bcbs black Wednesday - NYC

This is strictly my opinion, but the fruit / other solid flavoring will last longer than a liquid flavoring. The coffee variants lose a lot of the intense aroma, but maintain a roasty profile in the taste. I had Backyard Rye on draft last month I believe and it was still a fruit bomb in all the right ways. I also had 2010 Vanilla from the bottle this past year, and I wasn't impressed. The vanilla flavor had faded quite a bit and I was getting some cardboard notes after my initial sip.

So, what's the right answer? I don't think there is one as my results have certainly varied. Drink 'em when you get the urge!

 

The right answer is to mix the coffee with the vanilla! So good that way.

 

Agree with JGam115 on the backyard - the fruit did not dissipate at all like the coffee has. Disagree on the 2010 Vanilla however. I thought it aged quite nicely, didn't get any cardboard and although the vanilla did fade slightly it wasn't a huge drop off - especially for almost 4 years.

 

I agree on the Vanilla (I had it a few months ago). In fact, I prefer the Vanilla BCBS to the Vanilla Rye personally. And Backyard is delicious...no way to know how well it will age but it should age well. Fruits in general tend to age well in beers.

 

I think they greased the palms of the distributor with some $12 Heady Topper cans

 

Was just at Broadway Dive. They have vanilla, coffee, and barleywine variants. Limit 1 on vanilla, 2 on the others.

 

I'm confused on this - Broadway Dive is a bar. They're selling bottles? Any price on these?

 

It's a bar/beer store. They sell bottles to go. Vanilla was $24, coffee was $12 apiece. I did not pick up any barleywine, or check the price.

 

Ah I see - didn't realize it was a store also. I was going to pop by on my way home but 12 is too much for coffee since that's what I paid at TH. Also can't justify getting another Vanilla. I'm content with one.

 

Makes sense. I wasn't in the city on Black Friday, so I was happy to pick it up at that price. Folks in there were very friendly, too.

 

Has everyone checked their BCBBW? I picked up two today from Broadway Dive and they are 2013 bottles (the bottles from Whole Foods/Malt and Mold were 2014).

 

http://wheresthebeerny.com/2014/11/29/2014-goose-island-black-friday-bottle-release-top-hops/

I agree with most of this article, except the last paragraph. I was at the back of the line, no laughs were had.

 

I'm still wondering about the $14 price tag Top Hops charged for Coffee because "it's just more expensive this year". While different coffee beans vary, was it really enough to make a bottle double from last year? I find it very hard to believe, especially since bottles could be had for $7-8 elsewhere in the 5 boroughs.

I'm not complaining - just a bit perplexed. Now if the price increase was because of the increase in hype, I completely understand...bottle shops are businesses. Just be honest about it.

 

100% agree with everything you said- honesty is key here

 

And I gladly paid $12 a bottle at One Mile House for each 12-oz brew - a bar that expectedly marks up the price for on-premise bottles. It just doesn't add up.

 

But one expects to pay a solid markup on a beer in a bar setting- not the same at a bottle shop - especially one that is entrusted with having the NYC Black Friday event

 

Agreed. I thought the $12 was more than fair which is why I kept ordering bottles until 5

 

I got a call from my local guy today who got his shipment in. like the last shop owner I got coffee from, he seemed reluctant to even tell me the price of coffee this year, I could hear him half sigh as he said 13.99 per bottle. So again, I'm inclined to believe some distributers are charging retailers more this year than in times past. I've been buying from this guy for a while, and while hes never been the cheapest. hes also never gouged prices. When the retailers are complaining then something is up further up the chain.

From HuffPo: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5670015

 

Well I'll be...my bottle from Carmine St is 2013 too.

 

I can almost recite that article from memory I've read it so many times - very good details.

Sadly, I'm leaning towards your assumption it is, in fact, the distributor. But for a Goose Island designated Black Friday release event? That's really low.