Side Project / Shared (2020)

Merci Framboise was on-site for a while though right? I’m pretty sure I drank one during one of my visits. No on-site for the foreseeable future, so... insert Dumb and Dumber gif.

 

TWCP is a business and I get that this will drive a lot of revenue, but the walled garden setups for bourbon and some of their beers is frustrating, even if this is a more unique case than others.

 

How is it a walled garden? They are very honest and straightforward on how their limited releases work, its no secret society or whatever. Even the folks who sign up but don't spend a lot there have chances at getting allocated bottles in raffles and whatnot

 

Sorry to cut in, but late to this and wanted to share from an outsider. Curious, for locals/regulars your favorite stouts? Best and or wish you could drink it all the time bottle?

My first foray into SP stouts was last weekend. Got to drink a Derivation 13. Really awesome beer. Maybe one of the best aromas on a beer I’ve ever smelled. Tremendous body, mouthfeel.

Stunningly was not the best beer of the weekend. For me that went to BBT3 (non Raj edition). Unreal beer. Neck and neck with D13, but the finish on BBT was perfect-barrel and spice. Savoring each sip, but at the same time wanting to guzzle it.

Did these two blind since I didn’t want to be influenced by the label and aura of the beers. I understand they are quite different and the vanilla was/should be a giveaway, but still rolled with it.

Probably won’t drink beers like that again so it was pretty awesome.

Edit: also had Morning vibes. It was a good beer, but a distant 3rd. Green pepper from a bit of time on the bottle really detracted from it.

 

Personally, D1, DBD and the BBTs have been my favorites. My tastes generally lean toward less heavily adjuncted stuff but I did absolutely love D5.

 

Start at the top, brother! D13 and BBT b3 are tops in my book. For someone further away, such as yourself, it’s harder to nab stuff OP (on-premise) that’s either not available ever off-site (Candles series) or stuff that’s nearly impossible (Derivations and such). You can die happy(ish) after that first foray into SP.

 

VIBES

 

Many people would agree Cory makes the best stouts in the world, so you’ve reached the peak. Try to go for BBT weekend, cellar/brewery anniversary, or stout week. I went to all of those except cellar anniversary and got to try OWK, 10 different Derivations, BBT3, BA Coco, and 4/5/6 Candles. D7 on draft at the brewery anniversary was probably my favorite, with BBT close behind. D9 was the most disappointing because it just fell off. Brewery anniversary is the best day to go hands down.

 

Was able to try D1 and D2 at Stout Week a few years back and not sure I’ve ever had a better beer than D2. Perfection in a glass.

 

Just to play devil's advocate a bit: I've been to BBT/Anniversary etc. days and while the beers were world class, those days are always super crowded, loud, slightly hectic affairs. That's not to say the staff didn't manage it all perfectly, it's just the nature of that sort of event. My perfect SP experience is the random Tuesday that I get off work early and get to be one of three people at the bar at the cellar and actually talk to whoever is pouring that day about the draft list, or sit in the back and read/catch up on emails etc. all while still having amazing beer.

 

Give me an empty taproom over a full one any day, regardless of a grand event. Pretty awesome to have that Tuesday pop-in availability. Or any day for that matter.

 

obviously it’s a different brand and it doesn’t have the exclusivity that the Derivation series has had, but BBT is essentially non-adjunct Derivation at this point. you’re not going to find a better non-adjunct BA stout.

BA Coconut Vibes was beer of the year for me in 2019. truly amazing. Almost as good as regular Coconut Vibes b2 (beer of the year 2018)

Coffee Shop Vibes is my favorite coffee stout of all time.

 

This I can get behind as I've had a few iterations. Haven't popped my coconut, yet.

 

do it! label says “drink within 90 days” (assuming you’re talking about b3)

 

Same. CSV is pretty phenomenal and the acidity and bitterness of the coffee helps to mitigate the overly gloppy, viscous and often sweet base, for my palate (while still being insanely thick for any coffee stout). Also the coffee character they impart is amazing (and different each time).

That said, the rest of the stout fawning going on here...I'll just say I like a little more balance in my BA stouts. They're still world class but I'm not jumping on the orgasmatrain.

Must be a Friday night! Ya'll could use a little tempering, had to chime in

 

No coconut bottles on hand for me currently. More of a maybe someday situation.

 

Fairly argumentative…One example being a personal bias, but objectively inspirational across the board: Brad Clark – new project should be fun

 

I hate to give away my secret but Father’s Day weekend and Easter weekend have been some nice whale weekends for me and it’s usually fairly quiet.

 

I was lucky enough to get into Private Press. Very excited for it!