Founders CBS - Final 2018 Barrel Aged Series release.

You think they could sell 4 packs of CBS for over $50? I think they would be priced closer to KBS 4 packs, maybe a little more but not $50+.

 

Ahh, that sucks... Thought 12oz bottles this year as well! Well, guess I will just pick some up here, then!

 

Well I stopped at my local store and picked up (3) bombers at $24.99/each... A bit expensive, yeah, but I really loved last years (especially the last one I cracked into a few weeks ago, age did it VERY well). One to drink fresh alongside my last 2017, one in a few months and the last to compare with the 19.

I still think CBS is probably one of the best stouts available. Overhyped? I think not. People just expected the pastry, overly intense flavored stouts that breweries love to pump out these days. CBS is just a beautiful beer, even if a bit expensive. It's harder for me to spend $5/can these days on NE IPA's which IMO, a worse value.

The 2017 CBS's are drinking their best right now... The one I had a few weeks ago was simply incredible, far better than fresh. More maple forward, more complex. Thankfully, I still have one more bomber. Plan to put it alongside the 2018 variant soon!

 

To date, I've never had this brew yet. Maybe now that Founders is coming to CO, I might get a chance. Would be great for NBS or Thanksgiving, or Christmas or New Years. KBS is an awesome brew, been years since I've had it.

Cheers!

 

I agree with the banner that it is for sure overpriced, but not necessarily overhyped. Great beer!

You may be correct with the consumer expecting a more dessert-like stout. I was fortunate to be visiting Tree House the last time they released Good Morning and that was an absolute maple syrup monster. I love that flavor so that beer absolutely blew my mind, but I can see people thinking it's too sweet.

Either way, I hope whoever wants CBS can get it and whoever missed it last year can get some this year.

 

A week after the release date, You can still find CBS on the shelves here in metropolitan Omaha (although the supply is dwindling quickly). Most places are selling it for $24.99 a bomber. But one place- Fresh Thyme (which is a “natural organic food” grocery store chain) is selling CBS bombers for a legit $22.03. You buy 2 there, you save $6 bucks total with tax..

As it relates to the 2017 vs the 2018.. I’ve had both on tap on release day and did a side by side. Loved both, but the 2017 has had more time to develop and meld together. Fresh, it’s more in your face- especially the coffee and chocolate components (similar to KBS in this regard). I still have a few 2017 bombers cellaring and I cracked into one last night. Absolutely delicious. This beer has cellared beautifully. The coffee, of course, is still there in the background..but dialed way back. It’s just a more harmonious balance. Now the 2018 from the bottle (as stated from my on tap samples) is in your face with bold coffee, chocolate and a nice warming that lets you know it’s 11.6%. It is sweet and the maple is there, but not a cloying sweetness. In the end, I guess it’s what you’re most in the mood for- if you want to get smacked in the face with bolder components, crack a 2018. If you want a more dialed back, and melded nicely together Imperial barrel aged stout, reach for a 2017..

Both are equally delicious..

Peace...

 

bottles still available today in Atlanta at ~$25 -- high enough for me to leave them one of my very favorite beers on the shelf.

 

I think all the hand wringing over the price point on a seasonal beer is ridiculous. If you don't like it that's fine, but if it was $19 bucks and you would buy it vs say $24 and you won't seems a bit strange. So in your beer year that $5 amounts to a pint at the local bar. Again assuming you like it to begin with, but the pricing point is kinda irrelevant to a point.

 

Saw a 750ml on-line for $45.

Cheers!

 

International customers will get 12 oz bottles again this year it seems. Here is what Founders said on FB recently regarding this year's release:

It does seem 4pks domestically might happen next year (or the next time they release it anyway). Even their social media acknowledges the desire for the format change.

 

Id like a choice on formats. Big bottle is great for sharing, 4 pk for single sessions. If I want to bitch about bottle size I'd save it for the 500 ml Bcbs. Love the bottle, but.....

 

If you wanted to buy 4 of em, yeah maybe. Firestone Walker sells their Proprietor's Series 12oz brews for $10-$15.

 

There's a few left at Total Wine and at Bestway, maybe a case or two at best. I think I saw $22.99. -$23.99. I don't see them offering up 4 pks at anything close $25 $$30, the proration is way off, it'll be more like mid to high $40's for a 4 pks. Which will be in the ballpark of Prarie bottles on a $11.99 price point. I'd rather deal with a bomber looking at the numbers.

 

I'm sure they would gouge even worse on the 4 pack.

 

I disagree. For KBS, 750 ml bottles were around 19-20 and 4 pks were around 25ish. Price per ounce is much better for the 12 oz bottles and I'd expect the same for CBS.

 

A tasty beer for sure. Local store had it today at $23.99 but I passed.- watching $'s for now. Will find out next wknd if I am getting a case of Mother Of All Storms at $25 ea + shipping.

So Instead today I bought 2 more CW Rye Barrel Stout bombers at $7.99 ea., another very good beer.

 

Yes thats how it works. When buying a 4 pack the price is at a volume discount because you’re buying 48oz per unit instead of just 25oz. That’s why people want the 4 packs, they’re always cheaper per ounce.

 

I finished my last bottle from 2017 a few weeks ago. I tried a 2018 on tap a few days ago. Both were sweeter and had more maple than I recall. It’s probably just me. I thinks it’s a great beer. I had KBS on tap yesterday. Thought it was fantastic and preferred it to CBS.

 

Not your imagination. Aged CBS is stronger on the maple as compared to fresh due to faded coffee, while 2018 CBS has more maple to begin with. Aged 2018 ought to be a maple bomb.