Stone 2008 IRS last night...

What a great idea! I think I'll go down to the cellar today and put a sign on one of my 2012 bottles that says ``hold 'til Rio 2016''.

 

Stone IRS is definitely a stout that holds up over a good period of time. I had an 06 and 07 a couple times over the course of the last year and they were stellar. Perhaps someone that did the 10 year vert at Stone last year can weigh in on how many years this one can go. The oldest I've had is about 5-6 years old... wish i still had bottles that old.

 

I had an 08 about 6 months ago and it was fantastic. I will be buying a few every year from now on and hopefully end up with a 3, 5, and maybe even 10 year vertical

 

As not to pay homage to the Communists with IRS, I will cellar Old Guardian for Rio 2016.

 

el-oh-el!!

 

Granted, I got it in a trade and am unaware of it's storage condition, but I opened an '08 last night that I thought was over the hill. Too thin and one-dimensional (simple sweetness with a hint of roast; okay, that's two dimensional, but it was missing all the licorice, anise, dark fruit, and other flavors I got from each bottle I had in a recent '10-'12 vert). Still glad I got to try it. Not sure what to do with my other bottle, though. If it's already over the hill, maybe I should drink/share it right away so it doesn't get any worse, or maybe I should hold onto it out of curiosity to see what happens, since it's already past its prime.

 

I'm holding onto 06, 08, 10-12

I have some holes to fill obviously, but I'm not sure I 'need' to enjoy them as a vertical.... Probably just drink the 06' next, then 08' etc... Had the 06' twice now, and it is anything but over-the-hill!

 

Pretty sure this thread just convinced me to have my 08 tonight!

 

I have one 08 left and I'm planning on drinking it when football kicks off.

 

I had a 08 next to a fresh 12 a couple months back and I liked the 12 better, not saying there was anything wrong with the 8 it just was a bit to bland for me.

 

I had the same experience, did you check the condition of the ring under the cap by any chance?

 

I have a very large celler in which I've ruined a gang of beer. I won't go into it all; suffice it to say that while I do still age mostly lambics, gueuzes and some wild ales, I've stopped aging stouts and anything aged in a barrel. (Not the thread to discuss it but they're already aged! Drink 'em! I'll post some thoughts on that another time.) My tasting groups and I are plowing through the cellar, although hardly sufficiently fast to have only great stuff. Some things just aren't good aged, although it's fun to see which do well and which don't. (But only after I always taste them fresh first!)

Having said the foregoing, the Stone IRS 2008 may have been the primarily beer responsible for the extensive quantity of bottles in my cellar "aging." I had gone down to Stone to one of its Wintersomethings and tasted the Stone IRS 2005. It was one of the best liquids I'd ever put in my mouth. In fact, even today I'd say it was among the top stouts I've ever tasted. This was probably in winter 2009. I'd had some 2008 in 750s and liked it. I'd also found some 12 ounce bottles of 2008 Stone IRS in one market and really liked buying the smaller bottle of this beer. I went through several and then started to look for them only to determine that they were only in this one place and there were no more to be found. I liked the 2008 a lot and thought that perhaps with some age it may approach the 2005 that I actually coveted.

Thus, that day I asked if there were any more of the small bottles of 2008 IRS. The manager of the Stone store said that he thought he'd seen a case somewhere random "in the back" and he'd go look. He came back with a case of 12 oz 2008 IRS on his shoulder (a box of 24 bottles), saying "this was the last one; now they were all gone." I asked if they were going to ever do the 12 oz bottles again. He told me that they were made for the Japanese market and that apparently it wasn't a marketing success and that they had no plans to do the 12 oz bottles of stout again. So, while I had several bottles of 2008 IRS in 750s, I now had a case of 2008 IRS in 12 oz bottles.

Conclusion: The 2008 Stone IRS 750s are drinking nicely. The 12 oz bottles are getting better and better and better! Smaller format (at least in wine) age faster; (beer too I'm guessing.) I sometimes throw a bottle into a trade to surprise someone with something different but for the most part I drink one every few months. Like I said, getting better and better,.....still! While 2008 has never tasted like that last batch of 2005 I tasted, it may get there. The Stone IRS is one that really does age well; the 2008 rocks!

 

Actually I did, and it seemed dried out and cracked. Is that a sign of improper storage? On a related note, I had 2008 Bourbon Barrel IRS on draft this past weekend and it was FREAKING AMAZING!!! The beer definitely took a back seat to the bourbon, but wasn't completely overpowered. I could see that masking some imperfections, but this one definitely held up much better than the bottle I had.

 

Yes, but from what I understand its an easy mistake to make. It accelerates oxidation, which would account for the loss of character in the beer. I thought it was a bit over the hill too but it was still enjoyable. I have another one that was kept under the same conditions so I stuck it in the fridge to slow the oxidation process (hopefully) enough to keep it until Im ready to drink it.

 

So I noticed when I was down cellar last night grabbing some beers that these '08 IRS's have enjoy by 01.01.13 printed on them. I know that's more of a suggestion but I'll take it as a challenge - I threw 2 in the fridge & have a few to hold onto still.

Has anyone had one since this thread was last bumped in August??

 

Had a 7 year vertical the other day . The 2006 was my favorite followed by 08 and 07. I wish I had another bottle of 2006, it really was that good. I would not worry much about keeping an 08 for another couple years in decent cellar conditions.

 

am I the only one who doesn't like soy sauce in my stouts? FT: Stone 08, 09 IRS

 

I am happy to hear this. I just picked up a 2006 and 2007 this week at a shop that had them cellared. Excited to try them!