While Tim and Glen Cooper spruik the cellaring ability of Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale 2011, I suspect, with only 15 thousand cases to go round, most if it will be enjoyed during release over the next few months.

If it’s anything like the preceding vintages (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) it’ll be tremendously enjoyable on release – a robust, malty, bitter 7.5 per cent alcohol winter warmer.

But all that flavour, hops and alcohol preserve this bottle-fermented beer for years. And from experience, the flavour evolves in pleasing ways over time.

Tim Cooper says the new release is made from Clare Valley barley and a variety of hops – “including Styrian Golding, Magnum and Perle from Europe, Amarillo from the USA and Nelson Sauvin from New Zealand”.

We’ll review the 2011 shortly, alongside older vintages from Schloss Shanahan.

Copyright © Chris Shanahan 2011
First published 13 July 2011 in The Canberra Times