Thoughts on Goose Island's 2022 Bourbon County (BCBS) Lineup?

If I run across it for less than $5 in a shelf-turd discount bin, then maybe. Otherwise, not interested.

 

Multiple Chicago stores that have been selling per-orders for the last 2-3weeks. A common theme is 1x all variants (including prop) and 2 reg. For $210.

 

Just seeing some of the less sought after variants on local shelves, they were hovering around $22-24. Is this proposed pricing for Chicago?

TBH, still gonna have a tough time with $24 for a coffee stout.

You answered the above question when I was typing this. I'll hope it's lower here. We're not a high cost of living area, and BCBS sits on shelves (outside of the reserve stuff.) Unless AB-InBev decided to make less this year.

 

In years past Chicago prices have mirrored the rest of the country at MSRP pricing. But:

• Some stores in Chicago always charge a little more, and some usually charge a little less
• There's rarely a benefit (read: discount) to purchasing the package in Chicago
• Other parts of the country (including elsewhere in the mid-west), often at the same stores year-after-year, will discount regular to closer to $12.99 rather than $14.99, or offer case-discounts of $10.99-12.99. Most stores want to sell out day 1 if possible.
• Some parts of the U.S. nearly always see higher prices - NY state is one.
• Individual stores still charge what they want, and everyone knows those local stores that jack up the prices.

Just what I have noticed.

 

It would be cool if some kegs made it out here. Nothing beats a barrel aged stout served at 32 degrees while it’s negative whatever outside.

 

I might bite if the gas station it shows up at in rural Northern Nevada has it at a decent price.

There's just too many other really good barrel aged beers out there to prioritize chasing anything.

4 packs of Founders KBS and Sierra Nevada bal Narwhal $20 at same gas station, so a single 500ml $15 GI one will prolly collect dust next to the previous two vintages still sitting on the shelf.

 

Wow! Can we get a price list from last year? I’m thinking I got the Toasted for 42, the reg for 14 or 15 and the fourteen variant for 20? I didn’t care to buy the others for cost reasons and my prices could be one or two dollars one way or the other. All around looks like about 5 bucks higher than last year.

 

Last year was something close to the following depending on where you bought them:

• Reg: 14.99
• Cherry: 17.99
• Prop: 29.99
• Fourteen & Cola: 24.99
• Blantons: 34.99-39.99
• DB Toasted: 40 - 50

 

After trying 30th Anniversary it is not worth the price premium at all. Tasted like regular with slightly different barrels?

2-Year Barleywine is indeed very good.

Coffee is great just like it always was.

Proprietors sounded weird but was actually enjoyable. I got mostly coconut, with hints of lime/tropical fruits. Everyone seems to get a different adjunct as the primary, my friend got mostly pineapple.

 

The price is:

 

Should we be more outraged at DFH for charging $40/4-pack for WWS & 120 all these years or at GI for charging $40/4-pack (nearly doubling the price on 4 packs since the last time they had BCBS in that format)?

 

Good question - one of the difficult problems with answering this is that there are some rumors that the 4-packs will be easter eggs (i.e. single distillery), but it's hard to know if that rumor has any teethe, because the packaging doesn't indicate that is correct. I never had a 2020 or 2021 easter egg, so I don't know if the language was also contradictory on those.

Also, the 16.9oz bottles (at $15 ea) are $0.89/oz and the 12oz bottles (assume $42/4 pack) are $87.5/oz. So, they are actually cheaper per oz. If they indeed end up being easter eggs also, then that's a pretty great value in my eyes.

I'd rather have 12oz bottles anyway. BUT, the big question is just whether or not these are even being distributed outside chicagoland.

 

It would appear so. No idea as far as volume but I do see stores in states like PA and NY detailing 12oz bottles for purchase. Here is one store in PA (Tanczos) I came across with their release details as an example:

BC Stout 16.9oz bottle: $14.95 - Limit 6
BC Stout 12oz bottle: $10.95 - Limit 4
BC Coffee Stout 16.9oz bottle: $26.95 - Limit 3
BC Biscotti Stout 16.9oz bottle: $26.95 - Limit 2
BC Sir Issac’s Stout 16.9oz bottle: $26.95 - Limit 2
BC 30th Anniversary 16.9oz bottle: $42.95 - Limit 2
BC Two-Year Barleywine Reserve 16.9oz bottle: $42.95 - Limit 1

 

Much appreciated! And thanks for the added data points!

 

A bottle shop I frequent (in Rochester NY) already posted that they will have 4 packs for sale. No prices listed though.

 

Thanks for alerting me to this; Tanczos is a drive, but doable for me. Particularly interested in the 12oz bottles of regular.

 

I don’t know what B5K is. Your reviews seem to indicate that you like barley wines… and if you love Mother of all Storms, then I’m not sure why you’d start to think that you really don’t like barley wines. I don’t have any recommendations. I love Bigfoot (which is super divisive) and imports. I am not very interested in buying any bourbon barrel barley wines. I was just commenting on the variety within the style. The Goose Island beer that sparked the discussion is pretty extreme at 17% ABV.

 

Sure can. Which one wasn’t good to you?

 

Well, I did want coffee til I saw this... almost double the price just for adding some cold brew coffee?

 

Yes.

Cheers!