How fast does the coffee fall off in BCBCS?

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by Czar_chasm, Aug 5, 2012.

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  1. Czar_chasm

    Czar_chasm Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2012 Michigan

    I recently picked one of these up as an extra (thanks ejeffer!) and was wondering if I should try to drink it relatively quickly or if it would be better to hang onto for a bit before I try it.

    Thanks in advance
     
  2. drewba

    drewba Pundit (847) Nov 14, 2009 Illinois

    The coffee in batch 2 seems to be hanging around longer than batch 1, but I would plan on drinking it sooner rather than later.
     
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  3. Arbitrator

    Arbitrator Pooh-Bah (1,967) Nov 26, 2008 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Drink it relatively quickly.

    A 2012 bottle shared with me by largadeer in early February was phenomenal, so much that I set up a trade for another one (2011 Rittenhouse Rye Eclipse for BCBCS, straight trade). I received a separate bottle of BCBCS and drank it 10 days later; the coffee had faded noticeably (to my palate) and the bottle was a bit hotter. Having noticed this pattern in the 2010 batch of BCBCS, I canceled the trade.

    I imagine most of the coffee loss occurred six months ago, so at this point you're not making it a whole lot worse by waiting a week or two. But fresher is better on that one.
     
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  4. Stewmeister91

    Stewmeister91 Zealot (516) Apr 7, 2008 New Jersey
    Trader

    Falls off dramatically after you trade your last one:slight_smile:
     
  5. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    Treat coffee like hops. Would you expect much hop punch in an 8 month old IPA? It doesn't mean the beer isn't still drinkable - it is because there is usually a lot more to coffee stouts than just the coffee - but the strong coffee element that makes the beer unique doesn't stick around long.
     
  6. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    This post makes me wonder....I found a WnB in the back of my fridge from 2010....I have never tried it fresh, but the 2010 was still very very much coffee forward. Does that mean that when fresh it would be that much more potent/intense or does this brew just react differently to age?

    I know refrigerator temps slows the "falling off", but there has to be some other factor.
     
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  7. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    I think of coffee/hops like a half life. It never completely goes away. Let's say its half life is 6 months. At 6 months it is 50% as potent as fresh, at 12 months 25%, at 18 months it is 12.5%, etc, etc. So - sure - maybe the 2010 you had still had 35% of its coffee punch still hanging around. If you compared it side-by-side with a fresh WnB though, you'd certainly notice a difference.
     
  8. Czar_chasm

    Czar_chasm Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2012 Michigan

    Worst case scenario, it tastes like BCBS (delicious) so I'm still stoked but with the way KBS changed I was pretty sure other coffee variants would be similar. Thanks for the help...
     
    SaisonFest likes this.
  9. huskermike12

    huskermike12 Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2011 Vermont

    I've had 6-7 bottles of BCBCS since it came out. The only one I noticed had fallen off significantly I received via trade. All of the others were properly cellered at 53 degrees in my posession or in a basement cellar in a bar. Coffee fades, no doubt. I think a lot of people set these beers in a 75 degree closet and are confused when the coffee fades. I've also just about consumed 3 cases of FBS over the last 8 monthsand I keep hearing how it must be consumed fresh. I honestly like it better now and I would say it has 75% of the coffee flavor of fresh. That's just my palate, but, if you store these beers properly they don't fall off as drastically as is often suggested. Just my $.02.
     
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  10. StoutFest

    StoutFest Initiate (0) Dec 15, 2009 Illinois

    Right around the 2 minute mark til the end of clip brewers recommend drinking fresh.
     
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  11. H0rnedFr0gs

    H0rnedFr0gs Initiate (0) Mar 12, 2012 Texas

    Different beer but in topic. FBS's stored in a refridge seem to stay very coffee forward. I have had a '10 and a number of '11's that were excellent. I suspect there is something to your idea regarding the preservation of flavor
     
  12. MaxSpang

    MaxSpang Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    I had some of the most recent BCBCS about 1-2 months ago, and I was disappointed in how little coffee flavor/aroma there was. It had kind of a hot sauce aroma, and the flavor was pretty similar to regular BCBS with maybe a little more roastiness (not coffee). That being said, it was delicious and I would consider it to be among the best stouts I've had.

    If you're looking for coffee in your BCBCS, I think the time has passed and you may as well wait until then ext batch comes out.
     
  13. Agold

    Agold Maven (1,287) Mar 13, 2010 Pennsylvania

    One more piece of BS anecdotal evidence...

    I drank one the day I bought it and the coffee was amazing. It was fresh and fruity and bourbony. By far the best coffee beer I have ever had, and one of the best beers I have ever had. Opened my next one about a month later and the coffee had noticeably changed; and the beer did not have the same amazing coffee character. It was still great, but not as mindfuckingly good as the first bottle.

    I hate when people say things like this and I usually assume that a time frame that short is bullshit, but that's what I experienced with this beer.
     
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