Ballast Point this Summer

I was just over at Stinson getting some Surly Fest and two Ballast Point reps were in there. They said the Victory at the sea we were are getting are vintage bottles (not sure if this is known or not). The guys were very knowledgeable and friendly, glad they are in the market. My victory at the sea Julian Code is 72438 00019 how do i decipher this?

 

You should have asked the Ballast Point reps when more beer is coming. Wirtz doesn't have any beer to ship.

 

Well what if we didn't want vintage bottles?

Based on your "Julian code", my best guess is your beer was bottled on the 438th day of 1972 or early in 2000....

"Fresh beer only" stated BP only started using Julian codes in April of 2013... So I'm guessing we got bottles with an older system. Mine says "enjoy by ---" but I can't read the date. That's about as much as I'm good for right now.

 

"Fresh beer only" stated BP only started using Julian codes in April of 2013... So I'm guessing we got bottles with an older system. Mine says "enjoy by ---" but I can't read the date. That's about as much as I'm good for right now.[/quote]
the bottle i have of VOS says EB 011514

 

Wow, as near as I can tell, Ballast Point never even made it to the North Metro. i hope the next shipments come here first.

 

Both my VOS had 'Enjoy by' dates clearly printed on the lower left of the front label. White lettering.
And they were not Julian. Maybe they've gone to calender dating in the last year or two.

Enjoy by 11/16/2013 was one I drank last week, and I probably should've drank it 6 months ago.
I have another with enjoy by 1/25/14 that I'm going to drink soon, 'cause I don't think it's going to get better.
Coffee was pretty faded too.
It did taste better towards the bottom of the bottle though.

 

Very limited amounts came to town and what did arrive went to Wirtz's biggest accounts. West and North may not have seen any because Wirtz doesn't distribute its full portfolio here. Just Big Wood and Ballast Point. So, some suburbs didn't get any cause they had no chance to. Hopefully when the next shipment comes in that will change.

 

I like it. I have zero idea if this was a conscious decision or just underestimating the demand, but I'd rather see new breweries come in light than heavy...& then see IPAs languish on the shelves for three or five months, & I'm wary of buying them for exactly this reason (I'm looking at your, Clown Shoes).

Smaller, fresher shipments of Ballast Point throughout the year would be just fine by me.

 

All four Ballast lines being tapped tonight at New Bohemia at 6:00 PM. Bottle share starts at 6:30.

 

Awesome time! You had the BP people in, you hosted an amazing bottle share!

 

It was great running into all the bottle share people and the BP guys! Can't wait to join another share with more time!

 

BP is in at Princeton's. $13.99 for Sculpin, the other 6 packs are $8.99.

 

Anywhere on the St. Paul side that got Victory at Sea?

 

Ale Jail has it.

 

Where can I find Sculpin around the West or South suburbs?

 

Blue Max and Red Lion in Burnsville both had it at one point.

 

Just read the abrasive thread and remembered how kick ass sculpin is....and cheaper.

 

That is a good point. Though, Sculpin ain't as good it is pretty damn good and at a better price point. As well, Big Eye is pretty good too and at a better price point than Sculpin. But, ya know, Saga is also good and at a better price than Big Eye*.

*Obligatory Saga mention.

--Throws granade. Runs.

 

I wouldn't classify Sculpin in the same category as Abrasive. Their big IIPA is Dorado. I had it on tap last spring in SF. It's big and bold like Abrasive, but the local has so much aroma and flavor that I don't know if it has a peer. My three favs in no order are Abrasive, Double Sunshine, and Pure Hoppiness.

 

Isn't it only a couple bucks cheaper? But yeah, I had never had (nor heard of) Sculpin until the day it landed in MN and I though immediately of Abrasive.