Minor Beer Ethics Dilemma

[TheMadKing]

So I am curious what people think of this minor dilemma.

My local homebrew club is having a party next weekend. At the last meeting (beginning of Dec) I volunteered to bring an entire corny keg of beer, since this is my first party with them and I'm a newer member. I asked if anyone had any requests for what type of beer I should make and bring to the party.

The only request I got was for an imperial stout.

So I brewed a 10.5% imperial stout/baltic porter crossbreed with oak, vanilla and bourbon.

It's delicious and I just kegged it today.

So here's the problem: this beer is good now, and it will be WAAAAAY better in 6-8 months. I would like to age it and see what the potential of this beer really is, but I brewed it specifically for this party (knowing the timeline would be tight).

I have another keg of APA that I could take and age the big beer.

So what do you guys think I should do?

Keep the beer and age it until its truly mature and ready to drink?

Take the beer to the party as planned/promised and drink it while still too young and brew it again another time?

 

[user 204491]

Take the keg of APA and a growler of the stout? Then promise to bring more of the stout when you feel it's aged to perfection. Seems like a win-win, and as home brewers I think they would all understand.

 

[olivson]

I would say bring the APA and a half growler or growler of the big beer. I'm sure everyone would understand why you want to age it, and its not like you're showing up empty handed.

 

[Jaybird]

Take the keg of APA and a growler of the stout? Then promise to bring more of the stout when you feel it's aged to perfection. Seems like a win-win, and as home brewers I think they would all understand.

I totally agree with this myself. Then share the big beer when its ready.

Cheers
Jay

 

[beergolf]

Take the keg of APA and a growler of the stout? Then promise to bring more of the stout when you feel it's aged to perfection. Seems like a win-win, and as home brewers I think they would all understand.

Another ther vote for this option. Just tell them the the stout is not ready yet and would be so much better with some age.

 

[TheMadKing]

Thanks guys,

That's what I was leaning toward myself!

I think I'll go with it

 

[mcspanner]

Thanks guys,

That's what I was leaning toward myself!

I think I'll go with it

To be fair, assuming these meetings are monthly, asking you to brew a beer that any homebrewer with some experience knows needs ageing is a little bit of a douchey thing to do.

I'd bring the APA, leave the stout at home and say "oh I thought that was what you wanted for next year!" If anyone asks where the big beer is at.

 

[val214]

That is crazy that they would ask you to brew such a big beer. I agree with the the others APA a growler of the stout.

 

[mongoose33]

Same view as the others.

Just say that at the time you didn't realize to say that you'd brewed a beer that needed more aging. Bring the growler so they can sample it, then the APA.

BTW, what a great thread! Ethics, Beer, and Dilemma all in the same thread title. Love it!

 

[cilestiok]

Sounds like they were testing you because you're a newer member.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452989405.641748.jpg

Definitely bring a growler though. Tell someone to bring in a keg of barrel aged sour next month.

 

[sleepspeaking]

Sounds like they were testing you because you're a newer member.

View attachment 330595

Definitely bring a growler though. Tell someone to bring in a keg of barrel aged sour next month.

I expect there'll be another thread from the OP in about 6.5 months, titled "Minor Beer Ethics Dilemma (part II)" where the aging is done, and the delimma having to share great beer with jerks that harass new members.

But Congrats on making such a big beer that tasted fine so early!

 

[madscientist451]

Take both kegs and announce your conundrum at the beginning of the meeting.
Provide a taste sample of each and then conduct a vote. Just go with what ever the vote comes out with, have fun. Maybe drink the first keg and you'll get loosened up and start in on the second one.

 

[masonsjax]

Brew more stout either way.

 

[beergolf]

Tell someone to bring in a keg of barrel aged sour next month.

Then they could bring a properly aged one. Give them a recipe and have them bring it next month. hahahaha

 

[Stillraining]

I expect there'll be another thread from the OP in about 6.5 months, titled "Minor Beer Ethics Dilemma (part II)" where the aging is done, and the delimma having to share great beer with jerks that harass new members.

But Congrats on making such a big beer that tasted fine so early!

HA HA you beat me to it. :rockin:

 

[MaxStout]

Agree with what others have said.

Bring what you have ready now (APA), and tell them the stout is forthcoming in ~6 months. If they give you grief for not having the stout for them now, it might mean that they are just trying to see what the new guy brings to the table, rather than them being genuinely interested in getting/retaining a new member. This could be a good test for you to see what they really expect from you, and a way to decide if membership is a good fit.

 

[brewcat]

I would just take the stout. They asked for it. What happens if it doesn't age well? I've had it happen where I thought it would be better and it never was.

 

[Elkobrewer]

Dam that's wrong for them to ask u to bring a big beer. Knowing dang well it takes more than a month for the true flavor to come through. In tat case I say take 2 cases of BUSH for them to enjoy lol

 

[Beezer94]

He volunteered to bring beer in and asked for any opinion on the style and the only guy who said anything said how about Imperial Stout...

So many comments in this thread about this club being douchey or something having expectations when it seems they have nothing to do with this.

Bring whatever you want and maybe bring a little stout for that one guy to try.

 

[TheMadKing]

I expect there'll be another thread from the OP in about 6.5 months, titled "Minor Beer Ethics Dilemma (part II)" where the aging is done, and the delimma having to share great beer with jerks that harass new members.

But Congrats on making such a big beer that tasted fine so early!

Haha thank you, that's much appreciated

The guy who requested it is known for making high abv beers that are higher in alcohol than refined flavors.

I knew the beer would take more than a month to age, but I wasn't going for gold on this one, so I just slapped together a high ABV recipe but I didn't expect it to actually turn out fantastic. So that's why I actually agreed to it.

Then the brewer in me took over and I added the oak and bourbon and vanilla. I don't really blame the request as much as my perfectionism haha

 

[TheMadKing]

He volunteered to bring beer in and asked for any opinion on the style and the only guy who said anything said how about Imperial Stout...

So many comments in this thread about this club being douchey or something having expectations when it seems they have nothing to do with this.

Bring whatever you want and maybe bring a little stout for that one guy to try.

Yup that's pretty much exactly how it went down, and that's the plan. I already let the group know we're bringing the APA and they all very supportively agreed to wait for the stout.