Bourbon County 2018

I like Josh's work for the most part, and based on the skimming I did of the article, it sounds like he gave a fair assessment. I love sweet stouts, and so when someone says "this was too sweet for me," that specifically means I'll be interested (2015 Prop, for example).

I don't see anything weird about him being "not for" the 3 least "standard" versions of BCBS; I know plenty of people for whom regular or coffee are the best variant almost every year (I'm not one of them, but still).

 

I love his assessment of the lineup this year, it's very refreshing. I can't even take Untappd seriously anymore - I promise you can say a beer is good without fire emojis....

 

I tried, but some guy with a long gray beard kept running in and yelling "Dawn take you all!"

 

That sucks.

 

Untappd is fucking worthless outside of 1) making sure an NE IPA is actually hazy and 2) getting a sense of a beer via your friends' tastes.

I use it, but almost exclusively to log my own drinking.

 

But why would you?

 

BCBS literally tastes like fire to my palate and that's why Iove it. The emojis are just callin it like I sees it. Also like to throw in an avocado or Eiffel Tower emoji here and there to throw off my 7 whole Untappy friends. Lol

 

Yeah, but you can practically envision the author's eyes rolling as you read the last 3 parts. I don't particularly care for that tone - it doesn't seem very reporter-ish. But it's kind of his MO and since I like what he does overall, I just roll my eyes back whilst reading that part.

Thus this person I've never met and I can call it a draw.

 

I've heard from other sources that Vanilla tastes just like OG Vanilla did in 2010.

Based on Josh's review Prop will be a chocolate bomb, which most people will love, and Bramble will be a fruit bomb. That is pretty much what everyone wants.

The wheatwine and coffee barleywine, as well as regular should be less hyped and good for people who want more flavor from the barrel and less from adjuncts.

The Midnight Orange is an additional variant, so it isn't taking away a "good" variant in anyone's eyes.

Basically, everyone should be happy.

I will never wait in that damn Lincoln Park Binny's line again though.

 

I honestly didn't get that (eye-rolling) from the portions I read (the variants) at all. But I'm pretty sarcastic by nature, so I suppose I have a higher threshold for it.

 

This is what I should have written but it came across a little more harsh than it should have been. Just seemed slightly less reportery than I imagined. It does have a different angle than most every other beer so maybe it'll get more views and discussion than a straight up 'here's the tastes I'm getting.'

 

He's a critic not a reporter. Do you expect a food critic to just go and give a scientific report of what they had at a restaurant?

Man people are sensitive.

 

He states he's biased in the 3rd sentence!

The eight Bourbon County beers — the most ever released in a single year — range from deftly nuanced to bold bolts of flavor. I tend to favor the former, but plenty of people will embrace the latter.

A critic is paid to offer his opinion....

 

I will say, he sold me on definitely wanting to try Midnight Orange.

I'm guessing the barleywine is not being made in the original method? Which is unfortunate. Something I guess I'll try but not super eager to.

 

You don't understand, I want a critic who just offers MY opinion!!!

 

https://imgflip.com/i/1sf9rn

 

If he didn't offer his opinion the reviews would be something very similar to what the BCBS labels say. "After sampling 2018 Vanilla BCBS it tastes as if someone added vanilla to regular bcbs."