New in Kentucky

I got my bottles too.

Once I saw they had about 500 bottles, I wasn't worried about them all being gone by 4. Like just about everybody else on here, I grabbed a 4 pack of Heller Heaven

 

I think I've only had 5 beers from KY that I'd consider fantastic. I'm not hating; I just hope to see continued progress in the brewing scene here.

 

Anybody know if there is any snakes in a barrel left? I was gonna head up there on Sunday.

 

There was this morning. I'm not sure how many are left though.

 

Thanks Fletch.

This is my new favorite thread in BA.

 

Anybody crack open one of their bottles of Snakes in a Barrel yet?

 

Friday, friends did. They approve greatly. However, it's not the same as on tap if you've had that.

As of about 8 PM Saturday night, there were still bottles remaining at W6. Will update if/when I hear further.

I had it on tap for the sneak preview. I'm sure some people will like it just fine, but I'd rather have regular JSP and not worry about paying a premium for barrel aging.

 

I opened a bottle and I'd have to agree. Still a great beer, but not quite the same as the beer I had on tap a few weeks ago. Not really sure I can pinpoint the difference, it just wasn't as good as that first pour.

 

The brewery INSISTS this isn't the issue, but Snakes in a Barrel and BB Cocoa Porter have been bottle conditioned with champagne yeast instead of a brewers yeast because they claim necessity. So on tap, you're just getting regular carbonation, but the bottle has a different yeast in it.

The brewery has countered this by saying if you open Snakes after a good chill, it's the same taste.

Every home brewer/BJCP expert I've asked says the champagne yeast isn't necessary to maintain a cork and cage bottle. Considering I just opened a Victory XX Anniversary imperial pilsner last night, that was cork and cage, but clearly said on the label there was no bottle conditioning yeast added, I'm inclined to disagree.

 

Interesting. I think it got better and closer to the version I had on tap a few weeks ago after I let it sit out for about 30 minutes.

The first glass was too cold and didn't taste right. So I let the second glass warm up from fridge temp and it was just about perfect.

The cork was a pain in the ass to get out though.

 

Lexington craft beer scene is booming! I've recently visited the Hop Cat, Beer Trappe, Country Boy, Marika's, & there are still several more that I've heard about & intend to find.

 

Wow i have never heard of Marika's... I have no idea how, I will have to check them out soon! Hop Cat is a seriously amazing restaurant, it's a chain albeit a small one so I feel dirty even thinking that it may be my favorite restaurant.

 

Yeah, Marika's is on Southland Drive. It's an authentic German food restaurant & bar with 24 taps & 400 bottled beers. Hop Cat is incredible, loved that place, 100 beers on draft is hard to beat. Food is a bit pricey if you don't catch the happy hour though.

 

Per Country Boy's Facebook, the BA Mexican Chocolate Stout bottle release is May 5th at 5pm. They'll have it on tap too.

 

They didn't, but most of their barrel aged bottles are $15

 

It's odd though. Nowhere on the page does it say this beer is barrel aged.