CO Barrel Aged Stouts

I'm right there with you. I dunno if this is my favorite local BA stout *cough BA Ten Fidy* but Commodore is in the running.

 

I was thinking more Denver than CO when I said local, but BATF should probably be considered local, you're right.

I'm also basing all of this conversation off of one 10 oz pour. I could be way off, but it really surprised me. Regardless, I agree that it's in the conversation. Maybe I'll throw a BATF into the super bowl blind tasting.

 

But Liquid Brain....

 

I got mine at Wallaby's, 22oz, $13. Looked liked there was plenty

 

Haven't had Liquid Brain (as I said, definitely haven't had them all) but I'm looking forward to the opportunity!

 

I think the Brain is the best of the bunch in CO, although Uncle Jacob's with a little age on it (around a year) is great, too. Grimm Brother's the Count would be 3rd. Odell's BA Impy stout rocked when it wasn't infected
I like BATF, but have never been overwhelmed by it. That even goes back to when L&S first opened. I think the whiskey is too heavy. Just IMO of course.

 

The Count is real good. It's too bad they had that bizarre 5-case release last year. Who releases just 60 bottles of a beer? It also jumped from $13 to $20 this time around. I will have to ask them what the deal is next time I am there.

 

Did anybody go to this last year? http://www.coloradoplus.net/events/2nd-annual-barrel-aged-beer-festival/

I didn't, but thinking about it this year. And just an FYI the food there is very good for a brew pub/taphouse.

 

Never even heard of it actually and for being only 4 days away it seems odd that there is an utter lack of information available for it...

 

Oh yeah, I almost forgot about Liquid Brain and UJ might be my favorite beer of all time, especially with a little age under it. I haven't had the Count, but I would like to.

Damnit...so many to choose from.

 

I am extremely excited about the next Brain release, given how much love it gets on the forums. I wasn't living in Colorado the last time it was out, so I'm waiting with bated breath.

I completely agree that Uncle Jacob's is staggeringly good, and it remains my favorite Colorado BA stout. Certain versions of BATF have really impressed me, despite the big whiskey flavor (Wild Turkey for instance). I haven't had the JavaFidy but I think Uncle Jacob's spot is secure until I get my hands on some LotLB.

 

I think one of the reasons the Brain is good is simply practice. They were tossing beers into barrels going back to the early 2000's. They have a nearly 15-year head start on most places. They know which barrels to use, how long to leave the beer in said barrels, what flavors accentuate, etc.
That probably goes a long way.

 

and don't forget that Gabe is a God

 

Picked up a bottle of Breckenridge Twenty Five Vanilla Porter Aged In Rum Barrels and Kannah Creek Cherry Bourbon Barrel Brown Ale.

Cheers!

 

Had a bottle of the Whiskey Barrel-aged Genius Wizard last night and thought it was great. Definitely a ton of vanilla and barrel character, sweet, smooth, but flat as a pancake. Phenomenal BA stout for those that like a lot of barrel presence and that strong sweet vanilla flavor like BCBS.

 

There was only 1 review of BA Genius Wizard last time I checked, it doesn't even have it's own entry in BA! Are you saying it had little to no carbonation?

 

Yes, extremely little carbonation, like <0.5 volumes I'd say (dead flat in 30 secs after hard pour). It's actually not unexpected, it's almost a known fact most small breweries that barrel age for the first time almost always undercarb (don't bottle condition/force carb to adjust it)

 

The whiskey barrel aged 'The Count' was one of my favorite beers at Rare Beer this year!

We even made a little video showing its viscous goodness!!!!

 

Also- been meaning to talk about this, but has anyone else heard about our water quality actually being a detriment to stout brewing here in colorful Colorado?

Was chatting with some brewer from NB and he made mention of it... He was super dorky, so I believed him.

 

***the water being too pure ***