Bourbon County 2017

Having had Proprietor's 2015 and 2016 within first few days of release each year, I'd definitely take 2015. 2016 is just not for my palate. I ended up with 5 bottles of 2016 and traded each one of them away.

 

4 years???

 

They have, twice

 

I'd bet bcbs reserve is 15 and barleywine reserve is 35

 

I would encourage everyone to seek out Josh Noel's twitter poll on most anticipated variant. It would suggest a high MSRP for the 2 year barleywine might be a problem

 

Anyone got a link?

 

No link, but it was just a Twitter poll asking what variant people were most excited to try. The results were BCBS Reserve 30%, Northwoods 27%, Prop 25%, BW Reserve 18%. The low BW numbers could be due to expected price, or due to BW not being s preferred style, or both.

 

I am a bit of a Chicago-Bourbon count Event-Newb here, so forgive me if these are obvious/dumb questions.

I'm considering going to one of the various BC events this year. I heard that there is prop day, where you get to try all the BC variants, and then some other type of BC day as well?

Are there two days? If so, what are the differences between them?

How expensive are the tickets?

When do tickets normally go on sale?

Are you able to buy any To Go at the event(s)?

Do they ever have older variants on tap as well? I've never tried any of the variants, and for this years specifically, I am allergic to nuts, so locked out of multiple variants this year. Plus, who wouldn't like to try Vanilla Rye or other whales that's are hard to land (for me, at least).

 

You should just get tickets to this...http://fobab.com/

 

It's probably too early to answer most of these questions, but I'll try. I'm doing this off memory, so please forgive me if I'm off and I'm sure someone else will correct me.

-There will probably be a Prop Day/Rare Barleywine Day at some point. Pretty sure they were in late October/early November the last 2 years. There was an online lottery that will surely be posted here. Some taps were included as well as to-go bottles. Most of the cost was bottles if I remember right.

-There's usually a variant tasting at GI Clybourn on Black Friday. I think it was $50 this year for pours of all of the variants. It sold out super-fast. It may/may not happen since Clybourn hasn't re-opened yet.

-There will be tappings at various bars. Way too early for that info, but there are some usual suspects.

Last year, I got in line at Binny's LP around 7 and walked over to Local Option when I finally got out. They had BCBS, Prop, BCBBW (I think), BA Jones and Hyper Dog, plus a few other cool taps. I had a blast and ended up taking an unplanned nap on the El.

@Vitacca had a good point. Lots of great beer at FOBAB, not just Bourbon County.

 

Someone mentioned this several months back when I was thinking of the wife and I going to a beer fest in/around linking park (I think). This seems great, but I worry that it will be hard to coordinate. I hope it works out though. How much are tickets normally?

 

Thanks for your feedback. I really appreciate all the helpful information.

 

$60.

 

That seems pretty reasonable.

Does anyone have a first hand review by chance? Or does BA have a place to review events like this so that I could read up?

 

Well worth going to if nothing for other than sampling all the Bourbon County prior to the release. Always a bunch of one-off brews to try in addition to a ton of top tier stuff from all over the country that doesn't see distro here.

 

I had a chance encounter with @jed_productions on his way to Prop Day last year. He might be willing to give his experience...

 

There are a few articles about it if you google it. I've gone the past 3 years. It can get a little cramped inside and some of the "whale" lines can get ridiculous but overall it's a great fest. So many great beers. Last year they had Utopias aged on cherries. The only 3 sixtels in existence. It's worth it at least once.

 

Perhaps someone here has pics of the beer lists from the past few years. I don't have the booklets anymore.

Always hidden surprises to be found. A few years back Nutulhu was hidden away in an aisle unbeknownst to most people for example.

 

Went last year and had a blast. Lines for the whale beers were a little crazy, and it was crowded.

That being said there were about a dozen beers that weren't whales, that people were ignoring that you could easily walk up to. If you pace yourself properly you can try a lot of very good beers while all of the whale chasers spend their time in lines.

Bonus that you can Tweet about the fest and get on the board so the whole fest can see.

 

I went for the first time last year. It's great, if you go in with an open mind and don't get disappointed if you don't have any of the Whalez. I was able to keep a drink consistently in my hand all night without really waiting for much other than 2013 Bramble Rye.

Goose last year only had one booth, but I guess in the past had multiple. They had the different Bourbon County's last year as well as some of the vintages popping up on the hour.

Info should be coming out soon, but if you subscribe to Imbibe magazine you can purchase tickets early and get VIP.