Chicagoland Suburbs - Special Releases

Here right now. It's good, but definitely not too boozy. I wonder if this one will age as well

 

FYI they told me they have 20 bottles left in the cooler just a few minutes ago.

 

Anyone in the area, I'd stop by and at least have a draft. A refreshingly good no adjunct (I think) BA stout.

 

Taster comparison.

The base has a strong coffee aroma along with a sweetness I can't id. It is very roast coffee flavored up front, and chocolate comes in as it warms. Smooth and creamy without being thick or tongue coating. 10%

The BA loses some roast coffee aroma, replaced by oak, leather, and bourbon: me like. Flavor also has less coffee specific roastiness, and adds some dark fruit, and vanilla. 11%
Very nice. I'll review after a couple more.
A few bottles remain.

 

In preparation for tomorrow's I Must Break You release at Imperial Oak, I decided to crack into a larger imperial stout from this past May. Quiet Giant is a 15% Bourbon Barrel aged Imperial Stout that does not disappoint.
Plans for tomorrow include Imperial Oak and Werk Force.
Life is good in the southwestern suburbs.

 

BA Quiet Giant was spectacular on tap at the release, but the last bottle I opened was flat with no carbonation and a super sweet mess.I was hoping it was just a bad bottle but have seen other reviews and others are experiencing the same thing.

 

It definitely looked flat, I have come to expect that with barrel aging and some time in the bottle. The carbonation seemed appropriate to me.
I certainly do not have proper cellaring resources, however age by itself does not make a beer better.
My addled memory was that Quiet Giant was really boozy when fresh on tap. After 5 months that seems to have settled to a more reasonable barrel characteristic. I can’t wait until next May for a live comparison of fresh v. 1 year bottled.

 

This is a great post. This should help locals and travelers coming to the area.

 

Anyone try the Vlad releases from Hailstorm this weekend? I had planned to make a quick stop to grab one of each, but plans to head north to visit family got cancelled when I got sick (not the brown bottle fever variant).

 

I had both today at the brewery and enjoyed them. Got two bottles of each to go.

 

Not so much a release, but definitely special, to find the original Lagunitas 2014 High Westified Imperial Coffee Stout (released in 2015) bombers available at a restaurant to go.

Chuck's in Darien has a few bottles left for sale. I don't remember the price, maybe $30, but it is no longer being made, and I understand from the brewery rep this is it for the first bottling run.
Enjoy.

 

One Trick Pony is releasing an Imperial Spiced Porter (brewed with cinnamon-baked acorn squash) on 11/11 with a very limited bottle count.

They are also releasing this year's Kentucky Mountain on 11/18 - with more details to come.

 

Shit...already committed to Dosvidanya Day at Destihl on the 18th & Prop Day on the 19th. Hoping Kentucky Mountain lasts a few days!!

 

Look at the bright side, you might get to meet me at Dosvidanya Day. Hard to beat that. Except maybe going to Prop Day right after. So maybe it's easier to beat than my previous calculations indicated.

 

It's not a release but living in southwest suburb , Rock Island Public House has a pretty good taplist right now. It's relatively close to me and pretty cool place if you've never been.

 

I still have a bomber left of this. How’s it tasting?

 

I like it now that the coffee has been muted a bit, especially in flavor.
To compare, I rated Imperial Oak Quiet Giant slightly higher, 4.6/4.48, but I prefer cinnamon to coffee, so otherwise they are very close and very good.

 

I drank one a few months back - thought it was excellent

 

Does anyone know when Black Note is going to pop up around western burbs?

 

Its at Prestige in Westmont