Here’s the next old beer I have laying around. I’ve had to do some sleuthing to figure out what these beers are since some of the boxes weren’t labeled. I vaguely have memories of these beers so it has been fun to go back through the notes.
This beer is the 08-08-08 HBT brew Imperial Stout. You can read the thread
here. The short is for a few years HBT did a group brew on the repeated number dates and then did swaps and tastings of the beers. I’m pretty sure the Stone Vertical Epic series of beers inspired the few beers.
To take this even further the thread of others reviewing my beer is
here.
This beer was likely brewed at the end of 2007 with the intention of sitting on it for a few months before tasting on 08-08-08. If I had to really narrow it down, probably the week between Christmas and New Year’s 2007.
Brew #54
08-08-08 Russian Imperial Stout
In a plain brown bottle, dusty, with a plain blue cap. On opening a little promising sound of carbonation. It pours jet black into a Stone Double Bastard glass with some noticeable carbonation. A small deep tan head that faded to a ring on the edge of the glass.
Aroma is of sweetened coffee and just a hint of blueberry.
Carbonation is light but there. Not as malty sweet as I expected. Flavor is of rich coffee, dark stone fruit and blueberry with a little roasty edge. There is a little bit of a powdery feel in the mouth. Fairly dry but a slight lingering sweetness that coats the tongue. There is some oxidation from age, but not unpleasant.
So far this is the most successful beer out of the four I pulled out of the stash. I don’t know if it’s completely drinkable, but it still resembles an Imperial Stout.
While the recipe is in the thread, here’s my notes:
For 5 gallons
13.35 lbs 2-row
1.25 lbs Roasted Barley
1lb Special B
0.5 lb Pale Chocolate Malt
0.35 lb Caramunich
0.35 lb Chocolate Malt
0.35 lb Crystal 120
0.35 lb Crystal 75
1.5 oz Galena 12% 60 min
1 oz EKG 4.75% 10 min
1.5 oz EKG 0 min
White Labs WLP-001 Cal Ale