Beer - chasing the dragon: Gnarliest Imperial Stouts

Old rasputin now tastes a little weak. Leinenkugel Big Eddy is out of season. OB Ten Fidy is the only thing that satisfies the urges, but at $4 a crack, I might as well start smoking. Any suggestions for big nasty stouts?

I can't help. I'm 4 beers in to the Mill Street seasonal sampler. I'm on the Tank House Ale right now, which apparently has a "staggering amount of hops". I'd say it's about a 30ibu - maybe.

Not to be all uppity, but I'd wager my piss is a mildly hoppy 30IBU's at any given time on any given day.

poopshovel wrote: Not to be all uppity, but I'd wager my piss is a mildly hoppy 30IBU's at any given time on any given day.

Quoted ....well, because it needs to be.

I'm not much on big nasty stouts, about as far as I get is Stone's Russian Imperial or Smoked Porter.

poopshovel wrote: Not to be all uppity, but I'd wager my piss is a mildly hoppy 30IBU's at any given time on any given day.

Given my recent exposure to a couple US craft beers, I don't doubt it.

I'm on the Mill Street Extra Special Bitter and I doubt it's a 20. Nice flavor, but not a trace of hoppiness.

Lagunitas cappucino stout is pretty strong, I don't drink much stout though.

All of the good, meaty stouts are around $4 each around here. I'm always searching as well... I've found some interesting stuff, but typically only one bottle at a time, so I tend to forget what I've tried and liked.

Fortunately, since I work in NJ, I have access to s couple of places that sell by the bottle and stock hundreds of beers.

Really fighting the urge to crack open the Old Engine Oil currently in the fridge...

Edit. Urge won...

I used to brew for New England Brewing Company, so I'll recommend their Imperial Stout Trooper. You'll have to trade for this one, as it's a CT-only distribution, though I think MA may have gotten a batch or two.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/357/34484

I typically like to age it for a year or two, their "big" beers do get better with age.

Dark Lord will knock your socks off. Again, you'll likely have to barter for it. Highly prized stuff.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26/7520

Not sure where you'll find a good Imperial Stout for <$4 a bottle though...

Old Engine Oil?

Arrogant Bastard? It tastes kinda like 3 parts stout and 1 part Jeagermeister, but its certainly stout.

That's all I can help with... I'm a lager and IPA kinda guy.

93EXCivic wrote: Old Engine Oil?

While I sort of drifted away from beer to whiskys, I do remember this having some body.

Great Divide Yeti is a great imperial stout. Along with all the variations of it: oak aged, chocolate, espresso, etc.

Time to switch to barleywine. I think you'd like Sierra Nevada Bigfoot.

See if you can find some Rauchbier (smoked beer). If you can get Bamberger Rauchbeer, you'd probably like that. It's not high alcohol, but it's like smoking, bacon, and beer in one bottle.

Odin's Tipple is pretty badass too.

Regular Arrogant Bastard wouldn't do it for you, but Oaked Arrogant Bastard or Double Bastard might.

Maybe Trois Pistoles, but that's more heavy than gnarly.

Speaking of berleywine, that Long Trail Triple Bag was, for me, like being punched in the face every time I took a sip. You'd probably like it just fine, Poopshovel.

I just had one of these two nights ago, and it was tasty. http://www.schlafly.com/beers/styles/bourbon-barrel-aged-imperial-stout/

It's morning at work, now I'm thirsty! Thanks

Making a shopping list........

I had some barrel-aged rasputin a few weeks ago. It was killer. I've been intrigued with the Dark Lord. I'll have to try to hunt some down. Barleywines too. The only one I've had is Three Floyds Behemoth, and I'm told it's not really representative of a typical barleywine. Thanks for the suggestions.

I suspect you might need to resort to home brewing to get the sort of beer you're looking for. Either doing it yourself or finding a brewer who'll do the work if you buy the ingredients.

I've got some ideas for a couple recipes I could write up for you, if you're interested.

I just so happen to be an imperial stout freak. I love 'em. My favorite style. Oh, and get that West Coast E36 M3 out of my face Below are some much better choices.

If you can get them at your location:

1. Founder's Breakfast Stout (or it's bourbon-barrel-aged brother, Kentucky Breakfast Stout, or it's very rare bourbon-maple-syrup-barrel-aged brother, Canadian Breakfast Stout)
2. Peche Mortel, Dieu du Ciel, from Quebec
3. Bell's Expedition Stout
4. Victory Storm King Stout
5. Brooklyn Brewing Co. Black Chocolate Stout (seasonal, 'round Christmas)
6. You won't be able to get it down by you, because we're not distributing it, but a certain imperial stout brewed by Troegs that happens to be my recipe should be quite delicious

Generally a big fan of all of Founders offerings, but the breakfast stouts just don't do anything for me. If I wanted 10% ABV stale coffee, I'd go to waffle house with a flask of Bailey's That said, I do have some Mikkeller beer geek Weasel aging right now. Gotta try it just for the sheer weirdness.

It may be blasphemy, but I've never been all that impressed by anything from Bell's. I'll try the others though! Thanks.

Salanis wrote: I suspect you might need to resort to home brewing to get the sort of beer you're looking for. Either doing it yourself or finding a brewer who'll do the work if you buy the ingredients. I've got some ideas for a couple recipes I could write up for you, if you're interested.

I may just do that. I get the feeling I'll be getting a kit for bday or xmas. Any recommendation?

Twin_Cam wrote: 3. Bell's Expedition Stout

OOOhhhh, forgot about Expedition!

That is some seriously good stuff, high gravity, knife-and-fork kind of beer!

AND Poopster, it's available even here in middle GA

Yeah, they've got it at my spot. Everything else I've tried from Bell's has been downright piss-poor though. I'll give it a shot.

I had Ten Fidy DRAUGHT at Taco Mac a few months ago. If I wasn't already 4 high gravity beers in at 1:30, I would've spent the rest of the afternoon there...or smuggled a growler.

poopshovel wrote: I get the feeling I'll be getting a kit for bday or xmas. Any recommendation?

For a kit? Find a local homebrew shop and they should have kits that come with pretty much everything you need except a pot and a spoon.

For your first batch, do an extract with grain stout. Don't dive strait into high alcohol beers, like imperial stout. Or I can put together a recipe you can hand to a shop and they'll gather ingredients for you.

I've got an idea for two flavor explosions that should meet your taste desires. I'm calling the entry level one "Hong Up Stout", and the big brother to that "Hong the berkeley Up Imperial Stout".

Salanis wrote:

poopshovel wrote: I get the feeling I'll be getting a kit for bday or xmas. Any recommendation?

For a kit? Find a local homebrew shop and they should have kits that come with pretty much everything you need except a pot and a spoon. For your first batch, do an extract with grain stout. Don't dive strait into high alcohol beers, like imperial stout. Or I can put together a recipe you can hand to a shop and they'll gather ingredients for you. I've got an idea for two flavor explosions that should meet your taste desires. I'm calling the entry level one "Hong Up Stout", and the big brother to that "Hong the berkeley Up Imperial Stout".

WHOA! AWESOME!!! Thanks man! "Local" and "Homebrew shop" are probably mutually exclusive terms. If need be, I could drive down to the big E36 M3ty. Any online resources, or is it worth it to head south?