Barreled Souls (2020)

So........is anyone going to the Bottle Bash?

 

Yeah, no question. Having been a member of a few different bottle clubs over the years, this one is my favorite by a wide margin.

 

So.....did anyone go to the Bottle Bash?

 

I did...and it was spectacular. Line wasn’t crazy when I got their at 1230ish - a few bottles had kicked but all the pastries where still in stock. I think SP ran out just as I was heading to the car.

 

Take my renewal $$.

 

I didn't attend, but had a friend who did and walked away with over a dozen bottles (sounded like a great success).

And absolutely renewing for my third year in the society. For those keeping score at home, are we still waiting for 3 more bottles included with the membership plus the end of year magnum? Might solo dome last year's magnum this coming weekend...

 

I’m seeing:

• BA Big Munro
• Horus Old Ale collab (NOT Wisdom apparently)
• BA Stout with Coffee, collab with Hop Culture (for reason I thought we might’ve seen that one)
• Magnum

 

I live ten minutes away and foolishly made the decision that I could swing by later in the day because I didn’t expect there to be much traffic. I got there around 3 and the owner was packing up his car to leave. Sold out of the last stuff around 2:30. He said there were about 150 in line at opening.

 

You all inspired me to put my name on the list for the society. I haven't had much Barreled Souls, but what I have had, certainly has me intrigued to get more.

 

Curious how people who have been in awhile have seen the beer evolve. I moved to the area three years ago, and to be honest, I really wanted to love Barreled Souls but was often disappointed. After maybe mid-2018, I basically stopped going but would occasionally pick up their IPAs. My biggest issue was I often found the barrel flavor really harsh and off putting, rather than sweet and satisfying. I know they used to use Hillrock exclusively, so it may have been something about those barrels I just didn’t like.

That all changed in February 2020 when I had their Inner Space bottles. I started going more and more, and now they are one of my top 3 breweries in the area, maybe number one. Pretty much every single BA release I’ve had since then has been phenomenal (and they no longer use Hillrock).

Anyone else have a similar experience or is this just me? Because I taste a huge difference in their beers from a few years ago.

 

Their beers have been getting better and better I think. More time in the barrel, amazing flavors from the additions, etc. I’ve been in the club for years and I couldn’t be happier. Although I do really enjoy some of the slightly older hillrock stuff like Deep Space.

 

I received my membership renewal today so be on the lookout. Needs to be renewed by Oct 17th.