Best Non-Barrel Aged CO Stout?

"Tweak" has always been barrel-aged. It started out as Meph Addict which was coffee added to Mephistopheles (non-BA base). Then for Tweak it was put in bourbon barrels and the recipe slightly adjusted but still very similar to Meph. Avery brought back Mephistopheles' Stout this year too so I'd go try some!

 

I don't recall if it was ever bottled or not, but Tweak in 2012 in the taproom was definitely not barrelled, my wife loved it and was very unhappy when they decided to do a BA-only version.
Here's a quick description and keg collar from that time.
https://mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com/2012/03/avery-tweak-stout-wcoffee-added-155.html

 

Yeah, Tweak made the draft circuit as a non barrelled beer before getting the bottle treatment, which is when the barreling came into play. I remember seeing it on taps over the course of a couple years. Can only remember drinking it one of those years (though made it to Mayor of Old Town multiple times that year for it).

In its non-barrel form it was so wonderfully coffee forward. I still think its great, but I would happily give up the barrel for more coffee, personally.

 

I've had this argument before. Tweak was not BA originally. It made it's way in to barrels and bottles circa 2012. I enjoyed it more when it wasn't barrelled, but in 14 or 15 they really bumped the coffee and I loved it. It's one of my perfect 5s, had I rated the BA version it would not have faired as well.
Also, it was renamed tweek after meph addict got mixed by the powers that be.

 

Feels like every few years someone comes on here and says Tweak has always been barrel aged. One was even a newer Avery sales rep. Either way, no it wasn't and if you do a search there is even a Beeradvocate thread comment from Andy Parker about it.
The original (non-BA) Meph Addict/Tweak is up there with Avery's all time best. It was so far ahead of the other coffee beers at the time. The BA one is still good, but I find the whiskey notes muddle things and don't add anything I want.

 

To go along with some of the other posts:
As much as I like the BA Tweak, the preBA version was so rich in coffee flavor on top of being a legit big-boy ABV beer. If I got a chance to vote, I'd trade the BA version for a bottled non-BA version this one time.
Plus I wouldn't have to listen to my wife complain about it every time I open a BA bottle

 

From memory (I'm stuck at work and don't really have time to look), Andy mentioned that the original draft version of Tweak/Meph Addict was a totally different beer than the bottled BA version. It was using a different type of coffee from a different roaster and the base beer was different, too. The bottled one was created with barrel aging in mind.

I might be thinking of something else, but I *think* they might have done a taproom re-release of the older one in the last few years. No clue if it was the same beer or a re-imagining or whatever, but I remember something like that happening.

 

Finally had some of TRVE's O))) Stout. Good stuff, and nice and dry. Proper.

 

This Thursday TRVE is release Stout 0))) in cans for the first time. I'm pretty psyched. There aren't enough stouts like that anymore and it's one of my absolute faves.

 

Another interesting new item, Great Divide's new Coffee Porter will be brewed using barrel-aged coffee beans. That should taste more like what I want and it should (hopefully) keep the costs at a reasonable level.

 

That sounds delightful.. I’ll be on the lookout.. thanks for the heads up!

 

Their FB is showing a release this Thursday, so it should be on the shelves soon afterward I'd guess.

 

If its anything even remotely close to Modern Times - City of Dead it should be delicious. That is one of my all-time favorite coffee beers. So Smooth.

 

It's not CO, but you can get it here now, and it is easily my favorite: Bell's Expedition. I fucking love that beer. I'm drinking a 2015 right meow, and damn it is good. We can get Founders Imp Stout now, and I know people are gaga over it, but I prefer Expo. I'm not sure there's any BA Stout I like more, tbh.

 

I've been buying a decent amount of Kalamazoo Stout lately. It's drinkable, roasty, and even pleasantly hoppy without being overly strong or sweet. I find it pretty similar to Sierra Nevada Stout which we stopped getting a while ago. Feels like there are a ton of strong stouts and especially milk stouts, but it's tough finding something that isn't either.

 

Evidently Left Hand is coming out with a new one- Galactic Cowboy Nitro.

While I’m not much of a nitro fan, they definitely have a history of delicious non-ba stouts...


Anyone see this in the wild yet??

 

This single of Wake Up Dead is pretty darned good and not a nitro. I have to say, I am also not a fan of nitro but Left Hand seems to pull it off.

 

I’ve had a couple Galactic Cowboys from the folks at Left Hand and can tell you I’m completely sold.

Never been a big fan of nitro beers, but I’m certainly digging this one.. solid feel for the style. Very much a well executed RIS. A little more balanced with a lot less smoke-e-ness than Wake Up Dead.

Major bonus- walked by it a couple weeks ago, $10.99.. same spot (Supermarket Liquor) and it was marked down to $8.99- great value for a four pack of tall bois.. definitely would have still been pleased with it at the initial price in retrospect

 

Speaking of Left Hand, the latest batch of Peanut Butter Cup Milk Stout is really, really good. Not too sweet, balanced perfectly. Lots of peanut butter and a little chocolate, but it's low enough ABV that you can drink several.

 

Not from Colorado, but this is one of many reasons I love Zonker!

You can also just sip on only one and still be satisfied