Twin Cities Bottle Hunt - 2018

While I got Darkness out of nostalgia I went from getting 2-3 bottles and my brother and dad getting a couple to us all getting 1 bottle that we'll share at some point. It's on tap and just not worth the bomber. The $30-45 for the Steel Toe bottles will also be a hard pass. I will say I've spent a ton less money on beer this year.

 

Why that much later than other states?

 

CBS release date is today, Friday 11/2. So not too much later.

 

In now at Casanova’s...

 

Nice! I guess when they said "in the next week" a couple days ago they may have meant end of the week was possible. Will grab a couple but price point is a little tough especially if it is on tap as much as last year's was.

For sure skipping on Before the Dawn but love Steel Toe's BA Wee Heavy. Hopefully its not the same price!

 

There any known steel toe folks that haunt the forums? I’d love to hear some insight on the prices. Or at least let them know how many people aren’t loving these prices. Another vote for skipping these bottles. Good lord.

 

Chanhassen Lund's and Total Wine has Fair State's Spirit Foul for sale.

 

Was also excited to hear before the dawn was coming back, then I saw the price. Very hard pass. I love that beer, but I'm sorry steel toe I'm out.

 

What the... and up $4 to $15.99. On par I guess

 

The Haskell's store in Chanhassen is now a Top 10 Liquor store.

 

Idk about the variants, but BTD is a great Barleywine. $30 probably won't be too rich for my blood. I might still bite knowing the line will be shorter now!

Honest question here, how many other great BA Barleywines are available on shelf right now excluding Central Waters?

 

Darkness and CBS hit Hudson, Prescott, Ellsworth and River Falls today

 

BTD is one of a kind. Even if we weren't living in a barrel aged barley wine desert, none of the alternatives would be equivalent. That makes it even more difficult to pass. I really hope I don't also have to pass on lunker whenever that is released.

For the individual above who asked about wee heavy, those bottles are $20. I've never had barrel aged we heavy. How does it compare to central waters and backwoods bastard? Both are less than half the price and great and sometimes exceptional.

 

Before The Dawn is still the beast BA stout in MN. Or the best "barleywine"....whatever. It's a higher ABV, BA stout. People don't blink twice about other breweries $30 BA stouts they've never tried and line up hours for them.

 

Which ones specifically?

 

I think BTD is solid, but prefer Lunker by a safe margin. And with 2-3 years on it, Lunker is on another level. I was hoping age would soften up BTD, but I didn’t find that it had improved.

To your point, I’m still not sure how I would classify BTD, as it’s kind of a hybrid. Definitely don’t think of it in same category as my favorite BA Barleywines. Perhaps it’s a “barrel aged strong ale”.

 

Why don’t you just stock up on that Bourbon County Barleywine that is always so easy to find in MN?

I can’t think of any besides the CW that are “regularly” available. One outstanding example was the Fulton BA Patience, but that has only been released one time that I can recall. There are also some occasional limited bomber releases like BA Old Ruffian or BA Bigfoot or Sucaba.

There are also some BA Old Ales if you can go that route.

Oh, if you like scotch barrels, there are usually some Ola Dubh rattling around, and those are damn tasty.

 

Steel Toe is basically telling me I should spend my money on other breweries. I appreciate that.

1x 750ml bottle of .rar adjunct 'stout' or 48 bottles of summit saga? I think the choice is pretty obvious here.

 

I really enjoy BCBW when I can actually find it! Minus those infected years...I believe they're not doing a standard one this year though. Only a coffee version and wheatwine

 

Next weekend Comander Barleywine from Lift Bridge will be available and is barrel aged.