Dry, Bitter Imperial Stouts

Yea, I doubt we see it out here anytime soon because of this exact reason. I can't blame them.

 

The Alaskan 35th Anniversary stout, formerly known as Perseverance Stout, is back this year and one of my favorites of this style. It's a big, bitter monster that has zero residual sweetness and really nice viscosity for a relatively low abc (<10%). It uses the same alder-smoked malt as Smoked Porter, and are additives, I think birch syrup and honey, but they're totally fermented out so it just serves to raise the gravity and add a slight foresty note. The smoke isn't super dominant, but you probably won't like it if you don't so smoked beers.

 

This and the coffee version are the two Minnesota beers I miss most besides Firebrick. Another great MN black ale (if they still brew it) is Steel Toe's Defiance.

 

I would consider Old Rasputin to be up your alley.

 

I know your pain.

 

I’ll pile on the love for Old Rasputin. It does have some sweetness, but not like the modern cloying adjunct stouts that are so popular.

I’d also second Bell’s Kalamazoo stout. It’s not high ABV, and I haven’t had it in years, but it struck me as extremely dry, roasty, and bitter. Never had Storm King, so can’t compare.

 

There is (was?) a regular Ten Fidy. I haven't found it in NJ in a few years. The BA might show up for me sometimes. I prefer the regular like you probably would too.

 

It's wonderful stuff. I highly recommend picking up a few if you get it in your area, because the last time they brewed it for distribution was 2016 I think so it will probably be a while before you see it again. It ages really well and isn't very expensive, I think I paid $9 per bomber

 

Drinking a Storm King right now, quite dry and bitter.

Enjoy

 

That's clearly barrel-aged Ten Fidy. It's usually just a "normal" imperial stout, but there are variants that have been in barrels or with additional flavorings. You'll just want to hunt down the normal one moving forward.

 

had a jacks abby estonian " imperial baltic rye porter" . very good and i think would be right up your alley

 

I have 6 or 7 de Molen stouts in the cellar - I'll have to go check to see if I have this one! on a side note, the de Molens crack me up because they typically have a "drink by" date that's 25 years out. the ones I have are all 6-8 years old, and they keep survinving my cellar raids because it seems too soon!