Bourbon County 2018

What's that? "Strong chilling effect on the pastry stout phase?" Couldn't hear you...

 

People have been clamoring for Goose to up the ante, especially after the infection ordeal in 15. I think they are dialing it in again, and an amazing variant lineup like what is presented here would be a huge boost to an already popular but waning beer series.

 

For what it's worth, that scotch prop was released at FoBAB last year, and eventually in bottles under the Cooper Project series and eventually as Islay. Confirmed from Goose Island's Social Media team that those were all the same beer.

Maple never panned out and ended up being blended into something else if I recall. Possible they're still sitting on them.

But..... your point is valid/accurate. These label approvals are nothing more than Goose telling the feds they intend to release these beers. Doesn't mean they'll all pan out and see the light of day.

 

My hope for this year's Prop is essentially Prop 16 without the peppers...

 

What of the maple!?!?

 

BCBSV3

 

Some people go it, some didn't, but most people got the fudge flavor.

 

All I got was the smoke. It was like I smoked a cigar, except for that I had a beer. If they could figure out how to bottle whatever they released at Prop Day '16, now that would be winner. That was delicious!

 

If you consider this upping the ante. Honestly, some of these sound horrible. I admit I don't get the whole pastry stout craze (or wheat wine in general), but why on God's green earth would I want my barrel aged stout to taste like strawberries?!? And the best they could come up with for Prop is cacao and chocolate? If these labels are accurate I think my money will be going to Revolution this year. Rant over.

 

Well, at least there's a new Reserve for ya.

 

Was OG Nilla Rye or Bourbon?

 

Bourbon.

 

More like SinLightly

 

Are strawberries worse than raspberries, cherries, etc.? Everyone seems to lose their shit over any other berried stout. And it's hard to go wrong with chocolate.

Honestly, I sympathize with GI on coming up with BCBS variants. There are basically infinite combinations, but only so many that actually seem to work well in a stout.

 

I prefer dingleberries.

 

Im kinda partial to OG18 myself lol

 

It definitely sounds like these stouts (or the current direction of adjunct stouts at all) aren't your style. I was just tasting some Ram/More stouts on Friday with a couple BA'ers, and we were trying to think of who else has done a Neapolitan stout...and surprised that more haven't considering how well received More's Double Rainbow (both regular and BA) have been received. Plus, Saugatuck makes one that is pretty well thought of (at least in terms of something distributed). My guess is that GI's will be fantastic...if that style of beer is your thing.

I'm surprised a bit by the lack of ingredients in Prop as well, but considering you mention not being into a lot of these pastry stouts...what else are you looking for in there?

 

You're absolutely right and I freely admit it these aren't my style, and I'm definitely not knocking anyone who likes them. I'm probably more in agreement with Jim Cibak at Rev. Here's a quote from him:

“Honestly, I don’t get excited by putting extra things in beer. At a great winery, if they want peach character, they don’t put peach in — they know what grapes will get peach character. As brewers, we’re looking to showcase our barrels. "

My comment about Prop was just what I thought was a lack of creativity for something that's a pretty key beer in the lineup every year, independent of whether I'd like it or not. I just think GI gets a free pass some times because Bourbon County. There are times when the talk about BCty reminds me of that Samsung commercial where they make fun of Apple and the mock Apple fanboy excitedly says "they moved the headphone jack to the bottom!".

 

Pretty damn excited based on what labels have been submitted so far.

Prop - Nice restart for this label. After incredible strong contenders in 13 and 14, 2 massive misses in 15 and 16, and a solid offering in 17 I am excited to see a reset for prop.

OG18- Yes please a perennial fan favorite. Excited to see this back in bourbon. Hopefully this sees a bottle release.

Bramble - A great call back. One of the best variants ever release IMO. The crushed in with both bramble and backyard. Excited to see them getting berries back into the mix.

Neapolitan - AWESOME

Horrchata - Interesting with out a doubt. I can see this being very very good

Wheatwine - Honestly. Totally excited for this. Barleywine has suffered since leaving 3rd use barrels. Will be nice to see something different in that arena.

Single Barrel Reserve - Very cool if this becomes and annual thing.

Reg - Always good

Coffee - Has been a shell of its former self for several years now. Still praying on a return to form.