Chicago Stout Releases (2018)

Each successive drop will make me rethink lining up on Black Friday next year

 

I waited in line for hours, and am still happy! It just gave me a chance to grab some more. I wondered if another possibility is they want to drop some of these unannounced in Chicago so that locals really do get them (as opposed to so many out of towners coming in on Black Friday)...that might be a stretch, but I like to think it's a possibility.

 

I dunno, back in 2013 I ran around frantically for a few weeks after BF, and amassed a decent stock of Prop (and some other variant stragglers). I went to BF in 2014 and did the same thing again, running around and buying Prop all over the place (I mean, "all over the place" is like 3 or 4 places total, but still). Last year I didn't go to BF, and it was the first year I've had no luck getting bottles of variants (I passed on Coffee).

I'm not saying they haven't put a lot of BCS out there this year, but Black Friday has always been about both the spectacle AND the idea of "guaranteeing" yourself a full allotment. I would've assumed that people didn't think BF was the first and last time they'd be able to get BCS, because that's never been my impression.

That'd be nice, if true. It definitely feels like there's been lots of BCS around. I'd imagine a lot will be on tap in the coming months, too.

 

Nice posts above @croush and @SeanBond ! You're right - let's just enjoy getting it and drink up. Cheers!

 

The question is, who is grabbing a bottle of Rare for $80?

I'm really on the fence here--I'm totally against paying that much for a bottle of beer, but I've also been kicking myself for an entire year for not getting one.

 

I think lots of people will. I am surprised the lowered the price that much, as I saw a few people walking out of Jewel on Black Friday with a bottle of Rare when it was priced at $130.

I will not be one of those buying it, though. I got 3 last year, of which I still have 2. Considering my inventory is literally bursting at the seams, I don't need many more $20 bottles, much less another $80 bottle.

 

The Black Friday Release has one function and one function only. Marketing for Binnys, Bourbon County, and Goose Island.

 

And then FOMO for variants will set in about November 1st and you will be right out there with the rest of us.

 

Me, for one.

 

Nope. Not me.

 

I grabbed one at Prop day and I still haven't decided whether that was a mistake or not. If you save it for a special event, maybe it is worth it. My two cents is go to GI with a friend and split a bottle there for the same price to enjoy the experience. Otherwise you'll have a white elephant that is too expensive to drink and too expensive to sit on the shelf.

 

Back to original topic, Temperance BA Might Meets Right is dropping.

 

I bought Rare once, I doubt I buy it again. The price is too rich for me, and this is coming from someone that didn't flinch at the Toppling Goliath lottery price tag. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but more like $40 good in my opinion.

 

Luckily that one is an easy pass for me. I bought one last year, and think I had it on tap as well once during last year, and didn't care for it either time. I need more beers I can avoid buying!

 

Manhattan Barrel-Aged Might Meets Right would be a pick-up for me, but the regular I can pass on. Good beer, but given the hoard of BA stouts I've got in my house currently, I don't need another unless I really want it.

I'd rather not drink it at the taproom or Clybourn (if I'm at those places, I want whats on tap), but you're right, it's definitely a tough beer to pull the trigger on drinking. I have a few bottles of $100+ bourbon I've grabbed over the last couple years, and that is the toughest pour I make all year.

 

It's marketing, and it's not rare. They want you to feel like you are getting a Rare beer though. Special barrels doesn't justify a 6x-8x price jump. But pretending it is some rare limited item just might.

 

the packaging also adds to its mystique

 

Rare is.... not that good.
There I said it.

I think it tastes like licking an ashtray. Maybe my palette isn't mature enough to handle it... or I licked an ashtray for $60.

 

Thata because you didn't lick the box first

 

I personally love that type of profile (extended time in barrels), but I don't really like BCBCS, so I get that my tastes are sometimes in the minority.