Age Boulevard's Aztec Chocolate Imperial Stout?

I typically don't like to age adjunct stouts. I'd drink it now the spiciness will fade over time.

 

We do not suggest aging this beer as it will only cause the chocolate, cinnamon and peppers to fade.

 

Ideally, as mentioned, aging adjunct stouts isn't a good idea. But more importantly this is a brand new beer, so how would anyone have experience aging it?

 

Dan, it will be fine. Trust me, the flavors "might" dissipate a little over time, but it will still be an excellent beer from Boulevard. If anything, letting the peppers fade a little might not be a bad thing. All according to your personal taste and preferences.

Be cool Jeremy.......

 

It's been out roughly a year. In terms of beer life, that's definitely not brand new.

I had the beer fresh and thought it was excellent and found some bottles pretty cheap so I picked up a few. I had another about 3 months later and noticed that the spices had dropped off a bit, which let a bit of booziness come through. I preferred it fresh, but it was still quite good. Another 6 months have passed and I'm going to open another very soon. I'll let you know how it is, but I definitely expect the spices to have diminished even more. Since the spices are what makes this beer unique, I definitely recommend drinking this fresh. I plan on keeping a bottle around a few years in the name of experimentation, but I do not expect this beer to get better.

 

I can't imagine how a prompt/polite response to the OP is anything but "cool."

 

Brand new, as in no previous vintages. No one is going to be able to compare notes on a 2011 bottle, for example.

 

I'm a month late, so if that bottle is still kicking around I'd definitely drink it now. I had a beer the other day with the same flavor profile (just over a year old), and it was horribly unbalanced. The pepper had left some phenolic notes, the cinnamon and vanilla just tasted wrong next to the bitter remnants of the Mexican cocoa. I had to dump it. YMMV, of course, but I'd drink it now.

 

Hey @TheJermis I have a question. I have a bottle of Aztec with a BB date of 4/2017 in my cellar. Assuming I will drink it before then, will it hold up, or I should drink it ASAP?

 

I drank it fresh, with about 8 months on it, and with about 14 months on it. It is still good, but I recommend drinking it now. I'll be drinking my other two bottles within the next couple months.

 

Have you had the beer before? If not, I'd drink it sooner than later.

 

Have not had before, will prob. drink over the weekend...
Thanks

 

I just finished my 3rd bottle, still drinking quite well, with about 2 months to go till expiration date. With that I have one comment, Boulevard, please bring it back!!!
@TheJermis

 

I've had two within the past couple of months. Very big chocolate flavor. The other additions faded a good amount. I thought it was still quite excellent.