Winter Survival Day 8?
by Derek ~ December 22nd, 2008. Filed under: Uncategorized.
Deschutes Jubelale 2003
Nothing has changed, more snow, cars seeming to disappear into the ground, no good pubs in walking distance, what’s left to do but dig into the cellar. Bill, from It’s Pub Night, had encouraged me to try the old Deschutes ‘03 Jubel ale that I had found in my cellar during one of my last excursions, so I cracked it open today. Even being 5 years old this had retained its carbonation well, still a decent sized beige head over a hazy dark mahogany body. Unfortunately this beer has oxidized quite a bit, big wet cardboard nose and thinned out palate. The oxidation has stripped a lot of flavors from the beer and left a funky metallic twang behind. The spices are faint and dull, very soft nutmeg sort of comes through, but there isn’t much going for this bottle anymore. Sadly, I think my bottle has gone passed it’s prime.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I like these cellar posts you have been doing. It’s inspiring me to build up a better bottle collection for aging myself.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Thanks. I really enjoy having a “cellar”, but like the above example, sometimes things don’t go well. Nothing better then breaking out a nice aged Abyss or a couple year old Cantillon when some friends come over or you get invited to a gathering.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Sorry to hear that didn’t work out. The 2003 was pretty good for me last year; I’m holding onto a couple more bottles of it, but at this point more for the novelty of it than the taste of it.
It’s a little quixotic anyway; I don’t think Deschutes ever expected anyone to cellar bottles of Jubel.
Anyway, season’s greetings!