Goose Island Amps Up Bourbon County Brands For Black Friday Release

Price increase or not I'm still buying some. That $12 a bottle bull shit I've heard about from New York guys on the other hand I couldn't handle...

 

Just paid $21.99 for 4 pack of 2014 in MA. No price increase from last year.

 

Iowa, one of Goose Islands original markets and home to one of Goose Islands founders is getting left out of Vanilla. Pretty pathetic if you ask me. I don't know what part they are "amping up" but satisfying markets isn't one of them.

 

Amping up the price/hype?

 

I heard price increases up to 40% across the country, just leave it all on the shelves… especially in Missouri

 

A local liquor store started selling it Thursday. I stopped in tonight and picked up a 4 pack.

 

For those in Chicago, check your non-Binny's alternatives: plenty of places are getting everything, including Proprietor's, and they are less likely to have crazy lines forming too early in the AM...

 

In reference to Iowa not getting Vanilla I would wait til the actual launch day before you make any inferences.

 

How's it stack up to last years? I read thinner and less vanilla/bourbon flavor?

 

Where you at in wi if you don't mind me asking?

 

People always post that they get hidden gems on the shelf or beers before they're supposed to be released....but never seem to mention where they got it. Can't give away you're secret beer spot

 

That's exactly how Founders does KBS, so during the year I try to keep a keg of something Founders on tap at all times, plus order cases when they're just barely low, whereas a lot of product I run out of before reordering. Keeping the ball rolling with them locks in KBS, but it's still always such a limited amount that no one is happy.

Terrapin does this as well, which is completely backwards in theory. The grocery store that sells a 100 cases of Hopsecutioner gets the limited Reserve Series bottles in quantity, yet my craft only store lands a single case. I don't sell Hopsecutioner to hardly anyone because those people buy it at the grocery store, so there's little point to even carry it, but I have to have it to ensure I'm at least on the list to get the rare stuff.

 

Does GI sell in San Diego? That's where I'll be that week, and I have the morning off. Might wander somewhere to take a look if it's sold there.

 

Yeah, and this is a shitty way to do business, in my opinion, especially in the case of breweries like Goose Island that don't have year-rounds worth buying (not counting Sofie/Matilda).

 

After you send me some...

 

I don't remember where I read it (or if I'm pulling it out of my ass) but the article was talking about how cold the winter was in Chicago last year, which had an effect on the barrels, causing almost a 1% drop in the ABV compared to 2013.

 

I remember reading the same thing, found the link and posted it underneath. I'm hoping it didn't affect the beer too much. Those that like the typical heat on a fresh BCBS might be disappointed this year.

"Jesse Valenciana (Goose Island): A few thoughts before we start, this year’s Bourbon County is more mellow than in years past because of the crazy weather we had last year. It was the first time ever that we had to turn heaters on in the barrel warehouse because of those -40 degree days. As a result, the barrels weren't contracting as much as in past years and we ended up with almost a full percentage point lower in ABV than we had in 2013's release. "

Source: http://blog.lakeshorebev.com/blog/2014-bourbon-county-stout

 

When a guy who works for the distributor in Central IA says IA is currently not slated to receive Vanilla I see no need to wait

/me grabs pitchfork

 

The last couple years have not been hot when fresh

You should have tried this beer back in the day (assuming you didn't) for some heat

 

I thought it was fine. It wasn't at as hot as 2012. 2012 is probably my favorite. I had not been able to purchase it for a couple years so when it came back I loaded up. It's pricier this year, $27.99 per 4/pack. It will be the only one I buy this year. I am sticking to CW BBA Stout, I think it's just as good and at less than half the price I can buy more.