I loved it

Had my first New Glarus -Spotted Cow yesterday. Solid beer, very good but probably a bit overrated.

https://newglarusbrewing-computerkno...SpottedCow.png

I was happy to find an Aztec Chocolate Stout up here at Binny's but haven't popped it.

Is there a rule of thumb on aging an imperial stout? Info seems pretty mixed. Does the addition of chocolate affect the use of aging?

I had forgotten about a 2014 Boulevard Chocolate Ale I had in my basement until I was packing for our move in May. Tasted awful.

Imperial Stouts can be aged for at least a couple years, but (at least for me) that's usually to smooth out the harshness of a higher alcohol content or bourbon. Goose Island's BCS is a great example... it's good on day 1, but heavenly after 8-12 months. Same for Great Divide stouts.

The Aztec Chocolate wasn't harsh at all and isn't what I'd personally call an Imperial Stout, so I'm not sure how much it would improve with age... there are some references on beeradvocate to "Mexican style stout," which I didn't know was a thing, but maybe that style is supposed to be lighter and less complex. :shrug:

I dunno, I'm just not into Boulevard like I used to be.... but, they have a couple more Imperial Stout Xs coming out (missed the coffee one)... their pumpkin offering this year is "funky pumpkin" which I assume means Saison or Belgian, bleh.

Good info. I don't plan to age it per se, but I don't want to drink it unit it cools off outside and I have a tendency to forget about stuff if I'm not looking at regularly.

Speaking of Goose Island, I saw a 4 pack of BC barleywine the other day at a corner spot. It was $39.99 and I couldn't pull the trigger.

The wife picked up a Spiteful Toffee Pigeon Porter the same day I grabbed the Boulevard Aztec. I took a couple sips and loved it. Definitely my favorite Pigeon Porter from Spiteful thus far.

It's 11%, so even if it doesn't get better with age, it shouldn't go bad.... the Great Divide stuff that I age for 8-12 months is only 9.5%, the other night opened a chocolate one from February and it was amazing (I have the opposite problem, I can't wait that long :D ).

Yeah, BCS is getting kind of ridiculous... the beer stores around here sell the 12 oz bottles individually with a limit of 1 for like $10 each. I probably won't make any effort to get it this year, unless I can find the coffee bourbon stout. The regular BCS is awesome, but it's not that much better than something like Schlafly's bourbon stout, which I see around here year round.

So, if you see any coffee BCS this year, I'll trade you BBQ or whatever....

Ha, one of my many blunders on CP has come in this thread where I said I didn't care for BBQ. I stand by it in the fact that I really didn't know how to appreciate a Quad at the time and have since been schooled and have warmed up to them.

I'm definitely down for some trades though, so I'll keep my eyes peeled.

http://img.epicgifs.net/images/doshow/457JP8VL.jpg


Seriously though, these days it's on the light side for me since I almost exclusively drink stouts, but I still enjoy a few every year.

Picked up some Crown Valley Pumpkin Smash, and holy shit it might be better than last year... if you like pumpkin beer, find some.

http://www.seekabrew.com/distro/inde...Crown%20Valley

Loved it last year. Will look for some of this years. Thanks.

Been checked out of this thread for a while, but if you live in a Surly distribution area, find yourself some Todd the Axe Man - crazy good.

love highwater campfire stout.

currently drinking a black butte porter.. 6 pack

Toured the Half Acre brewery yesterday and picked up a growler of Mr. Miller saison for today.

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/...psh3pzcvyv.jpg

sometimes in the pursuit of the next great beer I miss something so simple that's been right in front of me the whole time.
Blvd Bob's 47 is one of those beers. really good stuff....and once it's gone ya gotta wait til next year.

Was in Denver for the weekend. I'm not big on the sours thing, though that could be because I haven't had any that were that great. Got to try a Crooked Stave sour that was just fantastic. It definitely had the sour thing going, but then it has a lot of complexity and other flavors lurking just behind it. Other sours I've had just seemed kind of one note.

Also had some Funkwerks Saison which was good, but not as good as I expected for a brewery specializing in saisons. Maybe it was because the Crooked Stave had wrecked my palate, though.