Best rare beer you've been able to wrap your hands around

[burntwater]

This can vary from state to state, country to country because one persons gluttony is another persons rare find.

For me it was a 96 Alexander Rodenbach.

Although it wasn't the best example to me of this brewery (Noel) I did get to try Fantome on tap here in the U.S.

[Josh]

Westvleteren 12, Vertical Epic 02, 1998 JW Lees Harvest Ale, 1985 Thomas Hardys

[The Professor]

A few for me:
JW Lee's Harvest 1992 (or maybe it was '93) on draft (and one or two other JW Lee specials on draft the following year); around the same time, some cask conditioned Fuller's ESB (poured from hand pump in central NJ by Sir Anthony Fuller himself);
More recently, some Thomas Hardy's from 1987. 88. 89. & 92; Ballantine Burton Ale (brewed May 1946, bottled November 1962, and tasted Jaanuary 2009).
Last year I enjoyed a couple of Samichlaus from 1988 (a light and a dark), and I currently have a forgotten bottle of Gale's Prize Old Ale that was given to me in 1994...I'll be opening that one fairly soon (though I'm sure I waited too long already...not sure what to expect taste wise).

[LStaff]

15 y.o. Westy 12 which was winey and delicious
1999 JW Lees Harvest was not the oldest I've had, but has been the best one I've had so far.
And an early 90's Sinbrychoff Porter was one of the best beers of my life.

A buddy of mine recently gave me a 1983 Courage RIS that I will try to hold on to until its 30th birthday.

[Pata_Negra]

i was going to drink my only bottle of Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter 2006 but to my surprise i am able to drink it on tap in about 7 weeks time. woohoo :)

[drink Westvleteren all the time. rather nice to be living in beer paradise!]

[Whisper]

If I may ask, where will the Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter be available on tap? That's amazing! Please let us know your thoughts on this after you get to try some.

[Pata_Negra]

right here in Netherlands. i didn't even know it was hard to find when i got a bottle in 2006. actually put it away in my stash and forgot about it. some people wanted me to trade it when i cassually mentioned i had a bottle somewhere in the house. was curious and i did a search. apparently it is comparable to Westvleteren 12. some even prefer the Stormaktsporter! not a big fan of imperial stout [some taste like shoyu :( ] but i'm looking forward to this one.

[Whisper]

Ok thank you. There's a chance I may be heading to the Netherlands at the end of this year or beginning of next, so maybe I'll get very lucky and see the Stormaktsporter somewhere.

[elgringoviejo]

I used to enjoy Gambrinius, a Czech pilsener that I haven't seen in my local stores for awhile.

[phatchris]

I've had quite a few Fantome's, If your ever in Maine check out Ebenezers pub in Lovell.

[burntwater]

Lucky you and thanks for the tip.
If I ever make it that far out I'll be sure to make a stop there.

Here on the West coast I've been able to try quite a few.
The Dalmation is my favorite and also the Sur Lie. The others have been Black Ghost, Printemps,
Hiver , Noel, Chocolate and Saison although someone once told me the Saison and Sur lie are the same.

Word on the street is the kegs get jacked before they have a chance to make it out West.

One of my favorite beers but like in Forest Gump....

Fantome's are like a box of chocolate you never know what your going to get.

[Whisper]

I really enjoy most of the Fantomes and you're right, you're really never quite sure what to expect when you open one, even if you've had it before.

[Jim Dorsch]

Lucky enough to be enjoying a bottle of New Holland Moxie that I've held for a couple years. Wonderful, oaky, seriously sour, bottle 385/424.

I have a few bottles of Thomas Hardy's Ale from the late '80s, too. I forget all about them and give them as gifts from time to time.

[MOREKASHA]

Jim,
Have you had any of the Hardy's? I too have a bunch as well as some Old Crustacean and a Triple Bock (SA). I'm waiting for some seriously cold weather to invire some pals over and see how they aged. If at all.

[Whisper]

Aged Westvleteren 8 (my favorite), and 12 at the Kulminator in Antwerp Belgium.

[Jim Dorsch]

I've had Hardy's, but it's been a long, long time. I actually prefer American barley wines like Bigfoot.

[brentk]

Moxie is one of my favorite sours of all time. I was lucky to have had the chance to sample a bottle. Another one that I was lucky to try was the Toronado 20th Anniversary. That one was even harder to get than the Moxie.

[burntwater]

I've been a fortunate soul myself.

The Toronado 20th ranks high on the list of beer geek moments that I've had.

[Josh]

I forgot about that one. Had that at the pre-opening party at the San Diego Toronado. Good stuff.

[BeerWeezil]

Cuvee de Tomme at Toronado in S.F. Saw another customer order it with 3 glasses and me and my buddy had to get one, too.

I've got a bottle of Saint-Lamvinus by Cantillon that's aging nicely in the cellar as we speak.

[Shaggy]

Chimay Grand Reserve '96, Westy 12, Gueze Mariage Parfait '05, JW Lee 99, aged whiskey barrel Old Engine Oil, and beers from Cantillon. I don't know if these are rare or not, but I've only found them in Brussels, and they were expensive (not always a sign of quality, I realize). I also had a Chimay black label bottle, which was from '06 and I was told made in small batches once a year and only distributed to a few local bars. I have no idea what it was called.

[Whisper]

Speaking of the Saint Lamvinus, recently I was able to score my personal all time best deal of the century on some bottles.

A local store had a bunch in stock and marked them down to $8 a bottle! I couldn't believe my eyes. They also had the Cantillon Rose De Gambrinus marked at the same price. I bought 4 bottles of the Saint Lamnivus, a couple of the Rose De Gambinus and also a couple bottles of the Cantillon Gueuze which wasn't marked. When I got up to the register the girl asked me if I knew how much the Gueuze was and I told her there was no price marked on either the shelves or the bottles. She said "Well, most of the beers are about $3.99 so I'll sell it to you for that". Needless to say I left the store with a very large smile on my face.

[juantanamera]

I've really enjoyed CdT the few times I've tried it. Isabelle Proximus and Cable Car, both sours from Lost Abbey, are probably the best rare beers I've had the chance to try.

[Josh]

Isabelle Proximus isn't really a Lost Abbey beer, per se. Tomme was one of the brewers who participated, but the other 4 brewers (Vinnie Cilurzo, Rob Tod, Adam Avery, and Sam Calagione) are no slouches.

[MOREKASHA]

Deschutes Jubel "Extra", some years ago there was a special version of Jubel. The mail order store I was buying from (no deschutes in NYC, sob, sob) had this as well. Mmmm. Also, also purchased when in Europe, Cuvee L'Hermitage.