Chicago Stout Releases (2018)

Shit I’m up for a share someone cut me in

 

And as if there wasn’t enough stout news, Transient has dropped the info on this year’s Neckbeard Nectar releases. I like the variety they’re going with this year on the variants, especially the straight BA option

-Neckbeard Nectar is a collaboration imperial stout with The Beer Cellar in Glen Ellyn, IL that changes its spices every year.

-We release Neckbeard on Black Friday (Nov 23rd) at The Beer Cellar, then have a separate release at Transient that Sunday (Nov 25th). (they operate their release, and make their own rules, so please contact them with any questions about their Friday release)

-There will be 4 total beers released for Neckbeard day at both releases:

-Neckbeard Nectar 2018- Imperial Stout with Chocolate, Vanilla, Cinnamon, and Ancho/guajillo Chili Peppers (no, they aren't that spicy)

-Henry McKenna Bourbon Barrel Aged Neckbeard Nectar- no spices, just delicious Imperial Stout aged in 10 yr old Bourbon barrels for 12 months.

-Gray Skies Bourbon Barrel Aged Neckbeard Nectar with Vanilla- we added some Madagascar vanilla beans to this portion of Neckbeard Nectar and aged it in bourbon barrels from our favorite Grand Rapids distillery.

-Blis Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged Neckbeard Nectar- This is our base imperial stout aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels for a year, then it gets spiced with Chocolate, Vanilla, Cinnamon, and Chili Peppers.

 

These are normally around the $30 mark for a bomber or 750, correct?

 

Is anyone drinking their stouts as quickly as they purchase them? This seems unsustainable. I think we are going to see a major surplus next year as people are going to overspend considerably on all of the releases this year and have no cellar room next year.

 

I'm pretty sure I have a bottle of 2013 BCBS somewhere, and I'm sure I have 2014. Hell, I've got a 2013 bottle of Darkness left. I had my last can of 2017 SJ right before the VSOJ release, and I'm planning on drinking my 2nd and last bottle of 2017 Benthic this weekend. I've probably got another 20 stouts (a bunch of BCBS, Big Hugs, etc.) laying around too.

I don't consider the above to be "a lot" by the standards of people on this forum, but I highly doubt most people here are drinking everything they buy, right after they buy it; too many people are trying to buy the maximum quantity of every limited release, and there are so many releases in the winter that you can't keep up. Then hot weather hits, and you're more inclined to chase lighter beers, so you work through the heavy stuff more slowly.

The problem is, despite having enough beer to last me at least a good portion of the winter, I still have to chase the new stuff, because I'm an idiot a beer nerd.

 

No cellar room or no room in their bank account? Because credit cards were created for the latter. (Joking, I won't go into debt for beer.)

Serious response: The only thing I buy with the intention of drinking long-term is Bourbon County. I'll happily buy with the intent of drinking over the next 5 years. Everything else my goal is to drink it over 1-2 years from purchase depending on the beer itself, quantity purchased, recognizing that where I am located I have little to no ability to acquire BA beers from Feb to October. Except crap like Avery, which I couldn't give 2 shits about.

 

I don't really buy Avery because it's not local (among other things), but Tweak is pretty damn good! As was...some vanilla stout of theirs I had...

 

They just aren't worth anywhere near $10-12 for me. I think that their quality (to me) puts them right around a $5 offering. At more, I might buy 1 a year, trying something again or trying something new. $10-12 for a 7mo (maybe?) BA beer that isn't top tier just makes me cellar more BCBS.

 

Don't worry...where there's a neckbeard with FOMO, there's a way. The beer stockpile is going to be financed by canceled gym memberships, and with some of the funds being diverted to storage lockers/cellars.

 

the BA variants are usually mid to high 20's for a bomber, I think the regular Neckbeard (which isn't BA) has been in the upper teens for a bomber.

 

I do know Beer Cellar was selling BA Neckbeard last year for $29.99, but I do not recall the price of the non-BA (maybe $19.99?).

 

Non-BA sits around stores. It may even still be available from last years batch...

 

That Raspberry Truffale of theirs I've seen bottles of lately sounds awesome...just to much other stuff to try.

 

Even the BA was on the shelves at Beer Cellar for a bit. I remember after the initial release, there was ~12 bottles of it on the shelf for a couple weeks. I'd assume the $30 price tag wasn't too inviting (shrug)

 

There's still bottles of last year's Neckbeard Nectar on the shelf at Beer Cellar, and a month or so ago they had put out a few more bottles of the BA version.

 

Some new BA stouts coming out tomorrow from Imperial Oak and Pollyanna as they are doing a fundraiser. The one beer that got my attention was BA Banana's Foster.......I assume it's Personal Chain Letter.

 

I thought the same but its not awesome. I had it last month and it was horrible. Save your money.

 

It’s Movembeer

 

Agreed, it was disappointing.
Avery has always had a high price point here.
Always have enjoyed Tweak, as well as, many of the barrel aged sours that they do and the tap room in Boulder was outstanding.