Bourbon County Brand Stout 2007-2011

2007	Received in trade, "closet aged" thereafter (~1 year)
2008	Bought off the shelf at different times. Closeted/Refrigerated/Properly cellared for different periods of its life.
2009	Bought off the shelf in 2009. Refrigerated for a while, then closeted.
2010	Received in the beginning of 2011 in trade. Closeted thereafter.
2011	Bottled 11/11/11 :-) Had to trade although it made the shelves.

Enjoyed on 12/11/2011: 2011 → 2010 → 2009 → 2008 → 2007. Poured into a snifter.

Notes:

    Not much to write here --- BCBS is a great beer but quick to dominate and decimate the palate. 2011 (the freshest) was amazingly good and noticeably easier to drink fresh, compared to the past vintages. While it is a different beer, it clocks in an even higher ABV compared to past years' (14.5% as opposed to 13%). So either they improved the drinkability magically, or my palate has adjusted to high ABV beers so well that it doesn't "hurt anymore". Strong roasted notes were present that I generally do not associate with Bourbon County, but the beer was very very smooth.

    2010 was different, almost less intense. 2009 was also less intense but all of it might have to do with palate numbing. The beer kept getting chocolaty with age, I think. I read on the Internet that 2009 and 2011 are very similar beers because of similar weather conditions during the maturation. Can't say if I observed that myself.

    2008, that I have generally found to be very chocolaty, also exhibited very spicy and woody notes. At this point it was very viscous, smooth and devoid of roast, although the roast is still alive in this vintage (from another tasting done in the opposite order).

    2007 has not gone downhill. No signs of oxidation but stronger coffee and roast than 2008. These two adjacent years are very different. So are 2010 and 2011 in my opinion. It was a fun night, made even more fun by Abyss 2011, Dark Lord 2011, and some excellent homebrewed Old Ale and Imperial Stout.