by Caleb McBee, Food and Drink Editor

I just opened an 8-year-old bottle of Allagash Grand Cru. Brewed in ’01 it was one of the first bottles of beer that I ever bought for laying down. I actually bought it sometime in ’02 and the beer handler had commented on it having a year under its belt and on the way to goodness. After a little chat about aging beer I went home and consulted the Beer Hunter* of course and was soon on my merry way at a new hobby. I don’t claim by any means to be an expert on aging, but that’s part of the mystery, its not widely documented.

Here’s what I found with my cellar beginnings.

Aroma – when first opened it had a strong sweet elderflower aroma. As it sat and warmed it faded slightly and released a mellow but musky burnt caramel quality.

Appearance – cloudy bronze with tight bubbles and a dense head

Body- Soft on the tongue. It had just enough crispness to balance the 7.2% abv. Much more quaffable than I had expected.

Flavor- Sweet peach and candied orange peel, with a finish of toffee.

The beer was pleasantly smooth and easily drinkable but still offered the pleasantries of age. The funk was definitely kept at bay by the honeyed and floral qualities. A delicious bottle of beer, although in my new beginning I learned the simple notion of buying multiple bottles to track its development the hard way. I wish I had more of those Grand Crus!

* An invaluable brewers’ resource, this is the most recognized moniker of the longer lived, earlier departed beer and scotch expert Michael Jackson.