NON-barrel-aged RIS's

I also prefer Imperial Stouts without barrel aging or added flavors. Never had one that was less than good. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is #1 for me (2ond place is about a 5 way tie)

 

I agree, non-ba is usually better. Not so overly strong & sweet like most BA stouts. BCBS is an exception, but that is not a beer you want to drink regularly or even put back 12oz of honestly (8oz is plenty IMO).

For me Plead the 5th blows BBPt5 out of the water.
Bell's Expedition (especially with a few years on it) is way better than Black Note
Founders RIS is an amazing beer and much better than KBS

 

Anybody say Serpent's Stout?

 

Zhukov
Darkness
Even More Jesus
Serpent Stout
Ten Fidy
Speedway
Stone IRS

 

Founders
Stone
Ten Fidy

 

Most of my recommendations have already been mentioned but I'd also say that Clown Shoes Blaecorn Unidragon is a worthy addition to this list.

 

Cribbing from a post in another thread and then adding a few more:

These RISs are what I call the "Big 8". They are the most widely available (with FIS being a possible exception to folks on the West Coast) American-brewed RISs:

- Bell's Expedition Stout
- Founders Imperial Stout
- Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
- Stone Russian Imperial Stout
- Oskar Blues Ten FIDY Stout
- Sierra Nevada Narwhal Stout
- North Coast Old Rasputin
- Great Divide Yeti

I actively cellar these beers and always have them on hand. In addition, the big English-brewed stouts deserve mention: Samuel Smith Imperial Stout and Courage Imperial Stout. Courage cellars well IMO, but Smith does not--best consumed fresh.

Beyond these, I'd recommend Blaecorn Unidragon, Emelisse Imperial Russian Stout, O'Dempsey's Your Black Heart, Left Hand Wake Up the Dead, and Weyerbacher Old Heathen to people in my market (Atlanta). Wake Up the Dead Nitro probably should not be cellared, but the others can be. Nogne O, De Struise Black Albert, and De Struise Cuvee Delphine are also amazing, but they are no longer available in my market.

Beers that are a notch lower, but still fine, would include Theophan the Recluse, Smuttynose Imperial Stout, Avery The Czar, Boris the Crusher, and Samuel Adams Imperial Stout.

RISs outside my market that are "must trys" would be Great Lakes Blackout Stout, Dark Horse Plead the 5th, and Thirsty Dog Siberian Night.

RISs that I still want to try and are at the top of my "wish list" include Three Floyds Dark Lord, Surly Darkness, and Cigar City Marshal Zhukov. Beyond those, I'm also interested in trying New England Stout Trooper, Minneapolis Town Hall Jack, Foothills Sexual Chocolate, Big Sky Ivan the Terrible, and Dieu de Ciel Grande Noirceur.

And that, in a single post, is how I view the world of conventional RISs.

 

You didn't mention Alesmith Speedway Stout...

How does Ten Fidy age in cans?

 

I hope so. I've set aside three cans in the cellar for 6 months...

 

You're right. That was an oversight on my part, and it is on my "stouts to try" list. But for some reason, I tend to think of the coffee version more than the main one. Can you believe that I've been to San Diego numerous times and still haven't had it?

Ten FIDY smoothes out a bit, but I'd say that the change is less pronounced than with many other FISs. Part of that has to do with the fact that it's perfectly ready to drink fresh. Others, particularly FIS and Yeti, are so hoppy when fresh that cellaring produces a more discernible change.

As for the can aspect, I'm not sure that it has much of an impact. I've never had an instance where I thought the can was detrimental, and it does eliminate oxidation as a major issue. But I've never taken it past two years, so there is that. YMMV for sure.

I'll tell you a quick story: I got a wild hair and decided to cellar 21st Amendment Marooned on Hog Island. It's not really an imperial, but it was close enough that I thought it'd be worth it to give a try. Well, almost two years out and it's actually improved IMO. The malt flavors are just so pronounced yet balanced by the very pleasant mineral/briny notes. I still have two cans left and will continue to see how it develops.

 

Most of Evil Twin's big stouts are classified as American Double/Imperial Stouts on this site, but I really don't see a huge difference when it comes to the non-adjunct ones: Yin, Even More Jesus, and I Love You With My Stout.

 

Old Rasputin.

 

Smuttynose Imperial Stout has been at the top of my list for several years now. There are several (Expedition, Ten Fidy, Founder's IS) that come close but it's really no contest for me.

 

Darkness is definitely the best non-barrel aged stout that I have enjoyed. Speedway is a very good one as well.

 

I went to my local Bevmo. The TenFiddy they have on the shelf has a born on date of 6/2012. Might have to pick some of that up!

 

The Butcher - Societe Brewing Co.

 

You completely missed Victory Storm King. Now available in 33 states, I believe, and both coasts. It should be a part of any discussion about RIS. It didn't used to be #1 for nothing.

 

I think I'll have to do a side-by-side of Founder's vs. Expedition, because I used to think Founders was reigning supreme commander of RIS, but I had one of my Exp. just last week and realized how great it is, love them both, don't know what I'd do without them in my life (sniffles....emotional).

 

Cigar City Marshall Zhukov's Imperial Stout is the answer.

 

Lots of great non-BA RIS. One of my favorites not mentioned above - Fulton's War & Peace.