Bell's Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition Stout 2018

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by TheeWarPig, Jun 6, 2018.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. flat_lander

    flat_lander Pooh-Bah (2,384) May 11, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I'm genuinely curious. BN, BB Pt5, and KBS/CBS? For my taste last year's BA Expo (granted the only vintage I've had) is superior to these. Then again, I like the base beer a lot too.
     
    #101 flat_lander, Oct 12, 2018
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2018
  2. GuyFawkes

    GuyFawkes Grand Pooh-Bah (5,364) Apr 7, 2011 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Yeah, I'd be fine if they scrapped Black Note & just made Barrel Aged Expedition.

    I think "regular" Expedition is far superior to Double Cream Stout, so it probably makes sense that I'd rather just have that raw, uncut pure shit.
     
  3. flat_lander

    flat_lander Pooh-Bah (2,384) May 11, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    That's some fuckin' truthiness right there.
     
  4. Junior

    Junior Pooh-Bah (1,859) May 23, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You got it. I'd rather have any of those over BA Expo. I realize that I am in the minority here. It's a good thing there are so many great ones to choose from.
     
    Zorak2, flat_lander and GuyFawkes like this.
  5. core42

    core42 Pooh-Bah (1,826) May 5, 2010 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    BAE >>>>CBS> BN>KBS>>>BBPt5th

    Your results may vary
     
    Zorak2, cmukid87, darkwing1 and 2 others like this.
  6. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,472) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Did you have the last batch of BA Expo (AKA BAE)? If not, just batch 1 two years ago - it is not the same.

    If you have, I'd love to know why you prefer the others. You are one of the few that have this opinion. It's yours and not criticizing; I'd just like to understand.
     
    FlintB and Junior like this.
  7. KBS

    KBS Savant (1,078) Apr 25, 2014 Michigan
    Trader

    Wow, 350 is a lot of BAE. Like it and will definitely grab some but patiently waiting for a top 5 beer of all time (for me) to be bottled, BA 30th!
     
  8. croush

    croush Pooh-Bah (2,371) Mar 20, 2015 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    CBS>>KBS>>>>>BN>BA Expo>BBPt5th

    Perhaps I should see myself out of this thread now.
     
    core42, GuyFawkes and Junior like this.
  9. Junior

    Junior Pooh-Bah (1,859) May 23, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If I did the math right, that would be about 4,800 cases. I would also love to see BA 30th bottled.
     
  10. Junior

    Junior Pooh-Bah (1,859) May 23, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I had the batch from last fall. Unfortunately, I did not review the beer so I do not have notes to refer to. I remember it being very boozy and more bitter than the others mentioned. Black Note for me has a subtle complexity, great balance, and is extremely smooth. BA Expo was just too in your face. I have a few bottles left that I will likely drink in the next few months. My hope is that it has mellowed some.
     
    AyatollahGold and Dactrius like this.
  11. DragonflyJones

    DragonflyJones Initiate (0) Mar 22, 2018 Illinois

    Agree. Had it on tap at the brewery and I was hoping for a growler fill. Still sitting on 6 of the base beer and it just keeps getting better each year.
     
    AyatollahGold and FlintB like this.
  12. Number1Framer

    Number1Framer Pundit (896) Mar 13, 2016 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Hey if you don't want those last couple bottles I'm right over here...watching...constantly thirsty...waiting in the shadows...
     
  13. KBS

    KBS Savant (1,078) Apr 25, 2014 Michigan
    Trader

    Not sure how you drank it but cold and warm were a completely different experience for me. I agree that cold it’s a little “sharp”. At room temp it was really, really smooth. Specifically talking about the last batch.
     
  14. Dactrius

    Dactrius Pooh-Bah (2,487) Apr 23, 2012 Netherlands Antilles
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    So the others don't feel too lonely, I as well agree that BN is a better, more balanced beer than BAE. There is a reason Bell's blends the two.

    These days most people (including myself sometimes) seem to want really in your face, less balanced BA beers and that along with scarcity/newness is why I think BAE gets so much more love than BN.
     
  15. AyatollahGold

    AyatollahGold Initiate (0) Nov 28, 2016 Indiana

    I've even poured Double cream and expedition together before when I've not had black note just to get somewhat of a fix. Very good. Mellows the expedition a little and brings more to the double cream to make a great balanced stout.
     
    Junior likes this.
  16. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

  17. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,291) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Well the grandest of all poobahs for this brewery (and the secret society) went and poo-pooed the secret society this time by his proclamation to the masses. But there's nothing wrong with that as long as there is that much of this beer that will be available to us peons. :grin:
     
    PhilBallins, FlintB, Jaycase and 4 others like this.
  18. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    Don't get me wrong, it's better this way. Plus, I was afraid I was going to lose my membership after moving out of Michigan this summer.
     
    PhilBallins, FlintB and PapaGoose03 like this.
  19. cmukid87

    cmukid87 Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2017 Michigan
    Trader

    I drank a '17 BAE last night at about 60 degrees. Fantastic. Any "harshness" was either mellowed by temperature or age. Considering these were released late Spring 2017 they are well over a year old now. I have a few left that will remain untouched until 2018 version is in my hands.
     
    Blutz, GuyFawkes, FlintB and 2 others like this.
  20. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,291) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    From Michigan to Nebraska?! Oh my!! :wink:

    BUT, once a Michigander, always a Michigander. We'll offer an ex-officio membership and keep you in the secret loop.
     
    LambicPentameter and FlintB like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.