Suggestions for accessible IRS and variants

Im a huge fan of Alesmith Speedway Stout. They do the regular, variants, and BA. Variants drop once a quarter. BA once a year, but all in all the regular is a might tasty inexpensive shelf beer.

 

Pipeworks abduction series (coffee, cherry, raspberry, orange, toasty nut). while not widely available, not super rarez either. get yourself an FIB trader.

 

Old Rasputin isn't too hard to get round here, but it's high quality all the same.

 

the coffee is my personal favorite followed by the cherry though i have yet to get my hands on the orange. i think that was only brewed once or twice and it's been awhile (too lazy to check their website for batches)...

Hope you enjoy the coffee break!

 

Unfortunately, the less accessible stouts you're referring to tend to come with somewhat of a price tag.

Agree with spicoli, get yourself a good west coast/midwest/southeast trader with access to Founders/Cigar City/50-50/Surly/etc. all put out great stouts. May be more $ up front but probably worth it in the long run if you're serious about it.

You should be able to get your hands on some Abyss (Deschutes; OR), Parabola (Firestone; CA) or Bourbon County (Goose Island; IL) without too much of a problem trading. The bigger west coast guys put out solid bang-for-your buck stouts though -- Stone IRS, Rogue Dbl Chocolate, Lagunitas Cappuccino. I imagine those are all in your local bottle shops.

 

If truth be told, you just mentioned 3 world class RISs, and they don't get any better than that. I could drink them all day long and never tire of them. Stone IRS, Old raspy, Bear republic Big Bear etc are my other go-to stouts. Abyss, Parabola are my annual treats that I can indulge in. I live 5 miles from Alesmith, so the Speedway is something I drink on a regular basis, on tap. Green Flash double stout is also another solid offering...year round.

 

Stone IRS is coming out soon and if you get founders, there russian imperial stout is fantastic.

 

Where in VA are you? nova get's a lot more than central/southern VA. Anyways:

Hoppin Frog BORIS should be back on shelves this week
Hardywood Sidamo/ BA Sidamo/ Raspberry stout
Founders Imperial Stout// Breakfast stout are probably still at total wine
Great Divide (Espresso, oak, etc) Yeti

 

Year-Round Imperials
Old Rasputin RIS
Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout
Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout

Year-Round American Stouts
Founders Porter
Sierra Nevada Stout
Schlafly Oatmeal Stout
Left Hand Milk Stout

Any rotating/seasonal stouts from Bell's or Founders. For other limited but affordable options, Boulevard's BBA Imperial Stout might still be on shelves nearby, and as others have said this year's Stone IRS is about to be released.

 

Dont overlook Clown Shoes. Vampire Slayer, Luchador en Fuego, Porcine Unidragon, Very Angry Beast, Chocolate Slombrero, all legit regular and BA stouts that arent too expensive and are easy to find.

 

No problem. Luchador was fantastic IMO. A really good pepper BA stout that you dont have to trade for. Porcine was a little too smoky for me personally but overall a great BA stout. Vampire slayer now called Undead Party Crasher is fantastic.

 

Try Southern Tier Choklat and Mokah

 

Last time I was at TW in Greenbriar they had a bunch of Black Xantus left, its a little pricey but dam good beer...they may have some Old Rasputin XVI left too, I know the Newport news store did as of Thursday, they also had Uncle Jacobs stout. Brew Dog Cocoa Psycho is pretty awesome too and I'm pretty sure Grape and Gourmet has some of them left.
Oh, and Duck Rabbit Rabid duck is around right now too, I love that beer and that it is available in sixers!

 

Just noticed you said SW VA I was thinking you said SE. None of those places I mentioned are anywhere close to you lol...but the beers may be!

 

If you have access to Ten Fidy you should count yourself lucky. I like it more than Stone IRS, Founders, and Rasputin. I can get it year round as it hangs around the shelves for $14.99. It sounds expensive but that only equates to less than $7.50 a bomber which is not a bad price all things considered. I feel it's worth the premium over Rasputin. The oats give it a silky, full bodied mouthfeel where the Rasputin comes off a little thin and watery.

 

Sierra Nevada Narwhal is a really solid RIS. Not sure if it's available in your area but I'm sure you could trade for it without much problem if it isn't.