Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

Not mad about the game today. There were signs of improvement, I’ll take it. Cheers!

 

My wife and I got into it in our 40's when the kids joined, and we got to 3rd degree and were instructors for about 18 years. I particularly liked multi-board breaks. If we'd kept up with testing, we'd be 6th degree now. We still help run tournaments. Muay Thai is pretty wicked.

 

I don't generally hype beers, but this cellar 2020 Double Barrel Very Special Old Deth is one of the best BA Stout / Beer experiences I can recall. I've played this out for over an hour now with about 4-5 oz left because I don't want it to end.

Revolution Double Barrel Very Special Old Deth (2020)



I pulled this out as part of my compare the latest Deep Woods releases to the October / November releases, and while I had high expectations for this one, I could not have expected this to be as magnificent as it is. I implore all those who can trade or Tavour this to make an effort at getting the 2023 release if possible. I am going to try to enjoy a draft or two selection of the 2023 so as to save my can stock, and see how it compares fresh. I really enjoyed the 2017 and 2020 versions fresh, so have similar expectations this year, but this 3 year old version I am enjoying today is one of the 5% or so for me that is even better aged, and not simply because I did not enjoy the fresh version (aged better because fresh was too hot, adjuncts too strong / not balanced, etc.). In the prior two releases, I absolutely loved this fresh, but it seems magical today.

 

Earthlings — A question for the Imperial Stout Hive Mind: Currently, Narwhal and Expedition are easily available. Cases, six packs, singles, whatever. By April or maybe even earlier they will be scarce, with Yeti and Old Rasputin the only reliably available IS year-round. Within reason, how long would you say they last, properly stored? One year? The question is whether to stockpile a few cases for the dry times. Nothing crazy. I’d probably not refrigerate but keep in a dry garage that will probably vary from about 45 to 60F. I could refrigerate if really needed.

And somewhere I seem to recall having seen that bottles store better than cans (but haven’t seen either Narwhal or Expedition in that format).

Thanks!

 

I completed a side by side of 2023 Expedition Stout fresh vs. 2020, and actually found the 2020 better at this stage.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...-side-by-side-2023.671043/page-8#post-7863000

I am not certain whether any of this is attributable in terms of differences between Larry Bell Bell's and New Belgium Bell's, but suffice it to say, I would cellar the Expedition Stout with confidence in terms of not falling out.

In terms of Narwhal, we have only seen can format here, so typically I recommend to refrigerate vs. cellar cans based on the format (can seal, fact that cans are impenetrable so beyond possibly dulling aspects you don't like fresh not as much room for improvement). That said, my canned Narwhal has also held up well over time (1-2 years +).

I believe both are still released annually (we don't get SN as broadly as we have in the past, our distributor for it (Mullarkey) is not the best, so if you get both annually, I'd recommend buying what you plan on reasonably enjoying over the next year. It's possible the bottles will improve beyond a year, but it's likely you won't find substantial change between 1-3 years, and if you're like my Ghost of Christmas Future, you don't want to get to a point where you have 250 barrel aged stouts on hand because you bought more than you can enjoy over time.

I personally really enjoy stouts during November - March with the cold weather, but YMMV.

Hope this helps.

 

That’s great info and advice. Thank you!

 

Here’s to Founders bringing back Imperial Stout, the best non-BA, non-adjunct IS there’s ever been.

 

As far as I know, canned Narwhal is only for BA Narwhal.

But I otherwise fully agree with your recommendations. For my preferences I find that I enjoy Narwhal fresh-6ish months, then it decreases in enjoyment for me, until around the 3 year mark where I one again really enjoy it.

 

Yes, that is correct. I haven't seen regular Narwhal at the stores I shop in quite some time. Wish we would get more here when they are released, or perhaps I just need to keep my eyes on here for the release and use the SN beer finder.

Glad I could be of help regarding your Revolution decision, it's a great program if you have someone to serve as a proxy / send to you. I stopped buying BCBS the past few years and haven't missed anything, IMO, based on the few I've tried at the Block Party and FOBAB. I still have a few boxes of 2019 bought for $60 / 12 bottles to get through.

 

Terrapin Wake-N-Bake Imperial Coffee Oatmeal Stout. On draft. Not bad not great. Just ok IMO. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by all the Narwhal and Expedition I’ve been drinking. Or maybe it was the Chicago dog chaser.

 

Been out of the beer trading game for a while, found in my cellar a couple bottles of 2018 vanilla bourbon county stout. People still want/trading for these? I know years ago they were worth a lot for trading, not sure anymore. Def gonna drink one of them

 

We don't get Narwhal or Bigfoot in McHenry County, missing for 2 years, same for GD's Yeti, never see the high-end Bell products much either, but did get some Expedition.....

......that being said Jackie O's BA Dark Apparition is mighty tasty at a sessionable 13.2%!

 

Well I’ll be damned. Drive over and drop one off to me.