Indiana Beer love

Big Red is the most well known but Payless and Crown are just as good if not better. The larger Payless stores probably have the largest selection.

 

What prices are you seeing? I saw it for $22 a bottle at Kroger last night. Can’t remember what I paid last year. $20 maybe?

 

Do they do that with EVERYTHING though? I mean, there are a LOT of whiskey that is at least somewhat limited, like Weller OWA. I would be surprised if all their wiskies like that, Stagg Jr etc. all go to those events.

If they do? Fuck them.

 

No they don't take Weller OWA and Stagg Jr. but you're right you still don't see that stuff at Big Red stores so not sure what they're doing with it. I know they do some individual store promotions from time to time and have a one day lottery for a few bottles here and there.

I have most of my luck finding limited whiskey when I travel. Seems like Indy is about impossible these days.

 

Yea man, it's totally weird. Every time I ask - even when I was going into Big Red almost daily for months and months looking for stuff, I pretty much always got the cold shoulder. The only exception is that I did find Mitcher's 10 year (at $140 ) this past summer, which I think was several months behind when it was supposed to be released. Not sure why it was there, but it was. Not sure I wanted to pay $110 at MSRP, but would have felt a bit bad paying $140 + tax with the markup, so I just left it alone.

In Bloomington, at a couple of the raffles they have done in the past they include Weller OWA. So, I'm actually not convinced they don't keep them for some of these type of events.

BTW, did you see that they did some tastes of Old Forrest birthday bourbon? The post said "Come get free samples. Pour 0.25oz samples until we run out!"

I get it, it's limited. But 1/4 oz sample? Man, that's so small. I really would have thought they'd go with 1/2oz at the smallest. Course, I've never gone to a whiskey tasting, so no idea how common 1/4oz samples are. That's just...Small.

 

I paid $130 plus tax for Mitcher's 10 in FL so I'd pay $140. It's pretty damn good stuff. This same store had about all BTAC and Pappy bottles but wanted stupid prices. Like $800 for BTAC and $1000-$3000 for Pappy variants. I guess he didn't realize what he had or didn't value the Mitcher's 10 to mark it up more than $20 so I snagged it. I also wrote a letter to the CEO of BT complaining about the store for the markups. He wrote back and apologized but said there's nothing they can do about it.

Been to the Big Red bourbon event at the fair grounds a couple years but haven't won anything. Had a buddy win a bottle of Elmer T. Lee but that's it. It's still pretty fun though, if you go with a couple buddies. Expect you'll get pretty smashed and plan for an Uber or DD. I don't recall the poor size at the event, probably because I don't remember much of anything afterwards. Hahaha! I'm thinking it's probably 1/2 oz. 1/4 oz does seem pretty small. Just enough to wet your tongue. Kinda pointless if you ask me. The first sip of whiskey isn't the best IMO. Your pallet has to get adjusted before you can taste the real character.

 

Agreed on the latter points.

Yea, I'd love to go sometime, but it's just a much bigger issue given how far away I live. Still considering trying to go with my father to the one in Dec. We'll see.

Mitcher's 10 is a weird one. I've seen reports that people can find it without too much trouble at $110-140, so I think that's maybe why. Also, regionally I think there's some variance in demand. Just my guess.

BTAC bottles are weird. Of course they have high demand, but given the demand and given how many people resell them, I think all these places price them that high because they know SOMEONE will buy them, but also they know if they price them just a tad bit lower they will sell too quick. For example, if you just google "George T Stagg for sale," you'll get a whole list of online retailers that sell the bottle for way high. Higher than (as I understand it) people resell on secondary. I don't think that's an accident. You'll run across stores sometimes that still have tags for where they HAD BTAC bottles. They were marked up, but not to the point of online retailers. And those bottles are always gone.

 

$30 at Cork in Columbus. It was $25 last year.

 

Shit, where I'm at it was $30 last year and $30 this year. After reading this year about places selling it for 18-20, there's no way I was buying in at $30.

 

I actually talked to someone at the Cork last year about CBS, they mentioned Founders was pressuring retailers not to jack up the price above the suggested retail. Guess no such edict came down this year.

Doesn't surprise me that they would up the price though, they can do it because they're the only game in town when it comes to rare or limited beer releases. What would be the next best beer retailer in Columbus, Kroger? I'm in Columbus from time to time, would be nice to see a little competition for the Cork.

 

You're exactly right. I heard Big Red was here and Cork priced them out of town (before my time). I try to buy all my Taxman beers from Kroger, just because Cork needs the competition. Plus with the whole Sunday sales and no cold beer thing, the liquor store lobby in Indiana pisses me off.

 

Doesn't surprise me that they tried to price Big Red out of Columbus. I was in a smaller Cork shop in Columbus one time and overheard a couple workers complaining about how the bosses/owners asked them to write letters acting as concerned citizens about changes to liquors laws that would have hurt The Cork. Both employees said they lied and never actually wrote the letters lol.

There's a super helpful beer guy at their big west side location named Troy. He's great, unfortunately he has no say in pricing.

 

Does anyone have info on 18th Street's Blend release?
Was it a small release, will it hit distro, price?
Thanks!

 

There were lines at both location. No idea how much there is/was. $30 per bottles/2 limit. Very good by all accounts.

 

I was at Miller last night and was underwhelmed by it. Had a pour in line and ended up getting just the Penny DIPA (which sucks IMO). Thought the blend had really good body but the taste was all dark fruits and licorice. Needed a little more sweetness.

 

Of all the IPAs/DIPAs from 18th st whats the best? I was at Santoris in Lansing today and they had so many to chose from I couldn't even make up my mind and bought something completely different.I had villain in a flght and it was pretty good. I don't want to go to Hammond every time i want to try an 18th st beer without committing to a full 4 pack

 

I had a draft pour at Hammond (warmed up to room temp), and thought it was good. I didn't taste licorice at all, nor the dark fruits. Your palate sucks! Just kidding, of course, as I've been told I come off as a sarcastic sumbitch in my posts.

I thought it was predominantly a big ass stout with a nice mouth feel thanks to the milk stout component, but had to search for the barleywine, which was evident in the finish, but not in a big way. It wasn't hot at all, although the barrel was there. I think its drinkable right now, and won't improve with aging. It was no where near the level of Saturday, their barrel-aged imperial porter, but it was solid.

I give it a 75; it's got a good beat, and you can dance to it!~

 

Depends on if your a haze-bro dude, or not. I cannot comment on the haze style, as I'm a known hater, a wanted man in five states.

But, if you want a traditional non-haze IPA/DIPA, I like Rise of the Angels and Cone Crusher, both currently on tap. Deal with the Deal is an excellent double pale ale, but I don't think it's been brewed recently. Always check the dates - old ale is bad ale....

 

Sounds about right from all the posts I’ve seen from you. You have and PhD in English and a boner for Drew but a terrible palate.

 

Now that's funny....well played!