Worth it? I've got a few from last year that I haven't had the chance to open. I should probably just drink them or include them in trades as bonuses...
From my experience, I prefer fresh but I was never disappointed with an older MZ. Try one and see for yourself, I'd be curious to hear your opinion.
We drank a 2012 a few months ago and it was drinking really well. That being said, a month after that we opened up a 2013 (maybe a few weeks after its release?) and it was drinking fantastic... so IMO, fresh would be better, but a year on it shouldn't make too much of a difference. It certainly seems to be a beer that can hold up really well with time.
CCB tapped '12 Zhukov as part of their Black Friday event. The heat from the alcohol was toned down and it drank smooth as hell. I opened the '13 the day we got it in at my store and thought the alcohol heat was way more up front. Basically it all depends on if you prefer that warming alcohol presence or not. Both were crushed like a boss and enjoyed thoroughly. Hope this helps mate
I've never gotten a huge alcohol presence from a Zhukov, fresh or aged. My opinion is that I enjoy fresh better than aged. I pick up a lot more chocolate flavors with the fresh, which I like.
