Stout Aging

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by JordonHoltzman, Aug 28, 2014.

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  1. JordonHoltzman

    JordonHoltzman Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 New York

    So I bought Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2014 about a month ago. And it reminded me, wow, I have a 2009 Stone Imperial Russian Stout sitting in a wine refrigerator.

    I'm going to do a tasting of the two this evening with some friends, and i'll be doing it either way, but my question is:

    Did I age it for TOO long? I actually did a similar tasting two years ago, another 2009 vs. 2012, and I enjoyed both and comparing them, but I'm worried that 5 years is too long. what do you think?
     
  2. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,967) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    should be fine
     
  3. MaltLickyWithTheCandy

    MaltLickyWithTheCandy Initiate (0) Apr 22, 2013 Maryland

    If you kept it out of the light and at the right temp for that long, it should taste very good. Only one way to find out. Give it a try and see if it was successful
     
  4. Hop-Droppen-Roll

    Hop-Droppen-Roll Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2013 Minnesota

    Keep it cool and dry 'til the day you die.

    but fer realz I don't have any experience with such.
     
  5. JordonHoltzman

    JordonHoltzman Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 New York

    yes, it's been in that wine fridge that I mentioned this whole time. Alright thank you for the input! cheers
     
  6. _morandi_

    _morandi_ Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014 California

    Should be awesome. I had an '08 a few months ago that was drinking very well. Stone themselves cellar bottles and kegs to release at their various taprooms from time to time... I've seen them post '06 and earlier available for events.
     
  7. Treyliff

    Treyliff Grand Pooh-Bah (5,025) Aug 10, 2010 West Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    5 years seems to be the "recommendation" for how long to age beers up (for breweries that put such dates on their bottles), I think it should be pretty tasty.
     
  8. JordonHoltzman

    JordonHoltzman Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 New York

    last question. So I had to move the beer from that wine fridge, to my real fridge a week ago, so now its sitting at a cold normal refrigerator temp. that won't mess with it, right?
     
  9. _morandi_

    _morandi_ Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014 California

    Will be just fine... likely went from 50-55ish degrees to 38-40ish degrees. Would take a hell of a lot more to harm a big stout like that.
     
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  10. butters_mcgee

    butters_mcgee Pooh-Bah (1,857) Feb 26, 2014 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    the local bottle shop has a bunch of Ballast Point Sea Monster on sale for $4.99.
    I think the bottle says best by 02/14, but I'm not certain.
    I wonder how well this will hold up having been on the shelf for so long?
    picked one up just to see.... kinda looking forward to it :slight_smile:
     
    VABA likes this.
  11. sunnrider

    sunnrider Initiate (0) Jul 4, 2013 Spain
    Trader

    5 years for an imperial Russian stout is fine. It should have evolved beyond the original beer by that stage. This is assuming that it has been made with aging in mind.

    To put it in perspective, I have a bunch of Molen RIS that say on the label that they are good for 25 years...
     
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  12. dragonaut

    dragonaut Initiate (0) May 29, 2005 Iowa

    Brewer Mitch Steele actually has said he believes Stone IRS peaks at 7 years. It's all personal preference. I think this year's is great fresh, and also enjoy it aged 2-3 years. Have never let it go 5+ years, but Stone is relatively new to our market so I haven't had the opportunity yet.
     
  13. JasonLovesBeer

    JasonLovesBeer Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2013 Canada (BC)

    So how was it compared to fresh?
     
  14. LuskusDelph

    LuskusDelph Initiate (0) May 1, 2008 New Jersey

    Five years is fine for most big beers. But I've had ones far older than that were simply astounding like a 15 years old bottle of Samichlaus I had a few years ago. It was mind bogglingly good.)
    A lot depends of the nature of the brew, it's strength, the conditions under which it was stored and even the conditions under which it was originally packaged.
     
  15. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    I've had 2007 BCBS and it was badly oxidized, I had some 2008 that was still good, and 2009 which was fantastic. Not much to go on but I'd say 2-3 year is optimal. I happen to like it fresh and hot, so aging stuff isn't a big deal for me, but I do have some 2012 in the cabinet.
     
  16. Fasnic

    Fasnic Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2011 Ohio

    Just last Spring Stone was through here with 2006 - 20010 RIS at tastings... I bought a bottle of 2006, 2007, and 2009. They had on tap 2008. The 2008 on tap was very good. The rep that was there opened a 2007 for me and a couple people... It was drinking INCREDIBLE. Was such a difference in the two years.

    All that being said I would expect that 2009 to drink wonderfully, and if you can still find another 20014 (I see them floating around where I'm at often), get another and lay it down for a few more years.
     
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