Imperial Stouts

Had a '12 FIS last week and I can't say enough about it. How that bad boy gained in complexity and balance was really a great thing to taste. I preferred it over the fresh KBS to be completely honest.

 

I say it all the time. I like barrel-aged stuff with 12-16 months on it. If I were you, and I was putting three in the cellar, I'd drink one on the first below zero night in the fall or winter of 2015; I'd drink one at one year side-by-side with next year's version, and I'd drink the last one at the first below zero night of 2016.

It's what I'd do. But who am I? I put malt vinegar on french fries because ketchup is gross and I find Reese's overrated. People find those things weird.

 

^ love vinegar on fries, brother

 

Storm King at 1 year was the best stout I've had. Old world complexity and restraint. I have heard good things about the Brooklyn after a couple years.

 

Every single thread on "aging KBS" says:
"don't age coffee stouts"
"its great fresh, why age it?"

Personally, I refrigerate all coffee stouts and drink them ASAP. But, that's because I love the coffee flavor and don't want to let it fade. I can tell you that KBS will not get "better" with time. It just becomes less coffee-forward. It never really has been boozy so there's no advantage there, either.

 

Not sure how others feel but Velvet Merkins flavor has fallen off big time. And yes I mean the '14. It was way more flavorful in December than it is now. The others should be fine. IMO the '14 Sucaba still has more "heat" than the '15. Putting a year on BC Coffee is highly reccomended. It loses the coffe but is still so flavorful.

 

You named your daughter TheBeastMephistophelesSamael? Well that's just mean.

 

2 year aged FIS is one of the best stouts I have ever had....

 

2011 Stone IRS over the summer I opened blew my mind

2012 Storm King I had recently also blew my mind, but to a lesser extent.

I should really just buy a case of Stone IRS to open over the course of 5 years or so.

 

I had a 3 year FIS vertical and fresh was way better. Probably because it is a very high IBU beer. The best non-BA stout to age for me is Expedition.

 

Could be an outlier but I found the Espresso Yeti is absolutely phenomenal with a year on it. That said, I've not put any other coffees to the test and generally think beers with adjuncts are not to be stashed.

 

I find all of the Yetis to be a tad hoppy... so, I would agree that a little age benefits them. That's regardless of which variant it is.

 

FIS with a year of age on it is perfect for me. Now that I know this, I have a few more waiting for their time.

 

I also agree, all Yeti variants I have had aged have been amazing.

I think I have a batch 1 2010? Velvet Merlin. Not sure how that's going to taste. I should crack it tonight.

 

I have a 2011 & 2012 Dark Lord I've been aging..gonna crack one open this weekend and see how it turned out.

 

I aged a few DinoS'mores for almost a year..they were better fresh..still good when aged but lost the graham cracker,marshmallow flavor..Storm King ages well as does Expedition Stout & Speedway Stout & Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Stout.

 

If you want a good imperial stout to age I can only recommend Bells expedition stout grab a 6 pack or case whenever you can this beer gets amazing with age on it. One of my personal favorites for sure.

 

I found a couple of 2012 Labyrinths by Uinta on a store shelf not too long ago. It was so incredibly complex and mellow it just blew me away. That being said, I've never had it fresh so I can't compare. But it was damn good with three years of age on it.

 

I love FIS but am not a fan of it aged past 1 year. IMO, Stone IRS hits its peak at about 3 yrs.