Replying to a few of you who posted...........
Greatgoo: It used to be GLBC XA until a few years back. Now, I'm hoping its this 2 year old bottle of Corsendonk which I plan on opening X-mas eve. I had a 1.5 year bottle of Corsendonk back in June and it was crazy smooth and much less dry than then a fresh bottle. Overall, I'd say GLBC is still in the top 5, but my favorites are Corsendonk and WBC Wenceslas. Some of the Belgian ones are great, but are more closely related to Belgian strong dark ales than typical "winter warmers." Whole different level of complexity, though don't assume that to mean better.
Commodore Perry: Its absolutely different. ABV has fluctuated every year since 2006 and I can say with experience and discussions with the brewers during one X-mas in July that 2007 was the most flavored and highest ABV they ever distributed. During Xmas in July in 2009, it was rumored one of the batches they made was somewhere between 11%-13%. For the record, GLBC, like most other beers, can age just fine if the ABV is at or above 6.5%. If you buy it from the store, you can age it (even in the fridge) as long as you leave it in a constant temp. Please see my post regarding aging beers towards the bottom of this thread:
http://www.theclevelandfan.com/boards/index.php?f=15&t=21089&rb_v=viewtopicMother: Agreed, last year was not bad at all. I think they toned down how much the ABV came through and upped the amount of "sweets" used (more honey and cinnamon, less nutmeg, ginger and hops). This is merely based on my tastes with nothing official from GLBC. Mother, if you're an east-sider, I guarantee Save-On at the corner of Rt 20&306 will have it or World Of Wines in front of the Mentor Heinens. Most Heinens should carry it as we get into December.
Not that anyone cares, but I've finally started putting together my beer list showing every beer I've had or at least committed to memory. So far I'm up to 600 with a lot more US brewers to go and I haven't touched Canada or Europe. I guestimated a while back I've had well over 1000 different beers but it will be close as I finalize my US list.
"All Beckett needs to do to cap off this mess is order some fried chicken and beer" – 5/10/12 before Beckett got chased in the 3rd at Fenway.
