I recently bought a bottle of the Ballast Sea Monster IS and for reason couldn't see the BD in the store- however, it expired last July. Anyone buy an expired bottle of this beer, comments?
I is an Imperial Stout with a 10% APV. I can't imagine that the extra time will affect it too adversly.
Imperial Stouts like that don't really "expire" unless you're talking 5+ years when oxidation might start to affect the taste negatively depending on the beer.
I never understood why Sea Monster and Victory at Sea have expiration dates. They should put bottling dates on them instead. I think Victory at Sea's expiration is typically only 18-24 months after bottling. I've had three year old bottles and they're still outstanding.
Depends on whether its been sitting by the windows or in the cooler the entire time.. the wrong conditions can really speed up a beer's decline. That being said, I wouldn't worry- crack it open and quaff it with friends.
I had a bottle that was coming up on 1 year. The flavors had really become disjoint. Most stouts as they age tend to blend in mellow, this one felt to me like it should have been enjoyed fresh
