OK, I'll admit that I'm skating on thin ice here. Not only is it a beer so unspeakably rare that it is numbered 74/100, but I actually don't even open it. The reason for that is that its best before date is December 25th, 2023. I know that this is going to be a stupendous beer, but maybe I can leave it in the bottle for a few years yet? I've put a poll on the blog here, so that you can decide what happens. If you want me to commit infanticide on this beer, I will. If you want me to keep it and open it in the future, I'll do that. Just cast your vote.The Meantime College Beer Club is quite an undertaking. The beers will be, in their words, "wood aged beers, historic beer styles from previous centuries, recreations of lost recipes, plus, of course, the kinds of innovatie new brews upon which Meantime has built a world-wide reputation". I can't pretend that it's not an exclusive club - £350 for 24 bottles of beer is a fair old whack of cash - but what you'll get for that are a series of never-to-be-repeated slices of brewing history.
I'm just as curious as you to find out what the beer is like, although there is also part of me that will have no trouble at all stashing this in the cellar for a few years. It seems a shame not to pop the cork and sample what is, according to Meantime's Peter Haydon "liquid Christmas cake". But equally, bottled beers like this need at least a year or two to settle down and find their equilibrium. So I've put a poll just to the left of this post, below my profile - you get to decide what happens to this beer.
For me, it's a win-win scenario - I'm going to drink this beer at some point, whether it's next month or in 5 years. The question is, what do YOU want me to do?
Does this mean that you've signed up to the club?
ReplyDeleteI'm really interested to know what other beers arrive over the next few months but I don't have the required £350 spare! :(
I seriously think that £350 would be better spent on homebrewing kit so you can make much more than 24 bottles of wood aged beers, historic beer styles from previous centuries, recreations of lost recipes, plus, of course, all kinds of innovative new brews.
ReplyDelete"What do YOU want me to do?"
ReplyDeleteIt's really not rocket science...
Send one to me.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a special birthday or anniversary that you can bookmark for this beer?
ReplyDeleteFor instance my son was born in 1988 and at his 21st party I shared 8 bottles of Thomas Hardy's Ale 1988 amongst the gatherers.
I'm saving one for ageing and opening one now. It's well worth opening! Great that there are two bottles. Tonight's first members' event was superb too, pleased I joined!
ReplyDeleteThe question is, what do YOU want me to do?
ReplyDeleteI want you to give it to me, obviously.
Baron - no, they very kindly sent me one. I guess I should have mentioned that for the purposes of transparency.
ReplyDeleteEd - but if you're not someone with an interest in brewing, then what?
THG, Phil - sadly, that's not option in the poll, but good answer!
Birkonian - well, I turn 50 in 9 years, so maybe that's appropriate.
PCL - please do tell us more about the event.
did they just send you one? Because if you sign up to the club proper, you recieve two per monthly delivery. Which is much better as the dilemma above could be sidestepped, drink one now, then save the other to drink in a few years.
ReplyDeleteNeil - I'm not a club member, but they very kindly sent me one. As you say, club members get two bottles of each beer, which removes the dilemma.
ReplyDeleteOpen one now, and ask them for another to open in 12 years, do a blog on each. Your beard might have a few grey ones in by then though ;)
ReplyDeleteGhostie - you mean a few MORE grey ones.
ReplyDeleteCan't have much more than me when I grow my bread out :s
ReplyDeletei say bread...... i meant beard
ReplyDeleteDrink it!! you might get hit by a bus tomorrow (lets hope not) or aliens may descend and remove your tastebuds (again lets hope not)
ReplyDeleteJesus. that's mint. I saw the CBC and opted out, but this is a brave move....drink it!
ReplyDeleteAndy, Leigh - I'll do whatever the poll says - at this point, it looks like a keeper!
ReplyDeletewheres the 3rd option Give it to Dave.... Just pick the right Dave ...
ReplyDelete