Nightstalker Cellaring/Aging

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by kylelenk, Dec 18, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. kylelenk

    kylelenk Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2012 Michigan

    Quick question. Not sure how far Nightstalker ranks in terms of rarity. Found a few bottles, bought three. Plan to have one but should I really adhere to the GI recs. that say 180 days? Any success stories from the past with other batches?
     
  2. ShogoKawada

    ShogoKawada Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Pennsylvania

    rarity: none

    cellarability: none
     
  3. odiedog52

    odiedog52 Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2009 California

    I still have some of the original release, which I forgot about more than trying to age them. I broke one open a good year+ after the release and thought it was still good.
     
  4. Steasy66

    Steasy66 Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 Minnesota

    I have had a few bottles of the Feb 2011 batch recently and its fantastic. The hops fade and its basically just Cook County Stout. I think it will be much harder to get than it used to be. All the shops I know of in MN got a few cases with no more coming in the foreseeable future.
     
  5. kylelenk

    kylelenk Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2012 Michigan

    Thanks for the honesty. I know it's not as sought after as BCBS and it's respect variants but I've yet to see it in GR other than one shop. I'll hold onto one. Who cares, right?
     
  6. theCoder

    theCoder Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2011 Minnesota

    I have uh a 3 year vertical, plan on cracking the 2009 next week maybe even tomorrow. Drinks solid with age, but yea hops fade which I like personally.
     
  7. lvoutlawjlh

    lvoutlawjlh Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2012 Nebraska

    Just cracked one fresh (bottled 11/19/12) and it's not good. I too had one bottled Feb '11, drank it at the end of Sept this year and it was amazing. Since you have 3 bottles, it wouldn't hurt to try it fresh and let the other 2 age 1-2 years.
     
  8. JRod1969

    JRod1969 Maven (1,290) Nov 23, 2010 New York
    Trader

    Night Stalker was retired, but it is now re-released and should be around so I agree. It only has trade value for someone who doesn't get GI and then just shelf stuff.

    I disagree on the cellarability, but it depends on personal preference. NS is a very hoppy stout. While I appreciate that fresh, I prefer less hops in a stout (why buy it you might ask), so cellaring is positive for me. To each his own.
     
    emyers likes this.
  9. ShogoKawada

    ShogoKawada Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Pennsylvania

    Yeah we did the whole GI spread and someone had some b1 Nightstalker and it was very very blah. I much preferred it fresh.

    It's not bad, but it's not better than fresh, IMO
     
  10. emyers

    emyers Pundit (949) Jan 11, 2009 Illinois

    The first time I had Nightstalker it was aged about 2 years (accidentaly - I basically found a bottle that I forgot I bought). I thought it was delicious. Had the last batch fresh and didn't like it too much. It's really a matter of personal preference. If you like hoppy stouts drink it fresh. If you're like me and don't particularly like overly hoppy stouts, age it. I thought it was much better with age.
     
  11. stayclean

    stayclean Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2012 Wisconsin

    Yep. Have had a few of the '11 ones this year, thought it was pretty darn good. LOVED the last '11 I drank a few weeks back, was almost just a non-barrel aged BCBS, didn't taste any of the hops at all. So good.
     
    emyers likes this.
  12. theCoder

    theCoder Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2011 Minnesota

    Just last night my buddy and I threw down my 2010 Night Stalker and I have to say it was fantastic. Amazingly smooth and just the right stuff all over. I have a 2011 and 2012 that I may do the same and age em 3 years, or if I have the patience more but 3 seemed just perfect.
     
  13. COBeerBuff

    COBeerBuff Pundit (892) Jan 4, 2009 Kansas

    This ^! I had a bottle of 2010 earlier this week and it blew me away. I'm ok with fresh Nightstalker, but after having one with this much age on it, I would strongly encourage everyone who's on the fence to age the shit out of this beer!
     
    Bitterbill and theCoder like this.
  14. wunderbeer

    wunderbeer Devotee (396) Mar 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I didn't like it at all fresh but bought a few back in 2010 and stuck them in the cellar. I think this is my best aging experience as they're tasting absolutely fantastic now!
     
  15. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    You guys are spot on! I much preferred it with some major cellaring on it. If you can call 2 years major cellaring. I might have my last bottle on NYE.
     
    szmnnl99 likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.