Whale alternatives

I don't recommend looking at it this way. Find good beers, the best you can afford, and let those who chase worry about the great white ones.

You'll be happier for it.

 

Rochefort 10. I don't know if you want to consider Westy 12 a "whale" at this point, but the 10 beats it any day in my book.

 

If Pliny is considered a whale, then Hop Stoopid.

 

This is a good point. While there are many very tasty IPAs (for a style example) out there, there are just that-many tasty IPAs. There is the "rush" of the hunt which can be a great feeling, especially once you land something. But you have to think to yourself-how many other beers are around me, offered by a local brewery or bottle shop, that taste remarkably close and are easily available? Without all the stress and hassle?

 

This post may not be relevant to you OP, because the replacement beers here still aren't a dime a dozen. Hopefully it is still valuable to someone; From an 'easIER to attain' perspective, De Garde Bu Berliner series are as good as most American Wild Ale offerings IMO. I absolutely loved Side Project Fuzzy, and found Peach Bu to be a different but albeit amazing experience to drink. The Raz and Black Raz Bu's bang with basically anything in the Sour Raspberry game.

Tilquin Gueuze is often somewhat available and it is part Cantillon, and bangs with a lot of great Gueuze.

 

Not really Rare but Pliny is very similar to Hop Stoopid. Oh...Founders Imperial Stout is still light years ahead of KBS. Some of these Whales are in a field all their own. That's why they're sought after. Yet, I don't whale hunt either, don't have to. Shelf Beer makes me happy.

 

Fair enough. Curious is good.

 

St. Bernardus 12 is supposedly almost the same beer as Westy 12. Also, Central waters bourbon stout is much cheaper (and easier to get around here at least) than KBS.

 

"If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with."

A simple change of attitude renders the entire issue of whales irrelevant.

 

Whales frequently are a regional thing, meaning that their distribution is more of an issue than their production (although it may be limited, as well). So, what some might consider a "whale" I'd consider "limited but obtainable," such as Westbrook Mexican Cake and Prairie Bomb!

Calling out those specifically, I'd suggest Clown Shoes Mexican Sombrero as a viable alternative if chili stouts are your thing.

Alternatives to barrel-aged beers extremely problematic. Weyerbacher Insanity is by no means comparable to BCBBW, but it is far more available and quite good. That alone makes it worth consideration if one is seeking a barrel aged barleywine. A better comparison, from my vantage, would be Straight to Ale Unobtanium. Geographically limited, but not rare, per se. And a fantastic barrel aged old ale (which are essentially the same thing as English-style barleywines).

 

I was going to say the same thing, I have never had Pliny, but I have been told by multiple people that Hop Stoopid is remarkably similar to Pliny. Yet it is much easier to find. I live in Missouri and I can get it fairly easy from a couple spots near me.

 

Story goes that St. Bernardus actually contract brewed for the monks from St. Sixtus (Westvleteren) in the aftermath of WWII and the brew master from St. Sixtus brought the Westvleteren recipes and yeast strain with him to the St. Bernard brewery. Once that contract ended, St. Bernardus continued brewing and selling the beers, just under the St. Bernardus name. So, yes, you could say that the Abt 12 and Westy 12 are almost the same (at least from the same recipe and yeast strain).

http://www.sintbernardus.be/geschiedenis.php?l=en

 

Not quite. The two beers use different yeasts, I believe. Somebody correct me, but Westy 12 is now brewed using Westmalle's house yeast, while Abt 12 still uses Westvleteren's original yeast. They're both amazing (naturally), but have distinctly different tastes.

EDIT: Here's one discussion on the matter, and Stan Hieronymus's Brew Like a Monk is about as authoritative as one can get. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/westvleteren-12-yeast-culture-89169/

 

I love threads like this. It helps me shake that subtle psychological leaning I have towards "whales" whenever I see other folks offering up lesser known alternatives.

After about a year being craft beers, I'm becoming much more interested in finding that lesser known/underrated beer that I enjoy just as much as the stuff at the top of most lists.

 

KBS isn't a whale, but it still requires a small miracle to find it when it's released.

Big Bad Baptist is almost easy to find when it's released in its distribution zone. Almost, mind.

So KBS should be far superior, right?

Nope - B³ eats KBS for breakfast (pun intended).

 

Speedway Stout is outstanding, better than most. Founders Breakfast Stout.​

 

Not sure the question, but I think I know what you mean. Do you mean what "available" beers are as good as the so called "whales"? There are lots of those, although your brain may not perceive them as great given the strong placebo effect in the BA world.
Ten Fidy for a non-BA stout, Anderson Valley Wild Turkey for BA stout, Sucks/Hi-Res or Resin for IPA's, and Founders and Oso Night Train for Porters are some of my favorite as good as whale beers.