BCBS in Colorado: Why so quiet?

Put away the reefer, son.

 

Have not tried it yet, shortly.

Cheers!

 

That was part of the GI press release. The brewers at GI insisted that the amount of BCBS and variants were going to increase because of inbev's power, they also said quality control would be higher and the costs would go down. So far they are 3 for 3 on not living up to their promises. I have seen less variants, have seen price increases across the boards, and enjoyed an infected BCBS last year. knowing how consistent bud is with their beers I almost think this crap is intentional.

 

I would agree. Maybe a not-overtly-intentional-but-if-it-happens-who-cares intention. They didn't buy GI for the stout.

 

I think part of buying GI though is the sales pitch involving the stout. I need an eye level shelf of the whole line, a case stack here and matilda in the entrance and you'll get the cases.

No discount, just the stout so you can piss people off for a day.

 

Yikes! I found some bottles for $8.60.

 

I bought 4 bottles in New England for $8 each last year. Didn't buy any this year, but I did get one as an office Christmas gift. I figure I'll crack it one day this week. I had a Brain last night, so it'll be a fair enough comparison.

 

I wish I did too, I could have bought 3 for just a little bit more. At least I'm going to get to try it. It better be fuckn' good.

Cheers!

 

I'm not a big fan of this year's fresh batch. Good luck.

 

Do you think it needs to be aged a bit?

Cheers!

 

It's now pasteurized...so not sure what would happen aside from oxidation from here on out...makes me even less likely to join the madness in the future. I do have about 10, but will likely drink them all within the next six months or so. So much for the vertical going forward...

 

Even with pasteurization, time can take some heat off the back end. In my case, I'm not a fan of oxidative flavors OR overly boozy beers. That gives me a window of about 6-12 months when bigger and BA stouts are in my particular flavor zone...with some exceptions of course. Heavy hops (not something BCB beers are known for) can affect that, though.

 

Very disappointing to hear the negative reviews on this beer. I always loved it and would be bummed that one of my gateway BA beers is no longer what it once was. $20 is over priced but if it was drinking like it had it the past, I still wouldn't be hating myself for it if I had bought a bottle.

That all said, I had a chance to buy some BCBS this year....bottles were right in front of me for the taking and it was on tap at a local bar for a hot minute.....and passed for budgetary reasons. I certainly am not regretting my decision after reading some of these reviews.

 

BCBS is obviously not in season, but yesterday I consumed a '16 and today I'm drinking a '12.
My opinion remains: '15 and '16 are lesser in every significant way.
With near 5 years on the '12 it still has more bourbon flavor amd better body.
Coincidence that things dropped off when they went to a new, larger system?
Other people don't seem to notice or be as put off. But having been buying and drinking BCBS off the shelf since 2010, I noticed a change on my first sip of '15. For me at least, it simply isn't as good.
That said, it's still a pretty good beer, but definitely now middle of the pack.

 

I bought a couple bottles of the barleywine a week or two ago at Mile High. Thought I was getting the stout, but realized it was barleywine when I got home, lol. Not too upset about it.

 

Which year? A lot of the 2015 B-wines were infected.

 

All of '15 BCBBW was infected (not hyperbole, that's directly from GI). '16 was great though, a true return to form IMO.

 

2016. Honestly, had one, and would MUCH rather have a Bligh's. Nuthin special, if you ask me, except the cool looking label and bottle.

 

Well the GI stuff is carbonated so they do have that on Blighs