I just had a 2010 arrive, but it looks exactly like my '12 with the exception that the blue printing isn't off center like it is on my '12. Does anyone know how to differentiate the bottles?
You have a special bottle of 2010 since they only made BA Hi-Fi in 2011 and 2012! But, joking aside I also am curious. I remember discussing this with someone and I think we came to the conclusion they just reused old bottles they had/didn't change a thing but never really knew 100% if that was true.
I've seen the HiFi listed as both 2011 and 2010, so not sure which is actually correct either? I was also told the was not as thick on the first bottling which does appear to be the case on the bottle I received.
The older vintage was packaged in a different bottle. It's about a 1/4 inch shorter than the new one.
The 2011s* I've tried have had rusted caps. I don't know if the 2012s do, too. Never had one of those. * I owe a big debt of gratitude to lurchingbeast for being able to make this plural. Great beer.
I've opened two of the new batch so far with no rust...oddly enough the last Sucaba I opened was rusty as hell.
No difference in the bottles so I labelled all my 11s and 12s when the new ones came out so I could tell the difference. Taste was pretty different though.
It may have sounded sarcastic, but I was being serious. Check the two vintages. One should be a little shorter with a thinner neck.
If I can remember when I get home I'll take a picture. They used a slightly different shape bomber bottle for the 2 different years.
wow, you are 100% correct. the first batch is a bit shorter...same as the regular hi fi. the new batch is slightly taller (and the old ones have rusted caps )
I just talked with a rep from Flossmoor. The latest bottled batch of BA Hi Fi Rye, was actually the previous batch, aged in kegs, then bottled. The new brewers haven't brewed any Hi Fi Rye.
That would contradict what Bryan Shimkos (the brewer of Hi-Fi) told everyone at the 2011 Hi-Fi release. He said the when the 2011 Hi-Fi was released the 2012 BA Hi-Fi was already in barrels. The 2011 release of the regular Hi-Fi is the base beer for the 2012 release of BA Hi-Fi So I guess you are correct in that the new brewer (Nick Barron) has never brewed a batch of Hi-Fi as head brewer, but you are incorrect in that it was the previous batch (brewed in 2010) that was bottled for the 2012 release from kegs.
I would appriciate if someone could take a picture, or maybe a tape measure and measure the 2 different bottles. I received a BA Hi-Fi in a trade, and neither I, nor the person who traded it knows if it's a 2011, or 2012. He said he had received it in a trade... I'd really like to know which one I have... Thanks!!
Here's the side by side (11 on left, 12 on right): (For full resolution click here: http://i.imgur.com/ZLgsX.jpg) The height difference is minimal, with the 2011 measuring 10 7/8" and the 2012 measuring 11 1/8". The most telling difference to me is the shape of the bomber. The 2011 is what I would call 'Lagunitas' style, with the 2012 the 'Standard' style. For those who have seen Lagunitas bombers, they kind of pinch in right at the base of the neck, where the 'standard' one are just a gradual slope. The 2011 wax is also a bit more 'glittery' but that is just nitpicking. Like I said before, the difference is very minimal and hard to notice but it is there if you look closely.
Thank's Ryan! I didn't have both bottles in front of me last time so this is good to know that they are indeed different.
2011 is definitely good, but I'm told some bottles have oxidized poorly, so keep that in mind. The 2012 I opened today (thanks, again, to lurchingbeast) was not as good as the 2011s. It was quite sweet and bourbon-forward, even though it had a less-than-medium body. It reminded me of something The Bruery would make.
