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Otter Creek Brewing Twentieth Anniversary Ale

Hey everyone, thanks for coming!  I've recently started building a beer "cellar" collection.  Cellar is in quotes because in truth it is just a corner of my condo right now.  We keep the temperature in the mid 60s for the most part, which I know isn't the most optimal for cellaring beers, but for right now it's all I have.  I may decide to keep the beers in the basement of my parents-in-laws house (if they let me!), which probably has more appropriate cellaring conditions.  Do you cellar your beers?  How big is your stash?  What's the oldest beer you have been cellaring?

Otter Creek Brewing Twentieth Anniversary Ale
Otter Creek Brewing Twentieth Anniversary Ale
 I'm drinking another beer from Otter Creek Brewing tonight.  It seems like a pretty special beer.  It is their Twentieth Anniversary Ale, and on the bottle is described as a tribute to Copper Ale, Otter Creek's flagship brew.  I'm not sure if they have brewed other anniversary beers.  Let's try it out!

Twentieth Anniversary Ale
American Strong Ale
12% ABV
12 oz. bottle poured into Victory tulip glass

Otter Creek's Twentieth Anniversary Ale pours a cloudy dark brown with only a very small off-white head.  Some floating sediment is present.  The aroma on this beer is very unique.  It smells like sweet syrup, molasses, caramel, strawberry and chocolate.  There is a touch of alcohol on the nose too.  Reminds me a bit of whiskey.  My first sip from Twentieth Anniversary Ale is incredibly sweet, and very boozy.  The flavor is full of molasses, toasted malts, brown sugar and caramel.  This one is definitely a sipper, and I am taking my time with it.  Twentieth Anniversary Ale is thinly carbonated, and has a heavy body.

Otter Creek Brewing Twentieth Anniversary Ale
Otter Creek Brewing Twentieth Anniversary Ale
  
Overall:  Otter Creek's Twentieth Anniversary Ale is a pretty intense beer.  It's honestly a bit of a challenge for me to drink.  I'm not saying it's bad, I think it's just a bit too sweet.  If you enjoy sweet, boozy beers, then this could be for you.

Have you had Otter Creek Brewing's Twentieth Anniversary Ale?  What did you think?  Let me know in the comments!

For a related review, check out my post on Otter Creek's Russian Imperial Stout!

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  1. Allen HuertaFebruary 10, 2013 at 10:36 AM

    I actually just started keeping track of my cellar the other day. The oldest bottles I have are Black Butte XXIII, Vertical Epic 10.10.10, 2 Sierra Nevada 30th beers, and a few from 2011. I like that I threw it in Excel because I can go and check out what is what at any time. A lot of these bottles I am just holding onto for someone to drink them with me lol Maybe I will find a bottle share within 100 miles.

    I think I am going to have to look up this Otter Creek. You have had a couple of beers from them and I am just curious about them now. I blame you :p I know this one was not to your liking much but they have to be doing something right.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownFebruary 10, 2013 at 11:37 AM

      Nice bottles, wish I still had some of those SN 30th Anniversary beers. Do you have them stored in a basement?

      From what I understand, Otter Creek distributes in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Have you seen them near you? I've heard good things about their Black IPA, but haven't had it.

      Cheers and thanks for reading!

      Delete
    2. Allen HuertaFebruary 11, 2013 at 7:59 AM

      I have two beer fridges! One I bought at Target, a 12 bottle wine cellar, and the other I bought from a Wine Bar that was replacing it. I thought I scored it for a pretty decent price. It holds about 36 or more Wine Bottles. That was all just timing.

      I have not seen them before but I will look out now. I might be able to find them here but I don't know...

      Delete
    3. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 11:28 AM

      Awesome, so you have total temperature and humidity control!

      Delete

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