Unexpected Cellaring Surprise

Two 'old' beers caught me by complete surprise recently; Mountain Goat's 'Old Surefoot' Stout and Young's venerable Double Chocolate Stout. The MG was a 2003 vintage, released after 12 months bottle age in a 660ml bottle, whilst the Young's was simple out of date stock I picked off the shelf to make way for new stock.

Mountain Goat 'Old Surefoot' Stout
Vintage: 2003
Consumed: Oct 2009

Flat out impressive. This is now 6 years old and shows much more appeal when compared to release as a 1 year old. Soft structure and carbination gives the age away a little but a very well defined milk chocolate shines though very strong and gives heaps if immediate appeal. Must have exceeded all expectations, even those of the brewer.

Young's Double Chocolate Stout
Best Before: June 2008
Consumed: Oct 2009

Nothing lost on fresh bottles to my tastes. Plenty of roast and chocolate on the nose; remarkably fresh. More settled and dry in the palate as the mildly tannic roast takes hold. Good presence and length. Not particularly chocolately but the fresh bottles aren't either.