 350ml bottles of two different whiskeys they have made. We are really looking forward to giving them a try since our somewhat limited exposure to artisnal whiskey has been so outstanding (lookin’ at you Stranahans).
Finally, we will be rounding out our night with a couple of different barrel aged beers. I have a barrel aged Dog Father Imperial Stout from Laughing Dog Brewery in Sandpoint, Idaho, and Jim has a bottle of barrel aged Firestone 14 from Firestone Walker in California. It should be lots of fun, and I’m really looking forward to it.
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
My question is how you guys feel about aging a beer (especially an expensive one) with the expectation that you’ll like it better down the road.
Example, Goose Island Bourbon County Rare. I talked to a guy who said he has a bottle of it that he’s going to lay down for awhile. I asked him how he knows that he wouldn’t like it now and he laughed thinking I was joking. He said, “well I only have one bottle so I can’t really find out”.
My question to him (and you) is why not? I was able to track down a couple bottles and have a few friends that are willing to chip in to share them with me but if we open the first bottle and it’s liquid magic, why would we run the risk of aging the second one for a few years if it’s possible that it gets worse?
What if the stuff that we love about it fresh ends up not being there down the road and is replaced by other characteristics that make it “meh”? Nobody has had a 3 year old GIBC Rare before so nobody can say with certainty that it’ll be better or even good for that matter.
Will it be? Most likely. Will I save the second bottle for down the road? Probably. But I just like playing the Devil’s Advocate, especially with a $45 bottle of beer.
Great question Mikey and one that we will be sure to answer on the podcast. I think you might be able to look at the characteristics of aged beer to new beer and decide what you like. And you are correct it is a guessing game. So Jim and I say if you like it drink it, if you don’t like it put a little age on it and see if magic happens.
You’re supposed to wait for the podcast, dummy!
I have a good answer for this one BTW…
I didn’t say everything, but I said in the post I would reply. So I did.