Black Note released today

As someone who is loving the Pipeworks BA stuff lasting here for weeks, I agree that these are good signs.

Now, I will wish that it somehow crazily is still available Thursday night when I roll through that part of Michigan. I'm not a huge fan of it as compared to some other BA stouts, but I would definitely grab a 4-pack or two for drinking.

 

Hopefully a good sign of things to come in places close to michigan that might see distro . I'm 10 times the fan of neat BA stouts (if you'll indulge my analogue use of neat for beer) as I am of adjunct BA stouts. I'd love it if this meant that it became easier to find each year going forward.

 

Now the question is, when is Bell's going to blow out the used barrels for $20 like they did last year?

 

I was quite happy I got some on Monday! The employees said they still had a good amount left and were surprised it lasted so long. They were also surprised the GF and I didn't each go for a full allocation lol. As far as the whale status thing, it might not have the trade value it once did but its drinking value is superb (not that I've seen it on the shelf ever anyway)

I was also surprised at the great BA stuff still on at the cafe. BA vanilla expedition was awesome

 

Is this only available at the General Store or is it been seen elsewhere in MI? I'm in IN but I have a cousin in MI that's coming down in a couple weeks and would love to finally get some Black Note. Any info will be appreciated!

 

Only at the General Store so far. I would have your cousin head there soon.

 

Problem is, he's in the Detroit area.

 

Oh sweet baby Jesus, BA Vanilla Expo is a thing that exists!?!?

 

No, he had it wrong. It's Traverse City Whiskey 355 E. Stout w Vanilla Bean. BA VB Expo would be too much, people would drink themselves to death.

 

Anyone go to the General Store late yesterday or early today to get a gauge of whether Black Note is still around?

 

I was there Tuesday night and there was still pallets of it.

 

Just left there and there's still some left...

 

BTW, there was still plenty of it left last night. No idea of how much exactly, but the limit is a case now.

 

Wonder if it’s possible they are selling all of it from the general store this time and not sending any to distro to maximize profits.

 

I wouldn't blame them if they were, but I highly doubt profit drove the decision. I suspect its more for local supporters, visitors passing through, maybe a bit of publicity, etc.

The amount of money they make on BN compared to the rest of their portfolio is the proverbial drop-in-the-bucket, and even that is being generous. A quick Google search shows Bell's at 7th largest brewery in the nation.

Lagunitas is sixth, which was just sold to Heineken. Ballast Point was sold for 1 billion, and didn't even crack the top 10. One can only imagine how many tens/hundreds of millions Bell's rakes in yearly.

 

True, but selling it all at the general store, then allows the Store and cafe to be more profitable, build business, hire employees, etc.

 

Wasn't there an issue with B1 last year with the distributors keeping it for themselves? The guy at my local bottle shop said something to this effect which is why only B2 hit distro, so perhaps they could be doing that also as a middle finger to the distributors for their stunt last year?

 

That was BA Vanilla 355 which is a whole different stout.
355 as in the address of the Eccentric Cafe

No

^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

There are some folks in Iowa who appear to have evidence against this. Several reports of bottles showing up in stores in central and eastern Iowa.

 

Was there Friday night and still had a ton, selling by the case. Not sure if they made a shit-ton, or people just don’t care as much anymore...