BCBS: 03 - 11 Vertical

Greetings,

Thought I'd share the results of an entertaining blind tasting I did a few nights ago with friends at a small, impromptu gatherin g. We had a bottle of each year of Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout [03/05 (jan)/06/07/08/09/10/11]. We decided to have a little fun with it, so we wrapped all the bottles/necks with paper and shuffled them around, then proceeded to do a per-bottle tasting. Participants were: erikkoppin, flandersned, bierenutz, splax23, steebo777 and semibaked. Each participant was to a) try to guess the vintage and b) at least rank their top three. Being that it was March Madness night, and there had been a handful of beers already chugged that night, I was only able to get coherent results from four of the drinkers.

The beers:


The results:

Code:

[Rank]  FN    BN    SD    SB
=======================================
1:      2007  2008  2007  2007
2:      2005  2011  2011  2011
3:      2006  2010  2006  2008
4:      2009  2009  2005  -
5:     -      2007  2010  -
6:     -      2005  2008  -
7:     -      2006  2009  -
8:     -      2003  2003  2003
 
FN=flandersned
BN=bierenutz
SD=surlytheduff
SB=semibaked

Conclusions:
- 2003, while really cool to have had a chance to drink, was well over the hill (everyone participating guessed that one correct)
- 2005 was still drinking surprisingly well
- 2011 is one of the better fresh-drinking BCBS's
- Give him the keys, Erik's drivin' home
- Cellaring conditions of individual bottles matters (see below)
- Bar Fly is really, really good - it isn't all just Chicago hype!

For me my big suprise was the 2007 bottle. Myself and semibaked were both 1000% sure it was a 2008 bottle; it really appeared to be oozing 'Rare' qualities. Someone the weekend prior (at KBS release) had shared some 2007 with me, and I had thought it was declining. I also opened a 22oz of 2009 that day, and I thought it was phenomenal - much, much better than the 12oz offering. Beyond the 2007 at the top in my rankings, the middle grouping (3-7) were all very close; each was unique in it's own right, but noticeably different.

As to the last point, splax23 kindly opened a bottle of Bar Fly after we polished the Bourbon Counties off, and it absolutely exceeded my expectations. Probably the best incorporation of smoked malts in a beer that I've ever had.

Oh yeah, and the super grand cuvee 03-11 BCBS was really tasty. I *think* someone capped a 6.7oz handbottle for posteriety.

The whole lineup for the night:

Westy 12 ('09)
BA Earl
Some Bullfrong Saison (forget which)
SH Uberliner
Imperial Brown Goose
BCBS 03 - 11
SH Black Raspberry Lambic (delish!)
Bar Fly
RARE DOS
Imperial Eclipse Elijah Craig ('09)
-probably forgetting some.

Thank you Adam for hosting a fun little tasting, and everyone else for sharing some tasty beers.

 

I was referring to the variances in 2007 version that I'd noticed during a short period of time. I had a pour from a 2007 bottle at the KBS release the week before this tasting, that I thought tasted subpar/unpleasant. Then we opened up another 2007 bottle blind, and it was rated best in show by 3 out of 4 tasters (including me). So I can only attribute the differences to cellar condition. Well, I suppose I could also attribute it to me being sauced up at the KBS release, but I think my tasting judgement was relatively unimpaired.

 

Hey - here's a fun graphic:


Link to image

2003 bottle was a Honker's Ale(?) label applied backwards, with something printed on it. I blame my forgetfulness on the booze - if splax23 didn't keep the bottle, FlandersNed would've for sure swooped on it for the .10 cent bottle deposit.

Imperial Brown Goose was good/interesting, but over the hill.