Aging Sierra Nevada Stout?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by tkdchampxi, Nov 25, 2013.

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  1. tkdchampxi

    tkdchampxi Pooh-Bah (2,473) Oct 19, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Thoughts on whether or not SN Stout ages well? If so, what's a good amount of time for aging to notice a difference

    The regular SN Stout, not Narwhal, btw
     
    #1 tkdchampxi, Nov 25, 2013
  2. Rekrule

    Rekrule Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2011 Massachusetts

    There's no reason to age it and I can't see it changing for the better even a little bit (most beers don't). If it's something that is intriguing to you, give it a go. It's cheap enough and then you'd know.
     
    #2 Rekrule, Nov 25, 2013
  3. BrettHead

    BrettHead Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2010 Nebraska

    High IBU and Low ABV. I would never do it.
     
    #3 BrettHead, Nov 25, 2013
  4. tkdchampxi

    tkdchampxi Pooh-Bah (2,473) Oct 19, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Thanks. I know that people recommend aging a number of other Stouts - Stone IRS for instance - but I recognize that that has a significantly higher ABV.
     
    #4 tkdchampxi, Nov 25, 2013
  5. Augustiner719

    Augustiner719 Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2008 Massachusetts

    actually aging SN stout would make a considerable difference. Since its generously hopped, it actually loses some of the hop character and basically "smoothes out," so to speak because of the hop character degradation. Similar to how IPA's lose their hop bite after some age.
     
    #5 Augustiner719, Nov 25, 2013
  6. tkdchampxi

    tkdchampxi Pooh-Bah (2,473) Oct 19, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    That sounds like a bad difference?
     
    #6 tkdchampxi, Nov 25, 2013
  7. Augustiner719

    Augustiner719 Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2008 Massachusetts

    depends on what you are going for when aging a beer. Some beers with high abv's are drank because people like the warming effect, others age them to calm the alcohol down, smooth it out. In this case it depend if you like hoppy stouts. What exactly are you going for in aging SN stout? is there something you don't like about it fresh? This is your thread BTW
     
    #7 Augustiner719, Nov 25, 2013
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  8. tkdchampxi

    tkdchampxi Pooh-Bah (2,473) Oct 19, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    I was just seeing if it was worth trying at all, based on if others have done it. I wasn't trying to accomplish anything in particular. I will admit that I particularly like Hoppy Stouts.

    Specifically, I was asking because I plan on buying several cases of some stout (SN Stout is a front-runner based on price) for my wedding next October, and I wonder if I should buy it now and let it sit, or buy it shortly before when it is more fresh.

    I actually haven't even tried it yet. I have a 6-pk at home I'm saving for Thanksgiving, to try side by side with a few other stouts for comparison.
     
    #8 tkdchampxi, Nov 25, 2013
  9. Augustiner719

    Augustiner719 Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2008 Massachusetts

    Probably should give it a go before making the beer served at your wedding. How old is the 6 pack you have now? Maybe try one now and save a bottle or two and try every month or two months
     
    #9 Augustiner719, Nov 25, 2013
  10. BrettHead

    BrettHead Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2010 Nebraska

    I would recommend against aging any beer unless you can answer the question of "what am I hoping to achieve by aging this beer".
     
    #10 BrettHead, Nov 25, 2013
  11. tkdchampxi

    tkdchampxi Pooh-Bah (2,473) Oct 19, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    I think that's a hard approach to use unless you know more about beer properties than I do. I mean, I can hope Bud Light turns into Heady upon aging, but wishing does not make it so.

    The sense I've gotten from other BAs is to buy a few bottles of something, if you have the means of course. Then, drink one fresh, age the others, and drink them at intervals.

    Also, figuring out "what I'm hoping to achieve" is the very reason I made this thread: to see what input others might be able to give me on what I could hope to achieve by aging it. That way, I do not falsely hope for what cannot be.
     
    #11 tkdchampxi, Nov 26, 2013
  12. tkdchampxi

    tkdchampxi Pooh-Bah (2,473) Oct 19, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    It would be one of about ten crafts I will have at my wedding, and it will be one of two stouts probably. At it's price point, and considering the fact that half the commenters on my other thread suggest I consider it, I figured I'd consider it.

    My 6-pk was bought this week. Don't know the bottle date off the top of my head
     
    #12 tkdchampxi, Nov 26, 2013
  13. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    FWIW I recently had a bottle that was stored in a fridge, but was a little old, the hops were cheezy in the nose and palate.
     
    #13 jbakajust1, Nov 27, 2013
  14. alexk307

    alexk307 Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2013 Maryland

    I have one that's been sitting around for a few years. I just forgot to drink it, now that it's this old I'm just experimenting.
     
    #14 alexk307, Nov 30, 2013
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