BBH vs BCBS

Bourbon Barrel Hellfighter from Karbach.

 

I actually thought BCBS was kind of thin this year. I mean...thin for BCBS.

My BA stout of the year was Big Bad Baptist. Readily available and lip smackin good. I really wish I could find Black Xantus. It is nowhere to be found in DFW though.

 

I don't really think it's definitively terrible or anything or there wouldn't be so many people that like it. I thought it was pretty bad though. You know, my single experience with the base beer, so what do I know?

As for Vanilla, I had that on cask. It tasted like really sweet vanilla up front and then I quickly got that harsh bitterness, which kind of confirmed for me that I should skip BBH and its brethren. If I see a new variant on tap though, who am I kidding? I'm probably going to end up trying it again.

Unfortunately, BA Legion is tough to get outside of DFW. Some of the weird shops like E1G and Sunrise in Austin used to drive up to Dallas in a van to pick up Community and that's how I got batch 1. On the BA Legion thread, I believe someone mentioned batch 4 would not make it to Austin, but that batch 5 would (I picked up batch 4 in Dallas). Now you've heard that at least third-hand, for what that's worth. I have no idea about SA, but Community has hit Austin pretty hard. There are stacks of several beers all over the place. Having Ascension and Inspiration and Oaked Mosaic just sitting around at HEBs has been pretty cool.

 

Uh oh, we're kind of agreeing on something

I've definitely heard BB8 and BA Legion compared to BCBS on here before and now we also have a BBH comparison thread. I see how individual people can like those better than BCBS, but I just don't really see the same quality there. Seems like comparing them to BCBS is a bit of a stretch. Can we get a Black Crack vs BCBS thread next?

 

I won't go as far to say its even in the same league as BCBS, but it is certainly a lot better than this year's BCBCS. lol

 

In Houston some of the Specs carry the Community beers, but I have never seen any of their BA stuff here. Going back up to Dallas end of the month and going to stock back up.

 

Houston sure does not see it

I gotta agree whole-heartedly BBH disappointed me this year, especially the vanilla variant (and I love me some Karbach). It's been good more times than not, so I'm just chopping it up to a bad batch - it happens. This year was actually the first time I've truly enjoyed BCBS, and have to give it the win this year...although as sethsticles mentioned, I don't think they are close enough in style to truly compare anyway.

Another A+ rec of the Big Bad Baptist (especially release #55)...stuff is damn good.

 

I agree with most of the comments on here regarding BA Legion. For TX, it is absolutely one of the best and certainly reigns over BBH.

ALSO!, I'm surprised only one person (@erushing) has brought up Southern Star Black Crack. In previous years, I never felt Black Crack wasn't much to write home about. However, the 2015 batch that has been canned is excellent. Far better then any previous years I've had Black Crack. Not sure where Black Crack fits into this whole hierarchy, but if you haven't had it I'd say its definitely worth a try.

From everything I've had personally, nothing tops BCBS or KBS. To me, they set the standard for BBA stouts.

 

If I had to rank BCBS in with the BBA Texan stouts/porter I've had:

1 - ABW Midnight Swordfight
2 - Community BA Legion
3 - BCBS
4 - EC La Muerta
5 - SS Black Crack
6 - PHP Big LaBarrelski
7 - Farmhouse Funk Metal
8 - BBH

I haven't tried BBT or any of the SA BB stouts. BBH just seems very out of balance to me. I feel like it needs a lot more body to back up how hot it is.

 

First off, you don't know what the fuck you're talking about. Sour coffee stouts will be all the rage.

Second...I think BBH has more actual bourbon flavor than BCBS does. Which is great if you like the taste of bourbon. I don't. Vanilla BBH though, might have been better than Vanilla Rye. And let's not forget about BB Temptress.

Third. OP, come up to New Braunfels/San Marcos there is BBH taking up valuable shelf space that could be reserved for Twisted X beer.

 

Coconut La Muerta is the best BBA I had last year. #thatsthetruthtruth

 

Someone get this guy BBT '14, stat!

 

Specs on De Zavala has some BBH. I saw some there on Saturday.

 

Usually I would have to say your opinion doesn't matter because you like infected beers and sour stouts, but this time I would have to reluctantly agree with you. Treasure this post, it doesn't happen often @starkmarvelo

I think this thread needs the only opinion that matters in regards to BA stouts...paging @miikezombie

 

DUDE! Midnight Swordfight was SO. GOOD!

 

If you're in Austin, I have BBH at my store. I have La Muerta, La Muerta EC12, BBB, and some other goodies.

 

Also, not the same discussion that's happening here but relative. I had KBS, BBH, Odell's Russian Pirate and ABW Midnight Swordfight on the night after Thanksgiving. KBS was "OK". BBH stole the show and ABW was totally unexpected.

 

I win the Internet!