Goose Island Bourbon County 2017

I agree on the Merkin being meh. Tastes like a stout with a touch of oak. Nothing else.

 

To test that have you ever tried it head2head with something like Oak-aged Yeti? There's definitely subtle differences for my palate and preferences, including more sweetness in VM. I'm not saying Merkin is stellar for everyone, but the original comment referenced a majority of BAers, which the data does not appear to support. TETO

 

Nope, I'm not into trying things head to head. I prefer to crack a beer and enjoy it on its own.

 

I guess I didn't mean in ratings, but in terms of chatter on these forums. I definitely see a lot of people wishing that FW would replace Merkin in the lineup with something else.

I would love FW to put out that Rum Barrel Aged Helldorado though.

 

I'm always confused seeing comparisons between old and new beers. That's why we do verticals....to see how the beer changes with time. I would never expect a fresh beer to taste the same as one that has sat for 2 years. And maybe my palate or memory isn't as advanced as everyone else's, but I don't remember exactly how a beer tasted from a year or more ago. Oh, and your palate can change over time too. Cheers!

 

While the story of Parabola is not mine to tell, I don't feel that "contracted" is necessarily the most appropriate word. Folks from Firestone Walker, including Matt & Dustin, were in the brewery each time the beer was handled: brewing, transfer to barrels, barrel tasting and then barrel blending and packaging. Folks from their QA team were also in town several times during the process.

 

That is probably true, and if it were my baby, I'd also supervise it if I farmed it out to someone.

Still, whatever the situation, the end product is what matters. And the 2017 Parabola was not good. Was that the only one they brewed for FW? At least Anniversary 21 turned 2017 Parabola into a tasty beverage.

 

Opinions vary on this.

But based on the recent reviews here: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2210/41815/
I would suggest that this is a minority opinion.

 

I thought 2017 Parabola was overly hot/harsh out of the gate, but the one I had about six months after the brewery release was divine and, in my mind, at least as good as prior vintages.

 

I had it on tap a little after release, and it was so hot, to me it was a terrible beer. I didn't even finish my pour.

I'm willing to believe the 2017 is better now, but I had the 2016 fresh and it was one of the best beers I've ever had. I'll probably crack a '17 open at Christmastime.

 

To clarify, it’s not probably true. It’s absolutely true. I work at BLVD and can confirm that’s how things happened.

We have not produced any other barrel-aged FW beers at BLVD.

 

. Not reading every page , but can someone tell this newjack that there is no coconut in KBS

 

KBS is aged in bourbon barrels which imparts toasted coconut and vanilla flavors from the charred oak into the beer that's aged in them.

 

Some may disagree but I find this year's BCBS arguments to be less thick and roasty than last year's.

But of course the 2015 BCBS argument was likely the thickest and roastiest due to it started with folks cussing out other folks for daring to taste off flavors that the folks with poor palates weren't capable of tasting at such an early point of the infection. Now THAT was a great year's BCBS argument.

The year they were purchased by ABI also was a great argument year. But of course it is likely that time has clouded my ability to remember all the tastes of past years' BCBS arguments

 

It's been the year of the 'new to me' BBA beers. IOW, it's been a good year, beer wise. Lots I haven't had, but, from the ones I got to try, BCBS was my favorite, easily.

 

There are a few BBA stouts I've liked better than BCBS, but they're difficult to get my hands on. Among ones I could walk into a store and buy (and can actually still find now -- less expensive than ever), BCBS currently holds the top spot for me.

I've never done a vertical and don't trust my memory to rank vintages with any authority, but I can say this year's batch tastes amazing. I normally buy three bottles of the regular. This year I went out buy more twice.

 

Especially when most of the last few pages seems to be about Parabola.

 

Looks like this has finally made Oklahoma. I bought one yesterday along with a few Prairie beers.

 

That's so ridiculous.