2016 BCBS Chicago Release (Black Friday & Beyond)

Does Rare even trade 1:1 with 2016 Prop? Rare is way too similar to Regular to justify a 6-8 times price. OG Rare was special, 2015, not so much.

 

Nah. I have trouble with blanket statements because each individual is different. Look at the reviews overall and make your best decision based on your own interests.

 

I personally found OG Rare more similar to regular than '15 Rare. With that being said, my OG Rare was also 5 years old, but I have yet to have a full bottle of '15 Rare.

 

In my opinion, OG Rare was something special. I'm know I'm in the minority, but 15 Rare isn't as good as the 15 regular. But that's because I'm not a fan of straight Heaven Hill barrels. Too much of a twangy heat for me. I don't mind it in a blend, but not when its the only barrel used. Its ruined some great BA Pipeworks offerings for me too. Again, just my preference.

 

OG Rare just tasted like a "better" BCS to me. In that sense special, in the sense of me picking up anything "different," not really. I'd have really liked to try it in 2010 (as opposed to in 2015), though. I'd imagine it would've been different then.

Rare '15 is great to me, but for a non-unique reason: I just really like most BA stouts that are aged for 1.5+ years in their barrels. But I also like Heaven Hill products, so there's that.

edit: Also, 2014 BCS is my all-time favorite regular, so that'll tell you where I'm at.

 

I find it to taste similar in the fashion that Coffee tastes like regular with coffee added. Rare tastes like a bigger regular with more wood and more booze. If there is any way to improve regular, that's it, in my opinion.

It definitely stands out and above to me.

I agree with most of this other than 2015 being my favorite year

 

Trade value only matters to traders, not people who just love a particular beer.

 

So if you love a particular beer that is rare and can't find it you wouldn't trade for it? Must not love it that much...

 

I just don't think "trade value" matters that much to most people. A beer's intrinsic value is in it's flavor, not its market status.

 

2015 Rare at Garfield's in Crystal Lake. A bit overpriced.

 

Great place to have a drink while browsing around looking at the beer.

 

Does this Garfelds place have a good selection? Im going to be in Chicago in a week and am looking to grab stuff I cant get in WI. Prairie Artisan, anything Bourbon County, etc. Any insigght would be great.

 

Well, ill be traveling in on I90 into Chicago and was planning on pulling off in Norridge unless you tell me otherwise?

 

Beer Temple is like 5 mins off the highway. Belmont exit.

 

Garfields CL has a nice selection and you can have a drink there too, but you would be going a half hour or more out of your way (off I90). Unless you have another reason to head that way, I'd skip that and hit Beer Temple and Binny's LP if I were you.