Two decade conditioned homebrew

[bazookajoe]

After a 17 year gap, I started homebrewing and winemaking again last autumn and have been lurking here ever since. Back in the day, I helped my dad with the homebrewing. Anyway, he was clearing out an old cupboard and came across two bottles of unmarked brew, so in order to reuse the bottle we had to clear the contents. He brought them over and it was left to me to do the honours.

Now, we reckoned that the brew was from winter 1991 and narrowed it down to either bitter, continental lager or Old Winter Ale. Cracked one of the bottles open with a satisfying pop, and straight away from the aroma I knew it to be the Old Winter Ale - the stuff of legend, I was instantly transported to back then sampling the rest of that batch with my friends on winter saturday evenings, final year of school with life all before us.

I figured I had to taste the stuff. On pouring, the head disappeared instantly and although it still had the deep, dark brown colour, it was very murky, a bit like a peat bog. There was some trepidation, after all it had been sitting about for the best part of two decades so it could have entered the realms of biological warfare, but I was up for the challenge. One tentative sip, and it was pure alchemy, all those flavours; fantastic. Way better than anything out the shops, even better than Coopers Stout which I had considered supreme. Had another couple of sups, my wife had a taste too, before following her advice poured it down the sink for fear of getting a rumbly tum or a squirty bum; but those few sups were well worth it (and no dodgy effects the next day, so maybe I could've drunk the lot).

My dad thinks it was Edme who produced the kit, and that it was a 30 pint kit, can anyone confirm this or remember it? I've got a Coopers Dark Ale up next (when I get a chance) so it's now got a lot to live up to! Anyone else left a beer that long to condition?

[brysie]

aah nostalgia...

joe, i didnt think that low alcohol brews kept very well, over decades, but its lovely when something takes you back to good memories
of your past. bit like bazooka joes...and black jacks...

[Mogwyth]

aah nostalgia...

joe, i didnt think that low alcohol brews kept very well, over decades, but its lovely when something takes you back to good memories
of your past. bit like bazooka joes...and black jacks...

Don't you remember this story http://www.worthingtonswhiteshield.com/oldest_beer.html I don't know if White Shield was brewed stronger then but today it's only 5.5%abv.

I love this comment on the site:

The best before date on the bottle could easily be a 'best after' date, as White Shield will mature and change in flavour depending on age.

Cheers

Bill

[brewzone]

Around 1995 I was talking to a chap about homebrew.

He said His Gran used to make homebrew that was the best He ever tasted.

She had given up brewing some 10 yrs before due to Her not being so mobile.

He said that She had some bottles of Her beer in the shed which noone dared touch.

I asked Him if He could ask Her if She would mind letting Me have a bottle to try out.

She was delighted that I was interested and agreed to let Me have one.

Everyone advised against drinking it.

When I popped the top it smelled lovely and It was one of the nicest drinks I've ever tasted.

No poorly tummy.

Once this chap heard I'd survived He and His family drank the remainder.

BZ

[Ditch]

Once this chap heard I'd survived He and His family drank the remainder.

That's, somehow, just So sacrileges! It's just Wrong! No respect

[brewzone]

Once this chap heard I'd survived He and His family drank the remainder.

That's, somehow, just So sacrileges! It's just Wrong! No respect

Never thought about it like that Ditch! What barstewards!

BZ

[lollypopp]

Some of these vintage brews could have gone to auction!!! ha ha!