What a time to be alive

https://i.imgur.com/68vFvHQ.jpg?1

In a beer thread, eh?

LOL cooper you dope.

A bunch of places around Chicagoland have slashed their BCBS over the past couple weeks. There's several drivers:

They made a shit ton of it.
The flavored variants were priced too high.
The flavored variants haven't been great.
We're saturated with great barrel aged beers year round now. I mean there's one this morning at 10am on a Thursday that will sell out in minutes.

We did a road trip this past weekend and stocked up on to-go.

Des Moines:
Barn Town
Lua
Confluence

Rochester, MN:
Forager

Decorah, IA:
Pulpit Rock
Toppling Goliath

Not disappointed in the least :)

Damn.... I still see them around, but not for $6. LMAO

The coffee variant is one of my favorites.

I had sort of planned on going back at the end of May to hit up Mikerphone again, and of course Goose Island among others... booked in March when flights were $50 one way between Phoenix and Chicago, knowing I'd most likely be cancelling and refunding.

Sorry was thinking about the booze thread, not sure how it got here.

https://tenemu.com/news/goose-island...t-2020/07/2020

Get ready for a 3rd wave of Covid. Seriously though, I'm down with that list. Best looking lineup since 2014.

Thanks

Blueberry donut holes... just fantastic (and the 2020 version bumps up to 14.6% :eek: ).

https://48tk9j3a74jb133e1k2fzz2s-wpe...ex-Feature.jpg

Wish you could ship me a case

50/50 Brewery
 

Pretty much any beer they make is worth trying. They sell their stuff by cans, but I can't tell you how many times I've had their "brew" of their week, and thought, "damnnnn....this should be sold nationwide!""

Just realized this thread is over 10 years old and still going strong! :clap:

Pretty impressive along with the growth in beers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Announcing the 2020 Bourbon County Stout variants, a thread. 1/9 <a href="https://t.co/53DQbWYn4M">pic.twitter.com/53DQbWYn4M</a></p>&mdash; Goose Island Beer Co. (@GooseIsland) <a href="https://twitter.com/GooseIsland/status/1293177905137188868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The official lineup for this year’s Bourbon County Stout release is:

Bourbon County Stout: The OG.
Bourbon County Kentucky Fog Stout: Black tea, Earl Grey tea and honey (aka BCS Picard)
Bourbon County Special #4 Stout: An oatmeal stout with Intelligensia Coffee and barrel-aged maple syrup (aka Bourbon County Brunch)
Bourbon County Caramella Ale: Wheatwine with “with apple, cinnamon, and natural caramel flavor”
Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout: Made with “fresh pistachios, cacao nibs, candied Amarena cherries, and natural vanilla flavors” (aka Bourbon County Spumoni)
Birthday Bourbon County Stout: Aged in Old Forester Birthday Bourbon barrels
Anniversary Bourbon County Stout: Aged for two years in Weller 12 Year barrels

Also shocked to say that Cafe de Olla is tasting great right now. That weird orange flavor has faded and its all brown sugar mocha goodness.

I saw that announcement this morning. Some interesting variants this year, for sure.

Heeeeey....I'm sitting on one of those, too. Maybe I'll bust it open this weekend.

If they were $6/each here, I'd buy a case. Bottle Logic had a Transmit in Color stout that's fairly similar and quite delicious.

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-e6b7...1595815463.jpg

I imagine the Birthday and Anniversary will hard to come by. I'm legit curious how they're going to pull it off here. Traditionally its a multi-day city wide event with long lines and tappings. Can't see that happening this year. Can't really see them distro'ing it all to 50K retailers here and letting them sort out the logistics. Imagining some type of staggered curbside pickup that ****s over their retailers and distro, crashes a room full of servers, but in true InBev fashion keeps all the profits.

Is BL being distro'd to AZ?

I've enjoyed everything I've had from them.

I have found it at a few places around Phoenix... Craft Beer Quick Stop on the north end, King's closer to downtown, The Wandering Tortoise... and whatever the Tortoise's other bar is named, that's slipping my mind.

Apparently their distribution guidelines are insanely complicated and strict... I've heard that from a couple of good craft beer stops that choose not to do business with them. And that's on top of having to sell their best stuff at around $25/bottle.

$25 is up there for a lot people but feel BL's reputation can carry it.

Those bottles would be gone in minutes here, at least in the short term.

Yeah, they aren't easy to find... I think some places hold onto some for a little while, since I've seen Transmit in Color and some of the other hard to find stuff weeks/months later.

And they come out with so many of those... you could easily spend $100 just on a few singles every month. And I'd go broke if I lived near their taproom. Happy and buzzed, but broke.

Would be very interested in seeing brewery < 1 mile added to Rainman's relocation algorithm

Bottle Logic seems to be fairly easy to get in AZ. My buddy just did a huge group buy of to go bottles from Ground Control in Litchfield Park and sent us back probably 40 bottles of 2020 Fundamental Observation so they're obviously there somewhere. Staff of Asir and Transmit in Color are also currently available for purchase to go.

Ground Control is very good, too. Fundamental Observation is more abundant, even though I personally find that it's overrated compared to others.

And maybe 'easiness' isn't the right word, just a matter of how much the Phoenix area gets... several places carry their flavor of the week, but from my experience you're usually talking about a few cases at most, and they go fast. Craft Beer Quick Stop will post them on facebook and it'll be gone in a matter of hours or a few days at most.

They also make a lot of IPAs and year round stuff that seems to always be in stock.

King's Convenience just north of downtown always gets the most. Generally online bottle sales as well as a number of 16oz mini crowler cans available as well. Follow them on IG for the most up to date releases.

A few days for any (generally highly overrated IMO BL beers) is longer than they tend to last anywhere. Not going to find them sitting on shelves for long.

if anyone ever makes it to San Antonio visit Black Laboratory Brewing - new brewery just opened in March and can use everyone's help.

King's is great, I love their taproom lounge and playing some Super Nintendo.

BL make so many beers... I look for their heavier stouts plus a few strong ales that are generally world class, and ignore the rest. Some of their IPAs are supposed to be really good, but there are a ton of them, too. They have 500+ beers listed in beeradvocate in 7 years.... compared to Boulevard, who has ~230 and has been around forever.

I was able to pick up almost a case of Ozark's BDCS a few weeks ago. They canned more of it than usual since they couldn't have their big taproom party and places with taps have limited capacity still so aren't moving as much volume.

Not as good as last year but still very damn good.

I live 5 minutes from Ground Control.

Great place!

It's nice that they have crowlers of BL stuff at better prices too!

I don't do much BL because secondary market for it is a mf'er, but if you see some of their Sight and Mind BA Barleywine and want to work a trade, Im down.

That would be ****ed, man. I don't doubt it, though. I saw some people talking about it on one of the Chicago beer FB pages the other day, and some seem to agree with you.

What's the latest and greatest in the KC beer scene?

Noticed a few that might be worth a shot... Fringe Beerworks, Casual Animal Brewing, Grains and Taps?

City Barrel, BKS, Alma Mader. G&T and Fringe are OK if you're stuck out in Lee's Summit but down in the city is where the real action is. Pathlight is another new spot that has some great stuff, they're out in the Lenexa/Shawnee area, around I-35 and 87th.

Thanks!

Had a Kona Ale tonight - nice and light

Is KC mostly open or still curbside?

Thinking about doing a KC/STL roadtrip to burn some PTO in Sept.

BKS and Alma are both curbside. CB is open for business. Pathlight is open now too. All the places out in Lee's Summit are opened up.

We visited 3 Trails, Windshift and East 40 this past weekend. Enjoyed all 3 although I think Windshift was my favorite of the 3 in that area.

I second the Pathlight recommendation - they are doing great hops.

Alma Mader you can get curbside but BKS your only chance is to order cans on Thursday night. They open up pre-orders at 7:00 PM and they sell out in less than a minute or two.

This post goes back 4 years, searching for mentions of Hubbard's Cave.

Found several in Phoenix for only ~$8/16oz can... it's a freakin' steal compared to similar stouts.

This one is up there with Bottle Logic's blueberry donut-like stout, just not quite as heavy.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42755/429344/

https://d3omj40jjfp5tk.cloudfront.ne...42b/medium.png

Dude! I was just at Hubbard's yesterday to pick up the barrel aged version of Chocolate Strawberry pot de creme. I legit snapped this pic this morning alongside a Mikerphone Barrel Aged Snap Crackle Pop, a beer he lets his daughter create every year for her birthday.

https://i.imgur.com/3uUT3py.jpg?1

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Really wish I could make it back to Chicago soon (damn worldwide pandemic! :cuss: ).... granted, I'm spoiled enough with Bottle Logic, Modern Times, Smog City (and that's just LA), but Mikerphone in particular is worth the trip.

One perk of covid is the lack of O'hare traffic so Mikerphone is like a half hour drive for me now, any time of day. Hubbard's which used to be on Hubbard St (image that) in the city is now out in Niles which is like 10 mins from Mikerphone. Scooped them up same afternoon.

Yeah though, you're sitting pretty spectacularly with those options.

If you catch the Hubbard's Oreo I highly recommend it as a non-barrel aged stout.

https://i.imgur.com/Eitzhtb.jpg?1

Nice!

The other day's pick up, besides the Blueberry one...
Hazelnut Pot De Creme
Accident In Hubbard's Cave
Say Nut Again

I'll definitely grab whatever is available in the future, especially at that price.


Also grabbed a 2018 BCS Orange on that trip and have that one in the fridge, so it's a bit of a Chicago beer day.... guess I can raise one to the Bears fans out there for Trubisky's benching. LMAO

You guys love some sweet candy or cookies beer.

Pastry Stouts, bro

Time for you to send a box, bro. :)

Roger that, I'm on it. Lot of fun stuff starting to pop up here.

We're fortunate to see some sporadic drops from Beachwood (CA) here.

Amalgamator is my deserted island beer. Nothing sexy, just dry, clean, crushable west coast hopped flawlessness.

https://i.imgur.com/mC5qKkl.jpg?1

Was given this at work yesterday. Can anyone tell me anything about it?

Three of my favorite things here. Beer, Chiefs and cats.

https://i.imgur.com/h8AC5Wj.jpg

Highly regarded barrel aged English style barleywine.

I haven't had that vintage but just from the style you can expect boozy, oak, dark fruits, toffee, vanilla, chocolate, etc. type flavors.

Nice sipper on a cool evening, or afternoon, or morning...

#barleywineislife

I moved this past week to Tempe and stopped at Fate's for a few beers as it's down the street from my new place.

This Hatch Chile Gatos Ale was incredible.

https://untappd.akamaized.net/photo/...50_640x640.jpg

It's pretty good... subtle for my tastes, for obvious reasons. :D

Their Candy Bar Stout and King Sized are out as well... King Sized was aged in Buffalo Trace barrels.

Hopefully this will reach the FFF footprint

https://i.imgur.com/yRU0lJv.jpg?1

DEEP (adj) extending far down from the top or surface.

FLUX (n) describes something that constantly changes

A while back, we took our friends at 3 Floyds on a long strange trip down a deep, dark hallway past thousands of our bourbon, rum, tequila, and red wine barrels. We stopped to rest next to a collection of rye whiskey and Madeira wine casks, and after a few beers, we agreed that, yes, these were the chosen ones. A couple more beers and we heard them tell us they wanted to be filled with barleywine – and when barrels speak, we listen.

Deep Flux is a unique, pale barleywine that pours a rich auburn color with aromas of brown sugar, oak, and dark stone fruit. This malty brew is beautifully complimentary of its barrel aging, which spent 100% of its process in wood barrels and broke down into 60% in rye whiskey barrels and 40% in Madeira wine casks. The end result for Deep Flux is a big and boisterous barleywine with resplendent flavors of rye, Madeira, and oak lurking in the barrels.

We think you’ll agree that this beer is far from ordinary.

Available in the Greater KC area starting Nov. 9th with other areas to follow. Find it near you by clicking here.



ABV: 14.3

IBU: 20



MALT

Pale Malt

Pilsner Malt

Vienna Malt

Flaked Oats

Malted Rye


HOPS

Magnum

Chinook


Food Pairings

Stilton grilled cheese, Crema Catalana, bold cigars

This looks like about $15 per 4 pack. :hmmm:

Which would be insanely inexpensive for a beer that’s been aged in premium barrels for an extended period of time.

It’s not unusual for a 4pk of IPA to go for $15-20 @ 4 weeks grain to can.

One of my all-time favorite beers - FW has an amazing BA program. I have back to 2015 in my cellar currently - great aging beer.

Agree.

Dogfish Head's 120 aged is $30 for a 4 pack! :eek:

Thought of you today while at Mikerphone picking up their BA vanilla stout collab with Other Half and grabbed a crowler of their Nutter Butter collab with Bottle Logic

https://i.imgur.com/fl9IzHM.jpg?1

What’s your favorite cheap beer that you actually like?

I’ll start. Miller High Life is as cheap as I’ll go and still enjoy it.

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Its High Life or take that weak shit to the Drink of choice tonight? PART DEUX thread

ROFL

I'm legit struggling to get through this pour. Feel this phantom peanut butter sensation stuck to my teeth

Shit. I thought I was posting in that thread.

ROFL

In a good way, I assume?

If so, let's discuss a beer trade....

Yeah its definitely good. They nailed the flavors. Not sure I could do more than 16oz in a sitting.

Unfortunately they were sold out of cans and only had crowlers available

I can't drink cheap beers anymore as they all come across as so over carbonated.

I used to love Miller High Life as a quick beer to drink in the summertime when your hot and want to gulp down one. :thumb:

2020 BCBS pricing around here:

Original 16.9 oz. ($12.99 plus tax)

Kentucky Fog 16.9 oz. ($23.99 plus tax)

Special #4 16.9 oz. ($23.99 plus tax)

Caramella 16.9 oz. ($16.99 plus tax)

Proprietors 16.9 oz. ($25.99 plus tax)

Anniversary 16.9 oz. ($29.99 plus tax)

Birthday 16.9 oz. ($29.99 plus tax)

Do you mean "Lawn Mower" beer? I have a brewery 6 blocks from here with $6 growlers. I have about 29 favs.

Will not get that $$$$$ from me.

How do you not know how reasonably priced that actually is?

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Me too. I usually buy close to a case each year. I give some as gifts for Christmas and store some and drink some.

Pretty sure I can do a vertical from 2014-2021 after next Friday minus only 2015 which was a mostly infected batch and had a very small release.

The 2015 batch was a variable lot, for sure. Funny story, I had probably 10 bottles total with 9 in the infected batches. Not a single one of them was infected. And it took me a few years to drink through all of them.