Chicago Stout Releases (2018)

Oh great! So glad we have a thread discussing when/how a BA stout will be released, I've been looking for this discussion on BA for-EVER!

Just kidding. Anyway, it seems like the general consensus is: "Either end of this week or early next week, or WTF ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU BEER NERD?"

 

This...my guys said next week

 

Buffalo Grove Binny's received Sump today

 

Any word from them on BA Darkness?

 

It came up in the Cooper Project thread that this year's BA Darkness only spent 3 months in barrels.

Does anyone know if the prior vintage (2015) received the same treatment? I thought I remember seeing that 2015 was aged for an entire year. Last time I had it, I remember it having a very strong barrel presence. Much more than I would've expected from 3 months in barrels?

If this is actually the case (barrel aging went from 12 months to 3 months) I probably won't be putting effort into scoring a bottle. If 2015 was in fact only aged 3 months as well, then my perception of flavor vs time in barrels needs to be reevaluated.

 

It was 3 months as well so...reevaluate away.

http://growlermag.com/mill-barrel-aged-darkness-hitting-stores-beginning-today/

 

3 months?? F**k that.

 

Meaning both 2015 and 2016 BA Darkness were both 3 months aged. So was 2014. So if you ever liked BA Darkness, you liked a 3 mo aged stout.

 

Which is why I won't waste 25 bucks on it this year.

 

Thanks for the info. Very interesting. FWIW, I've only had it on draft (still sitting on my only bottle). I wonder if there was a different version put into kegs. The pour I had was way more barrel heavy than any other beers I've had that were aged less than 6 months.

 

Surly had touted the flavorful barrels they used fwiw. I've not heard of any BA darkness variants, and BCBS is only BA stout that I've heard of where multiple ages are used during the same year/release. But even then final released BCS is a blend of multiple extractions.

 

I was under the impression that 2014 was only partially aged (which I thought meant something like W00tstout, where they only age a percentage of the stout); someone said that they threw it into barrels only to transport it (or something; I dunno, it's been two years). It didn't blow me away then, but I heard such great things about it last year, that I had to try it this year.

But yeah, it basically tastes like Darkness that was...thrown in barrels for 3 months. It's very tasty, and definitely worth trying, but I'm not gonna be the guy to say "this beer is incredible, definitely worth $25+ and busting your ass to track down a bottle." To me, it's an above average-tasting stout with a below-average bourbon profile. I'll be passing on bottles, so that's one less guy you have to worry about running around in the Loop!

 

Interesting. I was at a Darkness vertical tasting about 3 weeks ago and it went from 2016 all the way to 2010. Started from the top and work our way down. The 2015 barrel version was way different than the 2015 regular but then when we opened the 2014 which was the year that it was all Barrel-aged and all that was really there was a smooth oakiness to compliment the bass Darkness.

Was really surprised at the difference and don't know that I could just chalk it up to an extra year on the Aging. Was also really surprised at how the Darkness held up all the way through the 2010 bottle. Probably one of the best seven-year-old beers I've had next to Goose Island Bourbon County. Here's to hoping it tastes just as good as 2015 because that was the overall number one selection for the night from the group. Followed by the 2014 and 2012 for me.

 

Stopped in Glen Ellyn Binnys last night for some stuff, asked about BA Darkness and the guy said "we might get some tomorrow" (meaning today). Anybody know if there's any truth to this?

 

I haven't asked anywhere myself, but I've heard that people were told either "end of week/Friday" or "early next week."

I'd probably assume it was tomorrow, just to be ready. I'm not sure anyone knows for sure when this stuff is dropping.

 

While I was a little let down by BA Darkness, I'd be really curious to try it again if they decided to age it in bourbon barrels. I'm curious if the rye barrels are partially responsible for what I found to be a lack of "expected" barrel flavors (since let's be honest, almost everything I'm drinking was aged in bourbon barrels).

My only current regret is passing on that badass bottle. The BA Darkness bottles rock.

 

To each his own taste buds and wallet depth.