A Perfect Stout non-100% Barrel Aged?

Oh, and I forgot one: Marshal Zhukov.

 

For the price you can't beat Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

 

TenFidy, Old Rasputin, Choklat, Good People Coffee Oatmeal Stout, Lefthand Milk Stout and Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout. Those are my favorites to date in no particular order.
Send me your Oyster Stouts and I will try those too.

And I will be trying Bell's Expedition soon-ish. Hopefully.

Never met a stout I hated, but dry stouts and hoppy stouts are not my favorites.
(Looking at Yeti and StormKing respectively)
But your mileage may vary.

 

Just did a '08 - '12 vert of Abyss at our stout tasting and Abyss is fantastic! Great fresh and with some years on it even better. OP, you are correct, sir.

 

I have a '12 that I haven't opened yet. What did you think of that particular one?

 

'12 seemed a bit hot compared to the others if you could believe it. Expected the '09 to either be a mature infection gusher, or perfect, turns out it was no gush or vomit aroma and was like drinking a better Tart of Darkness. The '10 and '08 were like heaven in a bottle, mellow, blended, no/little sherry character, and still bright on the palate. So Gooooood!!!!

 

I don't understand the lack of love for Expedition, either. Maybe because it's been around for awhile (and is pricey)?

It is still one of my favorite brews. And is one of the few beers that absolutely improves (not just "changes") with age.

 

I don't see it as pricey. $15 a six pack for this great beer. Lesss than founders at $12 a four pack. Comes out to $4.58 a bomber that most would pay $15 for alone.

Enjoy

 

Chalk another up for TG MD

 

Since the best have been named I'm going to go with Dark Truth Stout by Boulevard. Definite sleeper

 

Dark Horse - Plead The 5th
Lion Stout
Storm King

 

Darkness would be my perfect (non-100% barrel-aged) stout. Enough body and complexity that you'd think it was BA, but it's a beer that actually (in my opinion) benefits from NOT being barrel-aged.

Founders Imperial Stout is definitely right up there, too.

 

I think there are a whole bunch of non-BA stouts that are killer.
Stone RIS, normal Yeti, Storm King, Brooklyn BCS, FBS.

Locally (in Denver), the ones from Comrade and Hogshead are as good as any of those, too.

 

tree house good morning is the closest I've had to mornin' delight. both are off the charts

 

Abraxas and Huna. Need to try Mornin' Delight

 

Nothing even comes close to touching Mornin' Delight in the non-barrel-aged stout realm! Good Morning is also a standout in this category. As far as easily attainable non-barrel-aged stouts go, Ten Fidy is pretty effing delicious every damn time, as are Plead the 5th and Speedway Stout!

 

I just had a 13 darkness. One of the best non BA stouts I've ever had.

 

Also,
Huna
Zhukov
Founders imperial

 

Toppling Goliath Mornin' Delight breakfast stout founders Ten fidy oscar blues zhukov Huna

 

I don't like to think in terms of "perfect", instead, I'll give my current favorite non-barrel aged imperial stout is:

Alesmith's Vietnamese Speedway Stout

In fact, I think this one beats many barrel aged imperial stouts.