The Imperial Stout Hype Thread

I'm going to do a 180 and name the stouts I enjoyed least from the ones named in this thread.

Dark truth
FIS
Expedition
PT5

Palette preferences are just like women, we'll never understand them.

 

I have to say there is a big difference in the imperial stout flavor spectrum. Ten Fidy(sweet), Speedway (balanced), Marshall Zhukov (roasty). I tend to stick to the sweet to balanced side. For some reason the roasty side tastes like someone slipped soy sauce into the brew. Beers like Parabola, Bomb!, Marshall, and Breakfast stout are great but have that odd salinity flavor.

Favorites
Speedway
Eclipse
Double Negative
Pêche Mortel
RareR DOS

 

If I ever decide to drink myself to death, I'm going out with Ten Fidy.

 

Love these IS
BA Narwhal
Parabola
DBJ
Darkness
Silhouette BA

 

Just had ten fidy man, it is amazing

 

I've had all of the Yetis, and to me the Oak Aged Yeti was the best. But you really can't go wrong with any of them, in my opinion. Cheers!

 

Parabola
Old Rasputin
Old Rasputin (BA)
Narwhal
Narwhal (BA)
Imperial Biscotti Break
Sump
Big Bad Baptist
Aun Mas Cafe Jesus
Christmas Eve New York City Hotel Room
Double Stout
512 Pecan
Pirate Bomb!
Brimstone Bomb!
Bible Belt
Apple Brandy Noir
Ten Fidy
FIS
FBS
Black Crack
Legion
Yetis
Stone IRS
Wootstout.
BCBS
Ctayt
Liquid Brain
Uncle Jacobs
Tweak
Victory at Sea

 

Founders Imperial
Ten Fidy
BCBS
Parabola
BA Narwhal
Brooklyn Black
Otter Creek RIS
Victory at Sea
Fegley's Insidious
In the Spring, Sunday Morning Stout

 

I would bathe my first born in that. If I had one.

 

My favorite obtainable imperial stouts have been Bell's Expedition, Yeti (standard in particular, but oak aged and oatmeal were great too), and Ten Fidy. I've found that bourbon barrel aging often doesn't add much to a beer for me - if I want bourbon, I'll go drink bourbon. I'd rather see what a brewer can do without that for the most part.
As far as rare/limited ones go, I'll be a total hypocrite on the barrel aging thing and say that See the Stars has been my favorite so far.

 

Imperial stouts are so much better when they're brewed with hype....

 

Oak Aged Yeti opened my eyes to this category and I haven't turned back. The Yeti had me from the first sip, from which I never expected such complexity in a beer. I've been chasing that first experience ever since. I just drank an BA Narwhal tonight, which is the first imperial stout to outclass the Yeti (in my mind). I love this category and will always search out these offerings.

 

The crazy thing about Oak Aged Yeti is it's a measly $8.99 around these parts. BA Narwahl (which I'm sure is excellent) sells for $15-20.

Speaking of hype, I just picked up a couple bottles of Freemont Dark Star (Imperial, BBA, Oatmeal Stout). I am so looking forward to drinking this thing. Love the dragon on the bottle.
I haven't tried it yet but River North Nightmare Fuel sounds so awesome it's bound to be great... right? 13.5% aged in bourbon barrels on coffee beans. Think it has caffeine in it?

 

i've tried MANY different beers in the morning (7am-11am) and imperial stouts are perfect for this time slot, and for later in the day of course. as a big EPL fan (COYS) imperial stouts are perfect in the morning; they're complex, tasty, and reminiscent of coffee. regular stouts can be water-y and milk stouts are sometimes too sweet. porters are great too, i LOVE Edmund Fitzgerald, but Imperial Stouts hit the spot.

Ten Fidy has been just fantastic and 4Beans has been pretty damn good too

 

for the hard to find ones, it would have to be Toppling Goliath and Three Floyds, but one of my faves is Payette's 12 Gauge, especially the barrel aged version. Made right around the corner from my house too..... Another great locale RIS is Crooked Fence Sins of Our Fathers, which also has a barrel aged version. For the national releases, I guess I'd go with the BA Narwhal. Anyone had the barrel aged Rasputin? Is it worth $22 a bottle?

 

A few of my favorites are Stone RIS, Old Rasputin, Ten Fidy, Cuvee Alex Le Rouge................oh what the hell, too many to list...Cheers !!!

 

Old Rasputin is my favorite, but Founders Imperial, Clown Shoes Undead, Ten Fidy are all money. Big Eddy from Leinenkugel isn't bad either for a lower price point. But I must agree the price points are getting crazy. Two bombers and a six for $48 is a bit steep...but i must admit damn tasty.

 

I prefer mine dry hyped

 

I've always found a bit harsh off the line, Six months later it's got some serious balance!

 

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Does it count?