2016 BCBS Chicago Release (Black Friday & Beyond)

Based on past years, probably no. If reports on the thread in the Beer Releases section about the scarcity of coffee this year are accurate. Definitely not.

 

Last year everyone in line who received a ticket for a full allotment were entitled to a vintage option. I was 600+ in line (got in line around 1 am Friday morning) and there were lots of vintage bottles left when I finally made it inside (granted, it was 2011+ regulars and I think 2013 or 2014 coffee) but it was clear they had enough bottles for everyone with a ticket.

Not sure it will be the same this year, but that's how it went last year.

 

Just as an FYI for Black Friday, I saw that Whole Foods has all beer 25% off. So if you're re-stocking the fridge after Thanksgiving you can save a little money

 

I was 756. I got a 2012 BCBS and 2014 BCBCS. I was pleasantly surprised they had vintages still.

They did the 25% off Black Friday sale in '13, '14, '15 too

 

this is good news!!!

 

Isn't the joke that Whole Foods prices are usually 25% more than at other grocery stores?

 

I don't buy beer THAT often at WF, but I've never noticed their prices being bad.

I'll be very curious to see 1) if Binny's LP gets an allocation similar to last year (everyone in line gets everything) and 2) what the WF events will look like.

 

Bonnys confirmed question 1 already

 

Weather not looking the best but better than the last 2 years.

 

Yeah, I went back and read Binny's blog again and noticed that in the comments below, so thanks. I figured it could go either way, since it sounds like there's less BCS total this year. As a selfish bastard, I'm glad that Binny's doesn't seem to be affected too much.

 

How come Goose Island isn't doing a variant like Regal Rye this year for their distribution footprint? It looks like standard, coffee stout, stout, barleywine, and proprietors this year.

 

I think they decided the Rye variant wasn't ready, or something? I think that's also why the Scotch BCS is on hold.

 

Goose announced quite awhile ago that the Scotch Prop and Maple Rye are on hold. Something about not being ready.

 

So next year charge double for the extra time in barrels?

 

I'm probably in the minority here, but I'd definitely be willing to pay more for a beer that's been aged closer to 2 years in barrels. Double? Depends on the beer, but my experience with longer-aged beers has been very positive so far. And a rye BCS aged for 2 years in maple/bourbon barrels sounds pretty incredible to me, honestly.

 

I'd actually like to see what would happen if BA stouts started doing blends of years... like a blend of 1, 2, and 3 year aged.

Kinda like what whiskeys do. Or gueze for that matter.

 

Check out the GI taproom, they've had blends of the BCBS verticals before.

 

Not quite what I'm talking about. Think leaving it in the barrel for 1, 2, or 3 years, then blending to taste before bottling/kegging.

I can pull a vertical from the cellar and do a taproom-style blend at home

 

Misread on my part. I see it now. Good idea, but I'm sure it would take a man with a hardened heart to spoil a 2 and 3 year aged BCBS by adding fresh 1 year stuff. Perhaps that can be the new "Rare" 3.0 in 4 years?

 

Has anyone heard what Walgreens Bucktown is doing this year? Seems like a lot of places havent announced anything yet.