2015 Black Note

It's not about cash to buy barrels. A lot of brewery's run into trouble with barrel availability from outside sources and warehouse space to run multiple simultaneous barrel programs. But if you guys have legitimate sources that contradict, I'll retract my statement. Just seems odd I heard this several times months ago, then again this weekend.

 

Bottom Line: When It's Ready, It's Ready.

 

I'll just have to do that!

 

when?

 

I bought this in December 2012 on a road trip from Boston to Wisconsin in 750 corked bottles. Maybe the most magnificent beer I've had of the dark persuasion. Had the last one one month ago the night before my wedding along with the first bourbon county bomber I ever bought, marked 2009. We weren't keeping score, just enjoying real nice beer.

 

Just did. Couldn't figure out how to upload a picture. Not to savvy.

 

I know this thread is supposed to be about the release of BN, but does anyone know if Bell's has ever released the base beer for Black Note without barrel aging it first. Expedition is great, especially after a little time chillin in my collection of goods, but other than BN I think that is their highest ABV stout. I always hear about Goose Island and their mysterious base beer for BCBS. Why don't these brewers let me know what their beer tastes like before the bourbon kicks in?

 

The base beer is a blend of Expedition and Double Cream Stout I believe

 

No kidding. They should both be coming around pretty soon. Maybe I'll do a little blending of my own.

 

A couple GI brewers have told me the base beer is terrible. Night Stalker is just a super-hopped version of that beer, it's not amazing.

 

From Bells site:
Black Note Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
One of the most sought-after stouts in Bell's history, Black Note Stout blends the complex aromatics of Expedition Stout with the velvety smooth texture of Double Cream Stout and ages the combination in freshly retired oak bourbon barrels for months. The resulting harmony of flavors captures the finest features of all three components: malty notes of dark chocolate, espresso & dried fruits, all buoyed by the warmth and fragrance of the bourbon barrel. Aimed squarely at the stout and bourbon aficionados, Black Note makes a grand statement about the art of the dark.

 

Well shit, I guess I could have done that one on my own. Thanks for the info!

 

Because as the brewers have either alluded to or said outright, the base beers just aren't all that good prior to barrel aging. They were designed specifically to be barrel aged and it would be a disservice to the beer to sell it in a state it wasn't intended to be drank from.

But back on topic.... dat Black Note... can't wait

 

The Goose base is Big John without the chocolate nibs, which would be a pretty good beer. Just better with bourbon. And BN is expedition and cream. Both are very good. Odds are they blend as you said for the bourbon impact.

 

I am not so sure we can take this so literally though. I am guessing that Bell's means that Black Note has many of the same flavor/mouthfeel components of Expedition and Double Cream in the same way an artist would say their work was influenced by a historical master. The angels would have to be pretty greedy for a straight combination of Expedition and Double Cream at 10.5% and 6.1% ABV respectively to result in Black Note at 11.4%.

EDIT: I guess that's a good question. Can the angel's share push ABV 3-4% ABV over 12-14 months?

 

I'm not one to age brews with the mentality they'll get better but let me tell ya, '12 is tasting oh so lovely at the moment.

Funny too becuase I've seen a few ISO '12 BN posts lately which is pretty unusual for people to be posting that for a 3yr old stout (minus the big boys-Assassin, DL, BCBS and variants, etc.).

 

Ashley's in AA occasionally hosts the brewers from Bell's for a "Black Note Deconstructed" party. Attendees get pours of Expedition, Double Cream, Black Note, a shot of Four Roses bourbon, and information on the making of Black Note. I think there's lots of hints right there.

 

This is incorrect. Goose Island has never released the recipe for the base beer of Bourbon County. They have, however, said it would not be enjoyable to drink and intentionally make it messy so that the barrels can bring all the flavors together.

 

Black Note is a blend of Expedition and Too Cream...so you can get those. The base for Goose Island is called Cook County Stout, It is not an enjoyable beer to drink and quite messy before barrel treatment.

 

Well God bless those barrels and all the remarkable work they do! I'll just make my own BN in the meantime while I wait.