'16 Bourbon County Lineup

Has BCBS generally hit Wisconsin distribution in the past? Just moved to Madison and would love to try it for the first time (first bottle was an infected '15 date )

 

Well I guess that means I missed some information. Last time I checked it there was two varieties of prop, both seemed solid. Seems like I missed the boat.

 

Don't worry, you'll only be partly disappointed, then.

 

Bit more research, kinda a bummer. Appreciate everyone letting me work through that.

On the plus side the bourbon barrels previously used with maple syrup looks like a solid choice. Those hot peppers though...guess will see.

 

Unless you are extremely (extremely) sensitive to heat, my bet is that it will be palatable to you.

 

Have you ever had Mexican Cake? It's pretty amazing and this sounds like it's in a similar way. Heat was subtle and not super in your face when I had it fresh.

 

infected date doesn't mean its infected, all of mine have been perfect.

 

Correct, sir. Flip a coin.

 

I figured that and opened it when I moved up here. Was very much infected, unfortunately.

 

Pure speculation but what if they release the Scotch version at the Clybourn Brew Pub they finally bought later in the year. Would explain why there are 2 of the Chicago only prop labels.Also speaking of , GI posted the Black Friday Brewpub tickets will be on sale Friday. http://blackfriday2016.brownpapertickets.com/?platform=hootsuite

 

Why oh why do they use BPT?

 

I am sure this will get corrected beforehand but just too funny not to notice...on the Black Friday link it says sales will APPARENTLY go on twice on Oct 28th....at 9am and at noon.

 

One for members one for any left for general sales?

 

I saw that as well. I just figure at this point that any beer related events/processes (outside of the beer making itself) don't have the best sets of eyes looking over them.

On another note, I've never been to the GI Clybourn Black Friday event before. For those that have gone, would you consider it a good event that is worth it? $75 seems pretty pricey, especially since it seems like less than a 2 hour window you're there (since they have sessions every 2 hours or so). Obviously the bottle of Prop and the BCS snifter are enticing, as I want both of them, but does that mean it's worth it to spend $40-45 on the event itself? My inclination is that it is, especially as I'm intrigued by the Clybourn Originals, but I wanted to seek others input that have attended before.

 

I went in 2014. It was very nice to drink in a relaxed setting and taste the beers as they were already opened up. Fobab you get a cold pour and they taste like a sugar bomb, plus you want to get on to your next pour before all the whales are kicked so you never have a chance for the BCBS and variants to open up and become something more flavorful. At the GI CBF event, they beers are prepoured, sitting at a table at room temperature waiting for you. There are usually 6 beers (so this year probably the BCBS, Coffee, Barley, Prop and then they will either give you 2015 BCS to compare it to or since they are claiming Clybourn originals I'm guess the other two will be BA Impervious and BA Coffee Joe as they are serving those at the pub in November. It is a nice event to enjoy these with GI folk talking about each beer as you sit down and aren't rushed. Is it worth it? It was in 2013 when you got a 22oz bottle of Prop that now trades for $200 recouping the initial cost if you so desired, a $10snifter, a GI tasting log book, etc., but I can't help imagine people last year got screwed with 16.9oz Prop that was all infected and really didn't have any trade value. Personally, I think if you want to try the variants- spend the $50 to go to Fobab and let each one warm up for 30 minutes before trying and you'll come out ahead...unless you have to stockpile bottles of prop, then by all means go to this and grab one more.

 

Also, if you go by GI's MSRP this is a complete rip off as you could do this at home with a bottle of BCBS $10, Coffee $10, Prop $20, Barley $10 for $50....

 

Trading has no impact for me on whether to go to this. I think your comments about the relaxed setting influence me more about wanting to go, although I am going to FOBAB as well, so not sure there is a need to double dip.

But they don't give you 16 oz pours at the event (I assume!), right? I don't know that it's the right comparison, though, either. Retail bottles are always a different cost structure than pours at a bar, so you'd have to compare it more to what similar pours cost at another bar.

 

I thought coffee and barley were 12-15, regal 25, and prop 30-40?

 

I've gone a couple times. You normally get 6 small pours and small dessert pairings. It's not overly awesome. It's really nice to try all the variants in one sitting, but it's really only Prop 16 that's new this year. The past Clybourn original was Nthulhu. It's a great beer but I've had it several times at Clybourn.

Overall: It's cool if you have expendable income, but not a must do event. I rate Rare Day a 10, and Clybourn BF tasting a 5.5.