Hoppin' Frog BA BORIS Variant

$15, brewery only.

 

I have the largest shit eating grin on my face right now. This weekend just got a whole lot better.

 

Anyone know if there are any bottles left?

 

Yes I was there yesterday and got a few

 

Yep, still available. I bought a case on Saturday.

BTW, ridiculously good beer. So smooth and balanced I could drink one each night without an issue.

EDIT: I hope it doesn't see distro, this brewery needs a few more brewery only limited releases.

 

Why they need limited releases?

 

Trade bait?

 

for a guy into imperial stouts which hoppin frog do you guys recommend?

 

The regular BA BORIS is fantastic and my favorite stout produced by Hoppin Frog. Bairille Aois is great too, but I just prefer my regular BA BORIS even over Royale too.

On a side note, they have outrageously expensive Royale (and BANE) vintages for on site consumption at the tasting room. I have been a huge fan of Hoppin Frog for a long time and I hate when people talk dirty about their prices; however, the "rare" beer prices at the tasting room are fucking stupid. I would like to think my cellar has 6 bottles worth $300-400 total, but I know better. For once in my life I will say, shame on you Hoppin Frog. Shame. Shame on you. I had to get that out because I have defended Hoppin Frog prices for years and then see this shit. /rant

On a personal side note, Mr. Ohiobeer29, I just picked up 4 bottles of Espresso RIS in NE Ohio and there are plenty more at my local grocery store. BM me if you want the address.

 

awesome i see hop frog just sitting every week but due to the price ive never picked any up.I'll check them out and thanks

 

What beers, amounts and prices?

 

I'd personally start with regular BORIS and DORIS the Destroyer and then try the BA BORIS and all the others.. but it ultimately doesn't matter because all of their stouts are killer.. enjoy..

 

I debated deleting my post because I thought it felt too hostile towards them. Haha. I love them so much, it felt like I was yelling at my cat for knocking a picture down only to feel sad I raised my voice.

Anyways...
2011 Barrel Aged Naked Evil (BANE) = $70
This 1 is the most expensive which is just too much, but I sort of understand since it was the first batch. I wish they would just do an event with a couple bottles and pour 1-2oz for a reasonable cost of their first batch of BANE. Seems like a better option to me.

2012 BANE = $60
This one pisses me off the most. It was available at the brewery almost half a year ago for 1/3 that price. I don't see any logical reason behind this price besides gouging the locals that have waited awhile to sit in their new tasting room.

???? and ???? BORIS Royale (2 vintages) = ~$50
Super tired right now, so there you have it.

Also, they have some other bottles like a 2008 "cellar aged" BORIS for $20 which was actually a good deal in my eyes. I'll end by saying the new tasting room at hoppin frog is great. The brewery staff have always been amazing and the new tasting room staff are just as good. I have to add that the draft prices ARE reasonable! Great place, great beers, but the prices on their "rare" beer list put a bad taste in my mouth. Seems to be what others think as well.

 

Makes me sad I traded a BANE for some plinys based on not liking it all that much. I bought it from Buehlers like 6months ago...their prices are going to be their crutch. If they did the proper marketing to gain a following and create hype it would be better for them but f it, if you don't want to spend the money then don't. I met Fred at a tasting at a buddies apartment a few years back and he was a cool ass dude. Looking forward to getting to that tasting room!

 

Was there any figure ever released for the bottle count on these?

 

Same here!

 

Then explain why one of the most vanilla and coconut-forward beers of all time not brewed with vanilla or coconut was aged in third-use bourbon barrels that had previously held an imperial stout for two years and prior to that held bourbon for 23 years?

If a lot of the base spirit is still in the barrels, you will taste considerably less vanilla or coconut. The spirit flavors will interfere with and overpower the wood flavors. You need to use them more than once or let more of the spirit evaporate, or both. Also, older barrels seem to help. Both of these points contradict the conventional wisdom here.

With regards to the Anchor article, this particular sentence struck me as being very very wrong, and indicative of how Anchor's publications have openly embraced the mythologizing of beer ever since the new ownership arrangement took hold*:


The first time a new barrel is used, the nature of the wood and the length of time the product is held there will yield some character of that particular wood. If the same product is placed in the barrel time after time, there will be little if any effect on it, as the wood has yielded all that it has to offer by continuous use.


This would mean that Palo Santo Marron by now has absolutely no wood flavor whatsoever. There are obviously techniques available to breweries (or wineries or distilleries for that matter) to coax more flavor out of reused wood.


*remember their continually shifting claims about whether Liberty is America's first pale ale or IPA, Old Foghorn being the first American barleywine, Porter being the first porter?

 

The 2012 release was still sitting on the shelves of two Binny's last March for $20.

 

It's crazy. There's still a store in Cleveland with them for $20. I get paying a premium to drink in-house at the source, but 60 bucks? That's a stretch, Mr. Karm and company.

 

Mind BMing me which store this was?