2008 stone imperial Russian stout export 12 oz

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by BrandonN24, Apr 3, 2014.

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  1. BrandonN24

    BrandonN24 Initiate (0) Oct 20, 2013 Maryland

    I have been cellaring some 2008 export Russian imperial Stouts by Stone.

    My questions are that the enjoy by says 01/01/13, would they still be drinkable?

    And do these have any trade value since they are 2008 exports?
     
    #1 BrandonN24, Apr 3, 2014
  2. Iamjeff6

    Iamjeff6 Initiate (0) Sep 9, 2013 Virginia

    There is only one way to find out, open it and drink it.
     
    #2 Iamjeff6, Apr 3, 2014
  3. jageraholic

    jageraholic Pooh-Bah (1,632) Sep 16, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    what do you mean by export? was that in the title of the imperial russian stouts back then or is it a different beer? Stone talks about the Imperial Russian Stout being drinkable 10+ years out. They have barrels from every year and they keep trying them and I haven't heard any bad reports yet.
     
    #3 jageraholic, Apr 3, 2014
  4. JamesShoemaker

    JamesShoemaker Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2012 Michigan

    /thread
     
    #4 JamesShoemaker, Apr 3, 2014
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  5. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Stop asking questions and just start drinking!

    You won't die if you drink the beer and it's too old.
     
    #5 GreesyFizeek, Apr 3, 2014
  6. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    In my experience, you're probably right on the cusp in terms of waiting too long to open this beer. However, assuming proper storage conditions, it's probably still good (but I would drink it very soon).

    I like to age Stone RIS as well, and in my experience, 3 to 4 years seems to be the sweet spot for how long you want to wait. That's not to say you can't age them longer than that, but I know that some older bottles of Stone RIS I've opened have occasionally had some off flavors, or just tasted as if the beer was past its peak (flavors were starting to fade or seemed a bit musty).

    Good luck.
     
    #6 John_M, Apr 3, 2014
  7. Ysgard

    Ysgard Zealot (665) Mar 5, 2008 Virginia

    Oxidation will eventually turn most beers into bland papery/cardboardy flavored things. 6 years is possibly still good, but storage conditions, the quality of the bottles capping etc start making it hard to predict.
     
    #7 Ysgard, Apr 3, 2014
  8. BrandonN24

    BrandonN24 Initiate (0) Oct 20, 2013 Maryland

    They are 12 oz exports that were not meant to be sold in the u.s. but some made it stores here. I got my hands on some. Says export on the bottle
     
    #8 BrandonN24, Apr 4, 2014
  9. jageraholic

    jageraholic Pooh-Bah (1,632) Sep 16, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Nice. Never heard of em. I'd crack it open and enjoy
     
    #9 jageraholic, Apr 4, 2014
  10. argyle324

    argyle324 Initiate (0) Aug 27, 2013 Colorado

    I hope you enjoy it! I'm doing a six-year vertical of Stone's RIS, 2009-2014, in a few weeks. Let us know how the 2008 bottle was when you open one.
     
    #10 argyle324, Apr 4, 2014
  11. AndrewK

    AndrewK Savant (1,123) Oct 20, 2006 California

    They were only sold in the US in 2008 I believe.
     
    #11 AndrewK, Apr 4, 2014
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  12. Loganyoung

    Loganyoung Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2011 Georgia

    Very cool. Never new they did that. Care to post pics? Cheers!
     
    #12 Loganyoung, Apr 4, 2014
  13. artdamage

    artdamage Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2013 Oregon

    Had a couple of 12ozs last year and they were drinking great. Just did an IRS vertical yesterday and the '08 just drinking just as good for being a 22oz. Crack one up and enjoy!
     
    #13 artdamage, Apr 7, 2014
  14. GRG1313

    GRG1313 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,974) Jan 15, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    In 2010 or 2011 I was down at Stones Winterstorm (I think that's the name of the event) and while filling some growlers I started talking to a store employee about "the great small bottles of IRS 2008" I'd found a few years back. Asked if they ever did it again ("no") and also asked if they perhaps still had some for sale (again "no.")

    The manager of the Store overheard the conversation and came up to us and inserted, "hey, you know what? I just found a case a few days ago 'stuck in the back.' I didn't know we had any left." He went on to say that it was a one time bottling for the Japanese market, although several cases were sold here. (They were on shelves in Los Angeles; I don't know where else). I asked if I could buy the case and he was more than happy to sell it to me. (24 bottles in the case). He actually said that having found it by accident, he was glad to get it out of there.

    I drank some and gave several bottles away as throw ins in trades over the years. I recently drank one and it was great. I also noticed that I'm down to my last 3 or 4 bottles. Candidly, while the beer is still very good, the bottle is just plain cool - a small version of the 750.
     
    #14 GRG1313, Apr 9, 2014
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  15. Dajtai007

    Dajtai007 Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2009 Texas

    Yes they were sold in the West Coast. They were originally packaged for the Japanese market, but it fell through. They were sold a year later stateside. I use to buy them all the time when living in Seattle for $3, great deal!
     
    #15 Dajtai007, Apr 15, 2014
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