Avery Barrel-Aged Series

Is it actually barrel aged?

 

At $12-13 for a 22, they can just use bourbon soaked chips for all I care. I'm not so sure that doesn't cover the same bases anyway.

 

I was actually thinking that they might be selling us a blend of barrel-aged and non-barrel aged beers. Which is fine, as long as the beer tastes great and the price is appropriate. ETA: It's funny when we are at a point where we question a beer that is "only" $12 for 22 oz as being too cheap to be believed.

 

There are plenty of places that do blends and chips (soaked, too), but because it doesn't sound sexy, it isn't always publicized. Once you charge more than $10 a bottle, it comes down to 40% flavor and 60% prestige.

 

Rarity. I would argue that big bad Baptist is as good or better than the majority of barrel aged stouts out there, but it is sold year round and is easy to get so there is no hype. If it's not rare or you didn't wait 2 hours in line for it, it's probably not good.

 

Most definitely. I will say that I felt BBB was borderline so-so back in the SLC days. I think it's phenomenal now. The change in the coffee made all the difference in the world.
I'm probably wrong because since it's brewed in Denver now, it can't possibly be very good.

My new hypothesis is that the process of waiting in a line actually make beers better. You take the $ of the beer and multiply it the number of hours spent in line. You take that number add in the number of people in the line. However then you have to divide that by the number of people in said line who actually plan to drink it at some point. That's the true value of a beer. Violence in or around the line gets bonus points, but on a case-by-case basis.

 

Last night I had a four batch vertical of BBB going back two years. Excellent although I prefer it fresh.

 

This is the sad truth. I am still under the impression that Rare just endlessly exchanges hands and is never drunk until it's 3 years past its prime.

Still, my personal experience is that my absolute favorite beers are ones that I've been fortunate enough to drink on several occasions and have time to grow on me. A good example relevant to this thread is Uncle Jacob's Stout. It's always on tap at the Brewery, and it continues to blow me away. There's no question I enjoy it now more than the first time I had it. I'm not sure how I would have felt if I'd only gotten one 12 oz bottle after waiting in line for hours.

 

@rekrappy What's the story with Old Perseverance?

 

Made the quick trip over to Avery today to try the Vanilla Bean Stout. Damn tasty beer and well worth grabbing a few bottles for $13 a piece.

Dominated by a warm, sweet vanilla bean flavor with very little barrel character. My wife said it reminded her of her morning coffee with a generous dose of vanilla almond milk. At ~10%, it has a rich mouthfeel without being syrupy thick like some of their bigger stouts.

I am questioning whether this beer belongs in the same category as the "barrel aged series" but we don't yet have a thread dedicated to the (2 beer) barrels & botanicals series.

Curious to hear all your feelings on this one?

 

I enjoyed the vanilla stout. The price is nice too.

 

*Programs equation into calculator for future trade value speculating.....*

 

From Avery on Facebook, for anyone wondering about Old Perseverance:
"When we submit labels for federal approval, we're simply looking for them to approve the label ingredients and verbiage, but all the stats on the label are subject to change. After we've received approval, we almost always update the ABV, the case count, and the bottled date. Sometimes we also change the number in the series because the order in which we release these beers depends on when the beers are ready. In this case, we didn't know whether Double D's or Old Perseverance would be ready first, but since Double D's will be bottled sooner, this beer is No. 32 in our Barrel-Aged Series. Some websites troll for information to release early, but we announce new beers once the label is ready! Hope that helps clarify "

 

Have you tried Firestone Walker PNC?

 

Yeah. It's okay, but not that big of a fan. The tequila has a "twang" in that one that doesn't jive with me.
Does the FRTH still have bottles of hat one? That's where I had it.

 

They did last week

 

So no one tried the 2 new Barrel-aged releases over the weekend? Double D's almost sounds like a barrel-aged gingerbread ale.

 

Vanilla Bean Stout released last weekend. The 2 new Barrel Series beers release this Sunday.