Dry, Bitter Imperial Stouts

Lost Abbey Serpent's Stout always hit those notes for me.

 

Again, not knowing where in NY you are…

I don’t know that it ever sees distribution, and it’s a relatively infrequent release, but Beelzebub from the Alchemist is my #1 ultimate dry imperial stout. I’m a couple hours away from the brewery but I’ll drive up for a case at least once a year.

Does Dieu du Ciel find its way into NY? Péché Mortel would fit the bill. Actually you might want to at least try any of the Quebec stouts you come across - sweet and syrupy pastry-type stouts don’t seem to have caught on there, at least not that I’ve noticed.

Lastly, Unearthed from Long Trail. I can’t recall having seen it on the shelves lately but then I haven’t been looking either.

Good hunting! I dislike sweet stouts myself. You might consider oatmeal stouts if you can find them in an abv that suits you - I don’t know that they’re typically dry, as such, but at least their not usually cloyingly sweet and I haven’t seen anyone putting Mars Bars and shit in them yet.

 

Apart from storm king, none of the beers recommended in this thread are really that dry or bitter at all.

This is your huckleberry:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/11031/47437/?ba=Fordcoyote15#lists


Or for a slightly less amazing but more obtainable suggestion Peche Mortel deserves a mention. Edit: I see @papposilenus recommended this one already. Good call friend.

 

I was going to say Beelzebub from The Alchemist. But I'm not sure you'd have access to it, not to mention they haven't released it in ages.

 

Tiny is EXTREMELY sweet. Taste like 50/50 quad/stout mix.

Wws is pretty heavy on the dark fruit to be considered dry and bitter.

 

Spencer Trappist Imperial Stout

 

Is it? I just had one and didn’t seem so. Err urr.

Well, F it. Don’t listen to me. Cicerone Ford Coyote got you bro.

 

Cicerone, he said no caffeine. Isn’t Peche Mortel made with coffee? I probably have that wrong, too. My underwear is in such a wad.

 

Valid point. I guess anything with cacao is out too. No clue if the De Molen I suggested has either coffee or cacao.

@bitterbeer as far as your stipulation for no caffeine, are you sensitive to small amounts and therefore trying to avoid it? Or are you just looking for non coffee adjuncted beers?

@micada are you intentionally being passive aggressive with the multiple "cicerone" jests? It reads that way.

 

I was being sarcastic. My experience with the beers I suggested here were based on what my palate and brain perceived to be congruent with the request for recommendations. If you don’t agree, super, but I don’t appreciate or need you to “correct” my suggestions. Maybe you’re a cicerone, so your palate is so much better than mine. Are you a cicerone, or just some guy drinking beers like assumedly many of us here?

 

I'm just a guy, no need to be offended by my disagreement.

@bitterbeer don't take my suggestions or others at face value. Use them to explore reviews on if they sound like what you're looking for, we all taste things a bit differently. A lot of the beers in this thread you'll read a common theme of sweetness throughout the tasting notes.

 

Dark Horse Plead the 5Th.

 

Regular Yeti $12-13 a six
Zero Gravity Extra Stout $11 a 4x16




Enjoy

 

Deschutus Abyss is quite bitter (though not one that I ever particularly enjoyed).

Also, not an imperial stout per your request Alaskan Smoked Porter might be worth trying.