Revolution Brewing (2020)

@Jaycase has it right - Rev posted on FB the public sale will be on Tuesday the 17th, and they seem to always be in the morning of the Tuesday before the release dates (https://revbrew.com/the-2020-2021-deep-wood-series).

Rev has always posted these "events" on Facebook, and this one is at: https://www.facebook.com/events/364826321447470/

 

has anyone tasted/reviewed 2020 honey jacket yet? Really curious how this turned out.

 

The only folks that may have had it at this point would be brewery employees, so that may not be the unbiased review you are looking for.
It is not released in cans until Friday, BUT there are 4 preview events this Thursday - hopefully we can get some at Flight in Yorkville if the weather is nice and we can stay distanced outside.
https://revbrew.com/news/deep-wood-series-november-release

 

I have a plums still. No currants, though.

 

YES - crack those fruited beers!
I didn't consider Ten Year Beer a "Fruit Beer", but it won gold at FOBAB in that category!
Rev's own description:
"English Barleywines aged in bourbon and rye whiskey barrels between twelve and twenty-four months establish a base of stone fruit, vanilla, and graham. A blend of sweet and tart cherries lends soft sweetness, acidity, and hue."

 

Congrats to Rev! I really liked my single can of Ten Year and wish I had more. During the ceremony, I had a Boss Jacket. It’s still very good but it’s a little sweeter to me now that the barrel has come down some. After a lengthy delay in the ceremony, I had a Strawberry Jacket for the first time in nearly a year and a half. It was good and the strawberry is still there, but I would drink them now as they are aging into graceful decline. I mean neither as a criticism, just that these beers really are designed to drink fresh for a reason

 

I just happened to put my last can in the fridge on Friday. Looks like I'll be sipping it today!

 

As I sip on a 2020 Deth's Tar, I did a little digging on my top 10 Deep Woods beers. The caveat here is that the beer must have been packaged for sale; no one-off draft/crowler only releases allowed. In order, from best on down. Notes are taken from my reviews:

1) VSOJ: "Complex, delicious and somehow super easy to drink. Perhaps the best beer I've ever had."

2) Thundertaker: "Robust but drinkable; it's a monster. One of the best Deep Woods beers, which is a major compliment."

3) Cuvee De Grace: "A masterpiece. I'm going to stock up on as many of these as I can..."

4) Deth By Cherries: "Bold, balanced & delicious. I wish I had a case..."

5) Straight Jacket: "Complex, robust, flavorful but (dangerously) quaff-able; the 2018 version is a stunner. English barleywine bliss."

6) Mindshaft Gap: "A nice take on the style; the cognac is perhaps a bit strong, but adds a nice layer to this."

7) Strawberry Jacket: "A delightful barleywine; fruity but substantial."

8) Vanilla Deth: "This tastes like a boozy vanilla & chocolate milkshake; very tasty."

9) VSOR: "Almost as nice as VSOJ!"

10) Deth By Currants: "Fruit-forward but very balanced & enjoyable; most importantly, potent but not too boozy. Borderline incredible."

 

I sincerely hope Revolution has a contingency plan in place to guard against the massive loss of revenue they would incur if you moved away.

 

There's a better chance I die from COVID. They should take a life insurance policy out on me.

 

your haters in the comment section will be dissecting your VSOR comment vs your ranking

 

Great list! I’ve probably only had 10 Revolution beers in total, but I definitely agree with your top 2. I’d probably put regular Deth’s Tar as my #3.

 

Solid list, we have about half of the same on both. Some of my ratings were from draft servings.

1. Ryeway to Heaven
2. Deth’s Tar
3. Supermassive Deth
4. VSOD
5. Mixed Berry Ryeway
6. Deth by Currants
7. VSOJ
8. Gravedigger Billy
9. Cafe Deth
10. Straight Jacket

Beer pending rating: 2018 Boss Ryeway from a Mystery Pack, will try it next week.

Cafe Deth rating from 2018, would have moved up if based on last two releases. Also, Code Switch was good fresh, but the aged can I had in September was awesome, would have displaced Straight Jacket and placed somewhere mid pack.

The five I liked but not enough to purchase four packs were the two Jackets, X (which won the FOBAB gold, would try again to see if it benefited from aging), Vanilla Deth and Code Switch, obtained a single in mystery pack.

 

This one stunned me back in the day...sad that it turned.

 

Yeah...went ahead & ripped both crowlers.