Verticals. How to drink?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by doughanson78, Apr 21, 2012.

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  1. doughanson78

    doughanson78 Savant (1,103) May 28, 2011 Washington

    I'm about to do a small vertical of Stone IRS's. '07, '09, '11, & '12.

    What order is best to drink in? I've been to tastings where we've done oldest to newest and other tastings where it was newest to oldest.
     
    #1 doughanson78, Apr 21, 2012
  2. klaybie

    klaybie Zealot (633) Nov 15, 2009 Illinois

    I like newest to oldest best because I feel it gives an immediate sense of what the beer is fresh vs. working up to it from the oldest. Also, having them poured out in front of you like lurchingbeast above said is good because I like to analyze everything from appearance to nose as well as taste.
     
    #2 klaybie, Apr 21, 2012
  3. FunkyMacGroovin

    FunkyMacGroovin Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2009 California

    Pour them all side by side, go through them newest to oldest, and then drink what's left in whatever the hell order you want.
     
    #3 FunkyMacGroovin, Apr 21, 2012
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  4. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Do it blind. That's the only way!

    I did not attend, but I heard about a blind Stone IRS vertical (big vertical too, like 11 years) tasting that got really crazy results, there was no real clear trend, it was all over the map.
     
    #4 stupac2, Apr 21, 2012
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  5. bleakies

    bleakies Maven (1,355) Apr 11, 2011 Massachusetts

    I'd prefer my palate to be freshest for the oldest, and then I'd drink my way to the present.

    Really, though, you can't lose.
     
    #5 bleakies, Apr 21, 2012
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  6. Chugs13

    Chugs13 Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2011 New Jersey

    Give it a go blind. Rubber band paper over all the labs, and mix them up so you dont know what is what. Then pour them and leave the respective bottle behind each glass. Then sample each and guess which is which, and then remove the paper and see how you did, and then drink them how ever you please.
     
    #6 Chugs13, Apr 21, 2012
  7. Wowcoolman

    Wowcoolman Pooh-Bah (1,660) Sep 25, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Don't do it before going to bed.
     
    #7 Wowcoolman, Apr 21, 2012
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  8. doughanson78

    doughanson78 Savant (1,103) May 28, 2011 Washington

    I ended up doing freshest to oldest. There were only 4 of us, and they all were very new to craft beer. With initial 2-3 oz pours, there was still plenty to resample as we saw fit. the '07 was awesome, as was the '11. '09 was a bit sweet and over ran with dark fruits, but still good. '12 was also good but definitely benefits with age.
     
    #8 doughanson78, Apr 21, 2012
  9. HopTaco

    HopTaco Aspirant (258) Mar 4, 2010 South Carolina

    I'm partial to moving old to new. For Stouts and Old Ales you can probably go either direction. Barleywine I would definitely start with the oldest-- fresher means more hops! And you don't want that profile to blur your palate. I just did an '06, '08, '10, '12 Bigfoot vertical and I'm glad I finished with the '12... So good...
     
    #9 HopTaco, Apr 21, 2012
  10. steebo777

    steebo777 Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2009 Michigan

    I always do oldest to newest.
     
    #10 steebo777, Apr 21, 2012
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  11. SpottedZombie

    SpottedZombie Initiate (0) Feb 7, 2012 Illinois

    That's because everyone who thinks they can pull leather, orange rind, gym sock on a winter day, etc, out of beer, is really full of it.
     
    #11 SpottedZombie, Apr 23, 2012
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