Refunds for 2015 Regular BCBS and 2015 Prop

Based on Untappd reviews it's about 1-2% are infected if that. Just take a look at the last 100-200 reviews. This is a good gauge to see how widespread it is. All things manufactured have a small percentage of failure, that's a fact. Now may be a good time to get great trade deal on some BCBS 15.

 

Well, I broke. I only drink these on special occasions, but this darn thread started messing with me. The mind is a funny thing. Kept saying mine are fine, but then there were the whispers...what if... Anyway, at first I was upset (because it is drinking just fine, bourbon on the nose a little muted) for being weak and cracking one open, but now that I am on my last couple swallows, it is cool. Thanks OP for making me paranoid and making April 14th a special occasion. I do feel a little bad for Florida BAers, though.

 

Just checked mine. Luckily the two cases I bought were full unopened boxes one is sept22 the other oct15. Oct15 drinking phenomenal. I might be alright. Had another case that's gone now that I got from mixed locations. All were good or had not begun to change!!!!

 

Well, I guess I don't worry about the numerical because I ignore any rating that doesn't have a good review. To me number ratings are a waste of time both to read and to put in the data bank.

 

I have a more than a slight concern that the 2015 BCBS infection is not isolated to FL distribution. Purchased bottles in Virginia and based on the bottle we drank last night, infection is starting to rear it's ugly head. The finish had a slight sourness and metallic taste to it. Bottle info: 01OCT15 0938 13.7%.

The bottles are temperature controlled, so am hoping the taste was just a figment of my imagination.

 

Is anyone who is familiar with the bottling and distribution process know if it is even feasible that only one area (Florida) could have infected bottles?

 

Well I think its pretty clear that all of us have reported the same bottling date, so that would be the common tie. It's not like GI produces and bottles this stuff in more than one place.

 

My response from GI FWIW...

https://flic.kr/p/FnnnDK

I particularly like the "I take your word for it!" part.

 

My guess is that the first couple dozen people or more who reported coffee and barleywine infections received the same polite non-response. Please send your complaints to GI if you are experiencing issues with BCBS, and hopefully they will eventually address it in a meaningful way.

 

I talked to a brewer who came to town for Migration week. They are pretty certain they know what went wrong with BCBCS and BCBBW. Changes to the process have been made.

 

I have a bunch of 2015s. Bought in DC. One 12OCT15 1248 (13.7%) was infected. Flat, metallic, sour. I notified GI on Jan 18 2016, right after I drain poured what was left of it.

 

In the name of science, I opened up one of my bottles last night. All my bottles were purchased in Miami, FL.

Bottle Date: 11/4/15
Bottle Code: 1147
ABV: 14.3%

Purchased on Black Friday and kept in the fridge since then.

It was delicious. No signs of infection. Very boozy.

 

I have one to send to you but in all honesty is your report going to hold up more validity than anyone else's in this thread just because you are outside of Florida? If you are able to get multiple people involved to taste test this bottle I would send one.

@mxracercam

 

Not to mention that more people right above me from different places have just started chiming in about infection... Clearly not just an isolated event. I highly suggest EVERYONE give a call in to GI. The more people that sound off the more likely they are to respond to it.

 

I'm going to Chicago in three weeks. I'd be happy to stop by Goose and let them experience their "off flavors" for themselves. I'll even bring a good one so they can experience the difference.

 

I wouldn't waste the good one; I have a feeling they probably have decent access to BCBS.

 

I'd say that Florida (since that is how we are taking to referring to all the Florida BAs) are responding that same way to infected BCBS as we did when Funky Buddha had an infection issue with BA Muy Bonita. Is it really "piling on" when other people report that they also have infect/off bottles especially if the first person to report it has been called a "troll" or of spreading rumor/hearsay. I don't think it's piling on if I chime in about my bottles being infected if the OP and other Florida BAs are getting contrary responses from BAs in other states about their bottles being fine. This actually has helped up get a better idea of the issue. It is looking like its largely the 21OCT15 bottles (which apparently were sent to Florida). Other FL distributed bottles don't appear to be an issue (yet?)

Yes. The vast majority of posts on here and reviews on Untapped are for the 21OCT15 bottles which apparently were distributed to Florida. Not sure if they ended up being distributed anywhere else

HA! Good luck. Even if anyone from Florida was up for trading quality (Cycle) for quantity (BCBS)...they are probably too wary now to pull the trigger on anymore 15 BCBS. But I get what you are saying. I got to every Cycle release. When people ask me what Cycle trades for my response is always "More Cycle" because the majority of the trades I see/hear about are locals swapping bottles from different releases.

THIS RIGHT HERE! My exact experience. Most of the bottles I opened soon after the release were from bottling dates other than 21OCT15 and those bottles were amazing. The last two bottles I have opened are 21OCT15 bottles that I picked up via trade that are 21OCT15 bottles that I know where not refridgerated for the whole time since the release are the ones that have significant "off flavors"

Well, it appears that GI organizes their distribution (at least partially) by bottling dates....ie. This chunk of bottles (which happened to be bottled this day) are for NY and this chunk of bottles bottled on the 21st of October are for Florida.

Further "proof" that is not all florida bottles or a location thing but rather a certain "batch" (21OCT15) that is infected.

At this point is looks like since the issue is largely contained to 21OCT15 and those bottles seem to have only gone to FL...yes, this thread might be better in the South Atlantic forum. At the time it was created, none of us knew what bottles were affected or what areas. It's also still possible that there are 21OCT15 bottles in areas other than FL and those people aren't aware or haven't opened their bottles yet.

Well based on what @north_1 posted, there is some anecdotal evidence that the infection/off flavors didn't develop till recently. And it's obviously going to depend on what temperature the bottles were stored at. The warm the temp the bottles were store at (and the longer the time) the more likely those 21OCT15 bottles will exhibit infection/off flavors. Bottles kept at fridge temp (36 or 37 degrees) are less likely to exhibit the off flavors or exhibit less off flavor (and therefore harder to detect). There are even posts from Florida members that state their 21OCT15 bottles tasted fine but almost all of them state they kept their bottles cold (even cooler than "cellar temp") since the release. I had a similar experience with my BCBW bottles. The bottles kept in my fridge were drinking fine. The bottles I had in my "cellar fridge" (45 degrees) started fine and as time went on began to exhibit off flavors over the span of a couple weeks. And the bottle that I had forgotten about and left at room temp (71 degrees) was undrinkable by the time I opened it (after they started taking refund info)

Examples like this are why I would advocate AGAINST moving this thread to a regional forum. It has taken 6-7 months (from time of bottling) for these off flavors to start to develop enough to prompt this conversation. Its entirely possible that other bottling dates are also affected but not to as great of an extent...especially when you start factoring in variable like conditions during distribution and release. Other parts of the country are much cooler on Black Friday then Florida. So bottles sitting on trucks and in stores might not have been expose to the warmer temperatures we experienced and therefore the infection in those bottles is taking longer to rear it's ugly head. And those consumers in cooler areas have actually cellars so bottles aren't hanging out at 70 degrees like a couple of mine did during our "Florida Winter"...it's a small chance but it's still possible. It's more likely that (excluding the occasional random "off" bottle) the infection is limited to just the 21OCT15 bottles.

I received the same response but at the time I didn't know the "limits" to the infected bottles. So I am going to try calling back and give them more details about how it is limited to the 21OCT15 bottles. I'm sure GI has multiples of all bottles they sent out set aside for QA purposes. Hopefully they can open a 21OCT15 bottle and test it

 

Where did you get the idea I want to wait to find out my beers are infected? I was only pointing out an inaccurate statement and correcting it...

 

I shared this bottle of 13.7%. I want to add a couple things. We opened a bottle of 14.3% a few days ago and it was beautiful. So we know what the taste should be. They were stored together since beer release. So one less variable - Not bad storage. I also have been through 5 bottles of BCBW that were horrendous. So we know what that tastes like too. This 13.7% BCBS was not at that point. It was drinkable but off. But it did remind me of the BCBW on the finish - Sour. Nervous for my other bottles of 13.7%

 

Speacking of infected BCBS GI is officially at the level of zero Fuxx's given, they have a BA Barely wine with Lacto on tap at Fulton called playing with fire .Do they just pour the BCBBW you returned in a glass and charge you 4 bucks?