Jack's Abby (2018)

It is a year round beer, it will just be brewed in some what limited quantities for a while. It is a combination of harder to acquire hops and a desire to make sure it is as fresh as possible on the shelves. We are aiming low to start so we are expecting it to be sold out in between releases. Fresh shipments will go out each month so there will be a steady supply coming out that we will slowly increase.

 

JA just posted the release schedule for the BA Framinghammers:

4/5: Bourbon Barrel, Brandy
4/12: Coffee, Vanilla
4/19: Double Barrel (mix of bourbon and brandy); Brandy barrel aged w/ oranges <- Both brewery only
4/26: Cocoa-nut, PB&J, Mole

http://jacksabby.com/blog/2016/03/its-that-time-of-year-barrel-aged-framinghammer-season/

 

So excited to drink all of the brandy framinghammers! I love that type of barrel.

 

Brandy BA Framinghammer seeing distro?

 

We are planning on it, depending on final yield.

 

With all of the variants coming up, are you planning on only having them on draft at the brewery the week after they debut? Or will they be filling up the tap lines at the brewery? I am hoping the latter but expect the former.

 

While I would not expect every one to be on at the same time there should be plenty of overlap between releases on draft.

 

I know Hoponious tends to degrade pretty quickly but I was disappointed to pick up a cold 6 pack of HU cans dated 2/15 (so just over 6 weeks old) and the flavor was definitely muted. I got some of those wet cardboard flavors I get when hops have faded. I guess I know my new limit in how fresh HU needs to be for me to buy. Anyone else experience similar things?

 

Jack's hooked me on craft beers. I used to have outside interests and spare change in my pocket. There were restaurants I would go to without checking their tap list.
"Damn you JA,...damn you to hell."

 

Well considering people complain about Trillium becoming a drain pour after a week or two, I guess 6 weeks is not bad

6 weeks will change the flavor, but I am sure the majority of drinkers would not notice that big of a difference.

 

If you're tasting wet cardboard I don't think that has much to do with faded hops, typically it's oxidation. That said, strange for a can, that isn't old, to be oxidized... unless there's a production problem to be ironed out perhaps.

 

Interesting, I think Hoponius holds up pretty well. I haven't really tested this with holding onto bottles in the past but it's my go-to on tap for the more basic bars I go to. Haven't had an issue, but maybe your tastes are more perceptive than mine or I'm getting lucky with fresh kegs, though I can't imagine I always have been lucky.

 

Stopped at the brewery to pick up a couple brandy framinghammers and it was nice to see that the brandy and bourbon variants were $8 each. IIRC, BBA Framinghammers used to cost $10 in the past.

 

At my local stores in western Mass, the regular BBA Framinghammers were always $7.99, and the coffee/vanilla/cocoa-nut ones were always $9.99. So I think that price is unchanged.

 

And I assume some of it is psychosomatic, like, "Oh boy, this is six weeks old, I expect to like this less." The absolute worst trend in craft beer is drinkers believing they need to drink a hop-forward beer eight seconds after its packaged or its fallen off or bad or tastes like _____. Sure, it's a problem some places, but I don't think JA is one of them.

 

Oh that's right the variants were $10 in the past. That's what I'm thinking of

 

I'm also excited about the variants, but is anyone else a fan of the base beer as much as I am? I love Framinghammer. Actually the only variant I really prefer to the original is the barrel-aged version. Such good beers, all of them.

 

Yep - the non-BA base beer is my favorite. One thing it has over all the BA variants is a better mouthfeel. The BA versions are still all fun, though. Love the cocoa-nut.

 

Great observation. Totally agree with your statement about the mouthfeel. Never thought of that.

(and I realize I incorrectly stated my feelings: BA is not a beer I prefer over the original, it's the closest to it. Damn pre-coffee writing)

 

But seeing as GI BCBS was jacked up per ounce with the new format this past year, it is nice to see no change in the price of Jack's Abby's BA beers!