Goose Island Amps Up Bourbon County Brands For Black Friday Release

I've had BCBVS twice, the first time was awful, the second time BCBVS was amazing. Not sure why, maybe it's the cellaring of the bottle? I'm going have to find a 2013 Barleywine I guess, I had it fresh and thought it was terrible. Seems by the reviews, Barleywine has improved much over the past year.

 

BCBBW was outstanding fresh...and it's drinking just as good, if not better, now. If you thought it was terrible, I don't think that much will change for you. It wasn't harsh/boozy when fresh, and not too much has changed; maybe it's gotten a tad smoother.

Quite a bit of people think that BCBBW is not as good as Sucaba, and I couldn't disagree more (it tastes like KH!), but to each their own. Every time I open one, I thank the beer gods that it was plentifully available and in 4 packs.

 

Did they have these release events last year, and if so, could you buy bottles to go? I'm trying to get bottles of barleywine, vanilla, and coffee and dont want to go to these events if it's draft only...

 

If anyone is able to land an extra bottle of Vanilla and more importantly Proprietors, I'll be willing to trade for some local goods

 

Just heard from my local Total Wine rep that his distributor mentioning Barley Wine wasn't making it out of Illinois. Something about not enough production.

 

Based on what I've been seeing, there's a pretty good chance that all the rogue early-release bottles are coming from a single distributor. None of the stores selling it are in the main Kansas City metro (Kansas or Missouri side). They are all up in the Northland, and if what I've read on Facebook is correct, they are distributed by NKC Bev.

But it has gotten me wondering--there are always rumors and stories of Goose Island pulling BCBS allocations for distributors/retailers who break the Black Friday release date. However, given the way the 3 tier system works, I wonder how much that actually happens. Especially as their distribution reach expands and they have more distributors/retailers to look after.

 

Yea I've heard rumors about Goose pulling next year's allocations for early release (this was last year), I've also heard of stuff like Founders won't send KBS to any accounts who hold it ransom, and Shelton not selling to accounts who jack up Cantillon. All sound like noble ideas for sure but I don't think anything ever really happens

 

BCBBW was phenomenal, hope to get my mitts on at least one 4 pack!

 

I don't think it is a "rogue" distributor, most likely someone really messed up. Seeing how Goose Island is owned by AB, so I would assume that all Goose Island is now distributed by the same party that does Bud products. So I don't think a distributor would want to lose their Bud over shipping out BC early.

 

Didn't this happen this year with either Black Note or KBS where a bunch of places in Minneapolis started selling about 2 weeks before the brewer's stated release date? Maybe I'm thinking of something else.

 

I think Kappys is in the area for 11/28

 

Well, I'm skeptical that GI actually pulls allocation at all (per the exchange between myself and evilcatfish above), but I would be downright floored to learn that ABInBev is pulling Bud products as punishment to stores that release BCBS early. Aside from the fact that the punishment would impact a completely different segment than the people who seek BCBS, it just seems like something that would impact ABInBev negatively too. I seriously doubt that would ever happen.

 

It was Black Note, I definitely remember it. It tipped people off to the fact that it was coming out at all, because unlike KBS and BCBS, Black Note is a silent release.

 

Spoke to a store here in NM and a gentleman that works for a distributor here and they are confirming that New Mexico is only getting regular BCBS and NO variants. We will get a number of kegs though, whereas last year we got none or close to none.

This is interesting because I wrote Goose Island via email and they responded thus:

"This is Jennifer with Goose Island. Thanks for stopping by our site. I’m sorry you are having some issues getting clarification on what Bourbon County products will be available in your area.


As you may know, Black Friday is the national release of all of our Bourbon County brews. The availability is based on what the wholesaler orders and makes available. I encourage you to reach out to them for more information on their Black Friday releases. I have provided their information below."

HOWEVER, the gentleman with the distributor that I spoke to said that in reality, it's not based on what is ordered or made available, but rather by sales of Goose Island's core lineup (ie. if a state moves a lot of Honker's, 312, etc.). Thus, New Mexico, and judging from the comments I quoted, Missouri, LA et al., will be getting shutout from the variants because we have no interest in their lackluster core lineup.

Sweet.

 

Well i guess we all have to make a ditch effort and buy the lot if we want the best

 

Ugh. Well, I was ready to accept the lack of Vanilla Rye. I wasn't quick enough to get my hands on Backyard Rye last year in spite of it hitting the area, so not getting Vanilla was just going to be the same situation, more or less.

But I'm going to be pretty disappointed if we don't get *any* variants. I guess I can live without the coffee, but I will be quite despondent if I can't get my hands on any of that sweet, sweet pancake-topping that is BCBBW.

I guess I'll just hope against hope that areas that don't move the core lineup miss out on Vanilla first, since it's the most limited of the variants (besides Prop, of course), and that we'll still end up getting at least some Coffee and Barleywine.

Sidebar: who the hell is interested in the lackluster lineup? I mean, there's an occasional good one--I enjoyed Rambler well enough, and Honker's and the regular IPA are both nice English-style offerings--but man, I guess I don't have enough will to force myself into buying garbage like the 312 series in hopes of getting more Bourbon County. More's the pity, I suppose.

 

Their new Festivity beer is pretty decent if you like browns, but I share your feelings on 312...

 

All four packs will be priced at $27 and same with the bombers

 

What was last year like in NM or ABQ with the BCBS lineup? Everything? Some variations? Some bombers?

 

We got BCBS, BCBCS, BCBBW and the Rye (can't remember the name). So something definitely changed between this year and last.