Cellar Worthy: STOUTs

*Same as the bwine thread.

Stone IRS- fresh it is ok, after several years (I've a few 08s) it gets thinner and starts to fall apart a bit. Decent but I'm not too crazy about it.

Yeti- this one is fantastic both fresh and aged, the oldest I've had is 2yr old and it was great and smooth like velvet. That reminds me that I need to pick up a few...

Abyss- great no matter what, however I feel the 07 is peaking way pad prime and lacks the character of the Abyss that I like most, 08 is either getting there or will be there soon. This is the beer that got me cellaring in the first place.

Triple Bock- not technically a stout, but this will put hair on your chest.

Huna- I prefer it fresh, 1 year old lost a lot of the cinnamon, chocolate and graham I liked fresh.

 

I recently had both 12 and 11 Stone IRS on back to back nights, and I felt the 11 was better and smoother. Difference were noticeable and at this point I am waiting about a year before I touch any 12.
I have not had a fresh Oak-Aged Yeti but did have a year old bottle that was very good.
I have heard World Wide Stout ages very well, it has been a long time since I have had one, but thinking of doing an 06-11 vertical this summer.

 

I had a growler fill of 2005 Stone IRS direct from Stone's archives and it was amazing.

 

Expedition Stout cellars fantastically.

 

Stone IRS is one of my favourite beers to age. It's a damn fine brew fresh, but out of this world with a year or more on it. I actually just bought a case of it (the first beer I've ever bought by the case) to age. I think Abyss ages well, but it's hard to say, as there's so much variation year to year. I did a vert this past Winter, and the 2010, for instance, was way better than the 2011, but I think a lot of that is that it was a better beer fresh than the 2011 rather than the age adding much to it.

 

Expedition Stout
Stone IRS
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

 

Founders Imperial Stout

 

1. Dogfather
2. Avery Mephistopheles
3. Avery The Czar
4. Dogfish head Palo Santo Marron (they call it a brown ale or whatever, but for my money it is a stout)
5. Ten Fidy

 

Stone IRS and Expedition Stout are ones that I can vouch for, bigtime.

 

Thirsty Dog Siberian Night
Great Lakes Blackout Stout
(Currently aging Stone IRS, Great Divide Oak-Aged Yeti, and Brooklyn Black Chocolate so glad to see them on the list)

 

I'd also call Palo Santo Marron a stout tbh, not sure why it's classified as a brown.

 

Because that's how Dogfish classifies and brewed it, as a Brown Ale.

 

Victory Stormking is better with some age on it. Too hoppy fresh imho.

 

I'll give my vote to Abyss as well, I think it actually improves with age. Surprised nobody has mentioned regular BCS? I've found 2008 was drinking amazing and 2007 had mellowed a little bit back when I did vert. around New Years. For my tastes the peak seems to be around 3 years. My 2007 experience at four years was still excellent, but a little too smooth for my tastes, I like a bit of heat/bite to it myself.

Ted

 

GD Yeti
Stone RIS
Brooklyn BCS
Sam Adams Imperial Stout
GI BCBS
DFH WWS
FD Gonzo Imperial Porter
Old Raspy
Old Raspy XII
Stoudts Fat Dog
Bell's Expedition
Bruery Black Tuesday
Southern Tier Oat/Choklat/Mokah
Weyerbacher Tiny
Black Xantus
Big Sky Ivan the Terrible
Smuttynose Imperial Stout
Weyerbacher Heresy
Zywiec Porter