Bourbon County 2018

This is exactly my issue with Fulton. I can't get over there quick enough for whatever cool thing they have on draft; things like Double Barrel BCBS will kick before I even get out of work.

 

3 Sons ba double scoop is THE gold standard of neopolitan stouts. If GI can come close, that will be the variant I am chasing after.

 

The Ryeway to Heaven was my favorite out of all of their BA beers from last year. Thought it was a unique concept and taste.

 

I think I liked Straight Jacket best, but yeah, Ryeway was excellent. My point was mainly that the Rev beers don't have any weird additives, for better or worse.

 

Well I have been chasing their beers on black Friday for many years now and still have not seen a variant in WNY. I did hear about a small bottle shop getting coffee but it went poof.

 

I knew I was forgetting one, but drinking all those stouts the other night during the conversation made me forget that one. We'll see how it GI's compares...if they end up releasing it. My money is on GI's being better than More's Double Rainbow, but I've never had the Cycle / 3 Sons take on the style to comment on it.

 

I know you know this, but just to clarify - Rev indeed has a precedent for adding fruit and obviously coffee, although I would hardly classify those as “weird” additives for the style.

Of the rumored BCBS varieties, I don’t think vanilla, chocolate, and even lactose (milk stouts, anyone?) qualify as weird, either. Cinnamon is unusual but not unheard of and still complimentary to standard stout flavors. My theory is that they saw the popularity of Prop 17 and are doubling down on similar “dessert” variants. Overall, this year’s lineup seems more conventional to me than recent years - I’m just glad the peppers seem to be on hiatus.

 

Can't wait for the reserve barleywine!!!!!1!1!!

 

Unfortunately, it looks like you might have to....

 

Yeah, I was just (clumsily) trying to say that Rev has put much more of an emphasis on the non-"flavored" BA stuff (Deth's Tar, VSOD, DBVSOD, Straight Jacket, VSOJ soon, etc etc) than GI has (I don't actually consider the additions weird, either). I think it's a smart move; GI gets so much hype from Prop and whatever else they bring to the table (Vanilla, berries and so on), Rev has carved out a great niche riffing on their base beers. I actually really like the way the two breweries are separated currently.

 

9 variants, eh?

Wish they’d keep it to around 4. Perfect and choose only 4 recipes. Have each variant widely available so every fan can purchase or taste the releases.

This 9 business is baloney. Well, bright side, at least regular BCBS will further get lost in the shuffle and sit on shelves through the spring.

 

I can’t believe I have seen it mentioned, and if I have, I apologize.

But Prop this year is basically BA Big John, to which I say - Hell Fucking Yeah.

Big John is one of the single best imperial stouts I’ve had, and Goose, IMO, is always at their best when they keep it simple.

 

I would be very surprised if all 9 get bottled. I would expect

Prop
1-2 Variants (not four)
Reg
Reserve (this is essentially just regular so its not like its a big process)
Coffee
Wheatwine

It will be 7 at most but my money is on 6.

 

To be honest, I've never been blown away by their fruited stouts.

But then again, those are also my least favorite BCBS variants.

 

I love BCBS fruited variants, especially the Backyard Rye which is my favorite BCBS variant. Their fruited variants are probably the only ones I do like in that style. Bramble Rye will be great if their track record is any indication.

 

I don't disagree on the quality of the variants, I'm just not a fruit person, really, if you don't count coconut. In general I'd prefer vanilla and chocolate to any non-coconut fruit, as well.

 

I would agree with this in terms of bottles, and then a couple keg only versions. GI probably has realized what a nice draw those are to their taprooms...brings people into their place on an afternoon. Even if some people are just having one pour of the variant keg, some people will stick around to have a couple more beers, which is great for them.

 

IMO their bottle selection has been great for the past three months. I understand it's not draft, but their ability to control how much beer goes out is better with bottles. If they run out of the only 5 bottles of '14 Prop that day, that's it. But if they have a keg they can't stop people from getting pours. They've also stepped up what they have to go too. I've purchased 16 Coffee and 15 Regal Rye to go in the past month.