Do Bourbon County Stout and KBS just dominate other bourbon barrel stouts?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by starrdogg, Jan 8, 2013.

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  1. starrdogg

    starrdogg Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2010 District of Columbia

    So I've been at this beer thing for a long while and I've tried a ton of bourbon barrel stouts from breweries all over the country. In the end, however, I've largely given up seeking out new ones because it's so rare that any of them rise above BCBS or KBS, two beers that are a lot easier to get than the rare one-offs. Those beers are just spectacular, and with the rare exception (Bourbon Vanilla Dark Lord), they are just flat-out better than any of the rest of the bourbon barrel aged stouts out there right now. Most new ones I've tried have similar flavor profiles to either BCBS or KBS, but just don't come together as well. Is there any reason to continue my search for new bourbon barrel stouts, or should I just settle in with BCBS and KBS for the foreseeable future?
     
    #1 starrdogg, Jan 8, 2013
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  2. Extravadanza

    Extravadanza Initiate (0) Aug 3, 2011 Ohio

    I have not had KBS as of yet, but after finally getting BCBS from this year (while amazing) my personal taste likes BA BORIS from Hoppin Frog which is a lot easier to find and BA Siberian Night from Thirsty Dog (my all time fav) but they don't bottle that :slight_frown:
     
    #2 Extravadanza, Jan 8, 2013
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  3. jebsinger

    jebsinger Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2012 Minnesota

    i'd throw CW Bourbon Barrel Stout out there as something up there with those ones... well kinda up there, its a little less flavor but damn good.
     
    #3 jebsinger, Jan 8, 2013
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  4. misfit1034

    misfit1034 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2009 Ohio

    I recently had Epic's Big Bad Baptist and I think it blows KBS away. I am also a fan of BA Boris and Black Ops over KBS. I have never had BCBS so I don't know how it stacks up
     
    #4 misfit1034, Jan 8, 2013
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  5. brewbetter

    brewbetter Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2012 Nauru

    KBS is NOT easy to get. I wouldn't be surprised if they make 10x as much BCBS as KBS...
     
    #5 brewbetter, Jan 8, 2013
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  6. starrdogg

    starrdogg Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2010 District of Columbia

    I actually had no idea that Big Bad Baptist was barrel-aged! This is good to know. Perhaps I'll have to pick up a bottle the next time I see it. It's pretty easy to come by.
     
    #6 starrdogg, Jan 8, 2013
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  7. dsal89

    dsal89 Initiate (0) Jul 6, 2008 Indiana

    They dont bottle their stuff but all of the BA stouts ive had from Haymarket have been outstanding. To the point where im not sure which one i would choose between bcbs and clares thirsty ale or acrimonious.
     
    #7 dsal89, Jan 8, 2013
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  8. evilc

    evilc Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 California

    Super easy to get trading....

    I think I went through 2 cases at least last year.
     
    #8 evilc, Jan 8, 2013
  9. Bluecane

    Bluecane Initiate (0) Dec 30, 2011 New York

    BA Speedway is the best Bourbon stout I've had so far, even over KBS and (12 oz) 2009 BCBS. For stouts aged in any barrel, Peg's RareR DOS and Apple Brandy Marshal Zhukov are just fantastic.
     
    #9 Bluecane, Jan 8, 2013
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  10. ncaudle

    ncaudle Initiate (0) May 28, 2010 Virginia

    seek out Dark Horse BB Pt5.
    imo, far better than KBS or Goose Island BCS
     
    #10 ncaudle, Jan 8, 2013
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  11. starrdogg

    starrdogg Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2010 District of Columbia

    I guess I was speaking relative to something like BA Speedway or another brewery-only release. Founders has a rather wide distribution, and if you live in a place where they distribute, you can usually find some. I've been able to get 1-2 4 packs every year.
     
    #11 starrdogg, Jan 8, 2013
  12. evilc

    evilc Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 California

    Agree that BBPt5 blows away KBS. BCBS not so much, different beers. KBS/BBPt5 do the coffee thing, BCBS is all barrel.
     
    #12 evilc, Jan 8, 2013
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  13. JM03

    JM03 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2010 Ohio

    I think the only reason it seems they "dominate" is that they are far more available than most others. There are many others that are close to as good or even better but are tougher to come by.
     
    #13 JM03, Jan 8, 2013
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  14. xnicknj

    xnicknj Initiate (0) May 25, 2009 Pennsylvania

    i agree. having sampled a ton of BA stouts at this point, KBS and BCBS seem to at least equal, if not surpass many other harder to get beers. i would even almost use the same example as you for a rare beer that really blows most other things away - Brandy Vanilla DL.
     
    #14 xnicknj, Jan 8, 2013
  15. coreyfmcdonald

    coreyfmcdonald Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2008 Georgia

    Parabola should certainly be in that group of relatively widely available, top tier barrel aged stouts.
     
    #15 coreyfmcdonald, Jan 8, 2013
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  16. M1A2

    M1A2 Pundit (928) Jan 15, 2012 Ohio
    Trader

    I say keep seeking out others to try, but in the end i feel the same way about BCBS and KBS. They are hard to top when it comes to BA stouts (with the exception of a few super hard to get BA stouts Rare, BA Darklord ect ect). I also would add BAPT5 into the mix. This is just like my opinion though.......
     
    #16 M1A2, Jan 8, 2013
  17. Dennoman

    Dennoman Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2011 Belgium

    2011 BBAPT5 destroyed both fresh 2012 BCBS and KBS for me. BCBS with some age on it though... no contest.
     
    #17 Dennoman, Jan 8, 2013
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  18. JM03

    JM03 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2010 Ohio

    Abyss isnt a bad option either.
     
    #18 JM03, Jan 8, 2013
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  19. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,239) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Everytime I've had KBS in large stout tastings it has always trailed far behind the pack in flavor and mouthfeel. I honestly don't get why there's such a large demand for it anymore.
     
    #19 BearsOnAcid, Jan 8, 2013
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  20. starrdogg

    starrdogg Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2010 District of Columbia

    Admittedly, I was kinda lukewarm on KBS until the 2012 batch. I don't know if it was just significantly better than past batches, or if I finally came around to that beer, but now it's one of my all-time favorites.
     
    #20 starrdogg, Jan 8, 2013
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