GI Stout Fest Winners

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by SeanBond, Mar 16, 2015.

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  1. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    To no one's surprise, Prop '14 and Vanilla Rye took top honors and second place, respectively.

    While I love Prop as much as anyone, I was a little disappointed that the little guys weren't rewarded (4 Hands Madagascar being the obvious exception), since there were so many standout efforts. So with that being said, what were you guys' non-BCBS favorites? I had a lot of them, so I'll start (in no particular order):

    4 Hands Madagascar - Beautiful vanilla bean flavor; actually prefer this to how Vanilla Rye is currently tasting.

    GI Clybourn Vainglorious - Awesome toast and jam taste, and probably the best berry-forward flavor I've had in a beer.

    Spiteful BA Malevolence Chocolate Caliente - BA treatment really mellows out the chile heat and overwhelming cinnamon, making this top notch.



    Frankly, I could list a bunch more, because everyone really brought their A-game (18th Street really killed it, for example).

    What about you all?
     
    #1 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2015
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  2. mdomask

    mdomask Initiate (0) May 27, 2012 Illinois

    A popular vote from a bunch of drunks? Statistically significant!
     
    #2 mdomask, Mar 16, 2015
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  3. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know, I know.

    I'm just asking what people liked besides BCBS; there's not even a poll!
     
    #3 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2015
  4. mdomask

    mdomask Initiate (0) May 27, 2012 Illinois

    I meant at the event. Having people fill out ballots after 3+ hours of drinking makes those results pretty meaningless :slight_smile:

    That said, some highlights:
    • Small n' Oats: I'd drink this over Alderaan any day.
    • Manhattan Might Meets Right: Nice little beer. Good sipper
    • That partially soured porter: reminds me to vote for New Glarus to do their Thumbprint Porter again
     
    #4 mdomask, Mar 16, 2015
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  5. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Oh, my bad. Yeah, for sure. I voted mostly out of respect for the breweries that came.

    Can't believe I forgot Manhattan Might Meets Right! That was a great one, too.
     
    #5 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2015
  6. MarkFy

    MarkFy Initiate (0) Dec 18, 2009 Illinois

    The Jones Dog was amazing once again. And it was easy to go back for more pours since everyone was in the BCS line (at the beginning at least).

    Madagascar was indeed fantastic. 18th Street had great offerings.

    Transient Buckley is one incredible beer.

    I'm impressed at how often Haymarket brings Clare's Thirsty and kills it every time.

    Loved that after 3 hours at the event, Prop, Vanilla and Coffee were still going and the line was nonexistent for a good 30 minutes at least.

    I've been going to StoutFest since they started it and this was hands down the best run event yet. Was never too crowded, having the whole place to freely roam was awesome, and the beers were outstanding. Got my money's worth and then some.
     
    #6 MarkFy, Mar 16, 2015
  7. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Didn't get around to Claire's Thirsty, but the definitely sounds like an awesome beer. Does Haymarket have it on tap much, or mostly just for special events?
     
    #7 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2015
  8. AndyEdgar

    AndyEdgar Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2014 Illinois

    My voting was filled out about an hour into the event.

    1. Madagascar (This is everything a vanilla stout should be)
    2. Vainglorious (I can not get enough of this)
    3. BA Jones Dog (really impressed with this year's batch)

    I missed out on the Caliente as I skipped past it on my first time through the Patio and it was kicked when I came back. There were a ton of great beers there that I need to go back through my notes before I can speak to any names, but I too was really disappointed that the BCS beers took the medals. Van Rye and Prop are awesome beers, but shouldn't be included in the judging IMO. Not too many other breweries brought their flagship product to be judged against the rest. If BA Abraxas was there do you think prop would have still taken 1st? Just my $0.02
     
    #8 AndyEdgar, Mar 16, 2015
  9. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I really liked BA Malevolence, but there were too many awesome beers there to be upset over missing one. Hell, Prop '14 is probably in my top 5 beers, and I straight up skipped it (for Vanilla Rye, which I like much less).

    I haven't had BA Abraxas, but I would still imagine I'd prefer Prop given my feelings on chile pepper beers in general. But yeah, I agree with your point; when you've got breweries like FFF bringing nothing but Backmasking (no insult to the beer, but if Goose is bringing their entire BCBS lineup, c'mon), the playing field wasn't entirely fair. But a lot of people did bring out their big guns.

    Also, I had BA Jones Dog last year and liked it a lot but wasn't blown away. What's different/special to this year's version?
     
    #9 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2015
  10. mdomask

    mdomask Initiate (0) May 27, 2012 Illinois

    FOBAB gold medal.
     
    #10 mdomask, Mar 16, 2015
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  11. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    True, and that surprised me as well. I only had one bottle last year, so maybe I just didn't give it enough of a chance. I thought it was a very good BA stout, but didn't get too much that made it stand out. Is it better this year, or should I just give it another shot, regardless?
     
    #11 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2015
  12. mdomask

    mdomask Initiate (0) May 27, 2012 Illinois

    I think most P-dubs stuff gets better the more they do it. I remember tasting their barrel stuff the first time they brought it to FOBAB (2012? 2013?) and being really let down. Based on what I tried Saturday, it'd definitely improved.
     
    #12 mdomask, Mar 16, 2015
  13. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well, shit. I guess if it hits again I'll grab it (instead of ignoring it a few weeks ago). My wallet does not thank you!
     
    #13 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2015
  14. mdomask

    mdomask Initiate (0) May 27, 2012 Illinois

    Wait for it at some other event when you can get it on draft or find someone to share a pour. Don't fight for it at retail.
     
    #14 mdomask, Mar 16, 2015
  15. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,305) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    '11 fobab was the collab with .5 acre/PW/struise small animal big machine. '12 was oak aged cherry abduction (maybe another offering). '13 was last kiss, murderous and jones dog. '14 was jones dog, over the line and murderous.
     
    #15 spicoli00, Mar 16, 2015
  16. Lazhal

    Lazhal Pooh-Bah (1,890) Mar 13, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Do any of your favorites distribute to MI? Not sure if this is IL only.
     
    #16 Lazhal, Mar 16, 2015
  17. nickMB

    nickMB Savant (1,130) Nov 17, 2009 Illinois
    Trader

    hey, I know that porter....middle brow's stainless style. and your spidey senses were keen, as I've been the one man champion of new glarus olde english porter to the point that I've been brewing it non stop for 3 years like an alchemist trying to reverse engineer gold. When we finally role this out, hopefully in 2016, the sour portion will be oak aged (maybe with a handful of cherries) and blended back into the main batch. thanks for diggin
     
    #17 nickMB, Mar 16, 2015
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  18. Vav

    Vav Savant (1,049) Jul 27, 2008 Illinois

    I'm sorry i missed that. Old style (shut up) English Porters are a love of mine. It's why i buy a case of Stingo (again, shut up) every year.
     
    #18 Vav, Mar 17, 2015
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  19. jokemon

    jokemon Initiate (0) Apr 3, 2007 Illinois

    desthil had an interesting sour stout, i liked that one.

    For some reason I REALLY like the London Fog with earl grey added to it
     
    #19 jokemon, Mar 17, 2015
  20. mdomask

    mdomask Initiate (0) May 27, 2012 Illinois

    Oh, and thank you for the nice post-fest surprise... was very nice.
    That was the first beer I had. This is what that bigglesmess DL should have tasted like.
     
    #20 mdomask, Mar 17, 2015
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