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BS: Old beer... old me.

22 May 12 - 02:31 PM (#3354400)
Subject: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Bill D

So... Sunday was my my birthday. I made it to 73, and as part of my celebration I decided to open my bottle of 1986 Thomas Hardy's Ale.

here I am, holding it with the horn & antler mug my son gave me for Christmas. (Made in Germany)

http://my.opera.com/extree/albums/showpic.dml?album=11113512&picture=154593762


When I bought it, it was advertised to be 'good' for at least 25 years. I waited one extra year. It was beyond 'good'! I shared it (well, a taste anyway) with my wife and friends who made me a birthday dinner. All agreed it was special. (You do need to like beer with deep, chewey flavor. If all you like is lager..or IPA... this would not impress you.)

There was the temptation to advertise it and sell it, as they no longer make the stuff...at least like this... and bottles are quite the collectors item. I assume I could have gotten $20-$30 for it....but I bought it to drink. (I did drink one at about 10 yrs, and it was quite good... but this was smoother and richer, as best I can remember. I couldn't afford enough bottles to have side-by-side comparisons every few years.)

I do have ONE more bottle...of the 1992 vintage. I'm not sure I'll wait the extra 5 years for it.


22 May 12 - 02:37 PM (#3354406)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: maeve

Happy Birthday, Bill. I'm delighted you had a fitting way to celebrate.

Maeve


22 May 12 - 02:51 PM (#3354415)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Rapparee

Well, you might as well get drunk on your birthday, seeing as how OLD you are.


22 May 12 - 03:13 PM (#3354433)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Bert

Well another post of mine just disappeared.

Happy birthday Bill, you don't look a day older. Are you sure that you didn't Photoshop that picture and add a younger face?


22 May 12 - 03:39 PM (#3354440)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: gnu

Happies atchya!


22 May 12 - 03:40 PM (#3354441)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: gnu

BTW... thanks for all yer posts... witty and intelligent and otherwise. Hehehehee... just kidding. Keep up the good work. Yer one of the good guys.


22 May 12 - 04:18 PM (#3354455)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Joe Offer

Well, Bill, happy birthday. Your survival to this ripe, old age, is an inspiration to us all.

-Joe in Dublin-


22 May 12 - 04:23 PM (#3354456)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: GUEST,999

Happy Birthday, Bill. And many more.


22 May 12 - 04:29 PM (#3354458)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Beer

Wish I had been there for a taste. What a great treat. And a very Happy Birthday.
Adrien


22 May 12 - 05:11 PM (#3354476)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: topical tom

Happy Birthday, Bill, and may you have a good year (with the occasional libation!) Cheers!


22 May 12 - 05:12 PM (#3354477)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: alanabit

Happy Birthday Bill. Hope you will be enjoying your beer for many more years to come!


22 May 12 - 05:21 PM (#3354486)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Gurney

3 years past your sell-by date, eh, Bill? Congratulations.

IPA was made originally for its lasting qualities, and I like its bitterness, but overall, Ale and Stout satisfies best.



How in the world can you have booze and NOT drink it, for years! You must have a will of iron!


22 May 12 - 05:36 PM (#3354492)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Bill D

Ah, Gurney... it was hard to resist. I hid it in a dark corner and tried to keep 'other' libations on hand for when I was tempted.


22 May 12 - 07:00 PM (#3354516)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: bobad

If beer be the food of philosophers drink on good man, drink on.

And a happy birthday to you too.


22 May 12 - 07:19 PM (#3354523)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Leadfingers

You still look good for a few more beers Bill and I am chasing you -
But I had a SONG written for my big Seventy . Nice rewrite of Three Score And Ten .


22 May 12 - 07:26 PM (#3354527)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: CET

Many happy returns Bill. I will bring you some of my new favorite beer the next time we meet.

Edmund


22 May 12 - 08:29 PM (#3354541)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Bill D

Yum! You never fail to find something wonderful!


22 May 12 - 11:57 PM (#3354605)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Janie

Happy belated, you lovely Young Man!


23 May 12 - 01:13 AM (#3354622)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: catspaw49

Thought you might enjoy this from one of the folks at "Beer Advocate:"

I have wanted this beer, any of the vintages, for at least 6 months and the time finally came.

This old chap pours a very deep ruby color with a few flakes of yeast. Amazingly there was a light spattering of bubbles on the surface that merely lingered as a thin thread around the perimeter of the glass.

Nose is sweet with fruits like raisins, similar to some wines and very characteristic of other beers with a good reputation of being able to survive while being forgotten about in a cellar or closet.

Flavor isn't as sweet as the smell suggested. There is more tartness than sweetness, a common effect of the age and other more mysterious things. This one is one that you hear about that turned sour, but still valuable none the less. In some cases this beer can be sweet and syrupy like a 7 to 10 year old J.W. Lees Harvest Ale or a 6 year old Le Baladin Xyauyu. Still good, and surprisingly light on the alcohol presence, I was expecting a little more heat but it is very smooth. Way in the background there is a lingering sweetness. Probably better several years ago.

Very light tingle from the remnants of carbonation. Drinks almost like wine. And the more I think about it the more it reminds me of tea.


Spaw....and Happy Birthday!


23 May 12 - 11:04 AM (#3354758)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: frogprince

Bill prefers his beer consistently logical, with just a trace of sarcasm.


23 May 12 - 11:36 AM (#3354775)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Rapparee

All A is B.
All B is C.
Therefore, Bill is old.


23 May 12 - 02:13 PM (#3354825)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Bill D

"All A is B.
All B is C.
Therefore, Bill is old."

Undistributed middle, post hoc, ergo propter hoc, assuming the consequent...... and 2-3 others.

Besides, the gubberment, in its infinite wisdom, TOLD me I was old, and sent me money to soften the message.


23 May 12 - 09:13 PM (#3354941)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: ChanteyLass

Oh, so this is a birthday thread! If I'd known that, I wouldn't have skipped it yesterday. Belated happy birthday, Bill D.


23 May 12 - 10:14 PM (#3354960)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Bill D

Nawww... the thread, from MY viewpoint, was about that special beer. Being 73 is not very special in this group.


23 May 12 - 10:30 PM (#3354965)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Rapparee

Everybody can BE 73. Not everyone lives to BE 73, although some are still walking around, breathing.


24 May 12 - 06:05 AM (#3355034)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Dave the Gnome

Now then - Firstly, Happy Birthday, Bill. Secondly - Maybe someone here could let me know if anyone in the UK buys old booze? As it happens I have just unearthed (From the attic) a bottle of Whitbreads Liverpool Garden Festival Beer - 1984 and a bottle of Pomagne (Apple stuff - sold as poor mans champgne) dated 1977. I will never drink either but I was wondering if I could sell them. I guess ebay is out due to laws on selling alcohol?

Cheers

DtG


24 May 12 - 06:33 AM (#3355041)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Sandra in Sydney

keep enjoying your birthday celebrations, Bill


24 May 12 - 09:54 AM (#3355087)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Nigel Parsons

Well I thought I'd have a beer for my birthday,
And just sit & drink it quietly on my own.
Grabbed a bottle of the old 'eighty-six Hardy's
And poured it in my Drinking mug from Rhone.

Then I thought I'd share this moment on the Mudcat,
Let you all know what this beer means to me.
When they ask "Who's the fool in the corner, burbling?"
It's little ol' beer drinker me.


Happy birthday (belated) Bill
(Apologies to Dean martin!)


24 May 12 - 11:30 AM (#3355108)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Bill D

Ha! Immortalized in 'poetry'?? I am semi-humbled...... but appreciative.

Dave.... collectors of bottles 'sometimes' like unopened bottles, but most beers don't survive that much aging. Google "beer bottle collections" and such like phrases.


24 May 12 - 01:33 PM (#3355163)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: frogprince

You may be a redneck if

you've tried to put the used beer back in the bottle and save it as a collectable.


24 May 12 - 03:03 PM (#3355196)
Subject: RE: BS: Old beer... old me.
From: Bill D

"...put the used beer back in the bottle..."

When done commercially by experts, it's called either Budweiser or Iron City.