Does anybody else prefer an imperial stout when it's colder?

Few sips cold and then I let it warm as long as possible.

I like to use the heat vent next to my chair as a table.

 

Actually, the colder your beer is, the thicker it will be. Same goes for liquor, too. As for finding the flavor more desirable, I bet you'd enjoy many "regular" (not imperial/double) American stouts. They will be lighter in body and in flavor. Plus, at a lower ABV, you can drink more of them, so you might not regret drinking it as fast as you like to. Sierra Nevada Porter and Stout are great examples at a great price.

 

From the thread title, I thought this was about a seasonal preference! I prefer drinking RISs in the winter, as opposed to a Florida summer. The rich, boozy, roasty styles go down easier when it's cold outside. That said, I prefer them cool to start and don't care how warm they get over the time it takes to savor one.

 

For me it it depends on what kind
If it's Bourbon barrel Stout I let it warm up a bit First time having BCBS I sipped on it for over an hour

 

Nope...

I like 'em cool, but not cold. You get more of the complexity, but to each his own.

 

DIPAs are better cold. Folks on this site act like warm IPA is standard and all things taste better warm because some fool told them that volatile organic compounds become more volatile at higher temperatures. Most people who force that "knowledge" down our throats don't understand that all VOCs were not created equal and not all VOCs are equally desirable. Different compounds come out at different temps. In my experience sweet malty compounds dominate at room temp, but hoppy funk is more prevalent at colder temps. I love hops but don't like sweet beer. If you're like me, you will enjoy a cold DIPA more than a worm one, because the hops taste comes out more because the sweetness of the malt is subdued. Also at cold temperature head retention is better, which also adds to the hop aroma. I welcome the flames that are coming, because I know that I'm right about this and the sheep on this site love to cite "facts" that are just baseless opinions.

If you want to taste the sweet end of the spectrum, you want warm, which I think most folks are after with stouts. Imperial stouts definitely taste more boozy and less sweet when they are too cold, but I'm positive that there are other elements of the flavor profile that are also more pronounced, that someone might prefer. I'm not an cold stout guy, but I sure do allow that some folks will enjoy that and they aren't wrong. It's what they like

 

To me, Imperial Stouts are the Gentleman's beer. Best enjoyed at fifteen degrees celsius. No chugging/shooting allowed.

 

how much do you think the chilled glass changes the temperature of the beer? Personally, I don't think it does a damned thing, and the glass warms to room temp in about 3 minutes. I agree that the cold glass changes your sensory perception significantly, but I don't think it changes the temperature or the taste of the beer

 

Do you bring your thermometer to the bar?

 

I only drink them in winter, and I prefer them cold and then nurse it over the course of 30-40 minutes

 

that's another story. no ice in my beer please.

 

Yes

 

The snifter gets a few sips shortly after the pour, and then let it start to acclimate to room temp. Sometimes I even get both hands on the underside of the glass to expedite.

 

No. I don't like any beer cold.

 

I find that I like all my beers about 5/10 degrees colder than the ideal temperature recommended for the style.

 

Find the sweet spot

 

I like to start drinking my beers cold and then take note of any flavor enhancement as the beer warms

 

Nope.

The stronger end of the DIPA scale is probably the only style where I like things a little on the colder side.