re: IPAs and Bottle/Can Dates

Anyone have a handful of Ghosts they want to sell/trade for a beer tasting this weekend? I'm on the Northshore.

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Round 1 - IPAs
Sneaky Pete's
Mikkeller Mosaic Black IPA
Stone Cali-Belgique IPA

Round 2 - Stouts
Founders Imperial Stout
Dogfather
Pumkinator
Old Rasputin's RIS
Prairie Bomb!

Thoughts?

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Well, you're on the Northshore. I'm not sure what y'all have in the way of bottle shops, but have fun with it. Looks like for IPA's you have a wide arrange of the style. I will caution you on mikkeller beers. More times than not, whatever is on the shelf (at least here in BR) is ancient, especially the IPA's. I've yet to buy a mikkeller beer that didn't taste like cardboard and pennies. Don't let that disuade you for what you are doing, however. You'll never know what you like if you don't try. The cali-belg is a beglian style IPA, that is certainly different from your typical IPA.

For the next time, if you want to get a more hop forward interpretation on the style try these, if you can find them.

Parish Envie - Yes it's a pale ale, but it has tremendous hop flavor. Very citrusy
Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter IPA - light, bright IPA
Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA - More piney, floral IPA
Great Raft Commotion - Again, another pale ale, but it's got strong hop characteristics and like Parish, it's local!
Sweetwater Hop Hash
St. Arnold Art Car IPA
Lagunitas IPA
Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin Extra
Stone Ruination
Founders Centennial IPA

For your stouts, all of those are good and varying, though high on the ABV's.
If you wanted to throw a lower abv, try Founder's Porter. It's fantastic.

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In my experience [high abv] tend to be the ones that turn malty the fastest.

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I think it depends on the style of IPA. East coast DIPAs hold up just fine. 90 minute IPA is good several months out. Even some west coast style DIPAs can hang on to their edge.