Backacre Batch Sour Golden Ale Blend 5 (7.7%)?

I shared a bottle with my wife about 4 months ago and we both thought it was great. Had been about a year since I last had another batch of Backacre previously (either Batch 2 or 3, don't know for sure) and I didn't find myself thinking it used to be better. YMMV of course, but this is the first I've heard about it not being good.

 

Looked at the reviews. Two people, same share and same bottle, so take that as you will. Another had from someone I know and respect who liked it. I have had a couple of different batches and they have been very good to great. Last bottle I had was purchased Oct 2015, not sure if this was B#5 or not but it was very good.

 

Just looked at the reviews myself. This is a bit of a hot take, but we can tell from the reviews (both of which thank someone named Kyle for sharing) that this beer was split at least three ways. Odds are it was more than that (one of the reviewers reviewed 16 beers from that same date...) and I'm not surprised that people who drink 3 ounces of this while/after drinking a bunch of other beers feel differently about it than others who share a bottle with one other person. I've had Backacre bottles a few different times, and every time my experience was the same, open a bottle with my wife and enjoy it at dinner. Perhaps my judgement is clouded by the positive experiences of the dinner and the company, but I'd put more stock in a review like that than a couple dudes splitting it 8 ways and feeling let down. Again, a hot take and based on nothing more than speculation, just a general observation of how reviews can skew higher (massive, unbalanced beers stand out and get high makrs) or lower (delicate, balanced, saisons and the like do poorly) than expected when bottles get split up like that

 

Not sure of batch number, but two weeks ago I opened a bottle that a friend had recently purchased. So if batch 5 is recent, that's what we opened and it was fantastic as usual. This was the 4th or 5th time I've shared a bottle and all have been excellent. IMO, this is one of the most under rated beers coming out of VT.

 

I have a batch from Oct 2015 and some from Jan 2016
Not sure what batch #s they are ...any way to tell?
I opened Oct 2015 right when I got it .. nothing but mediocre
Then opened another bottle from Oct 2015 a week ago... amazing!!
Time makes this beer top tier in the sour world

I will open a Jan 2016 bottle around May -- no need to drink "fresher" then that

Either way if I see it for sale/trade I would not hesitate

 

Batch info here, you can tell which one you have by date/ABV: http://www.backacrebeermakers.com/bottles.php

 

So all Batch 6 for me... and it is amazing with a couple months on it

 

Yeah I'd agree with everyone above, I've had this a few times and enjoyed it thoroughly. Again, I have not had batch 5, but while there is batch variation, I'd be shocked if it weren't delicious.

You'll just have to dome it and bring up that rating on BA

 

I've had Blend 3, 4 & 5 and I agree that 5 was my least favorite but if I still lived in NH I'd get as much Backacre as I could. I still have 2 bottles of Blend 5 in the cellar, hoping they'll improve.

 

This is pretty much me to a T (except I've never lived in NH).

 

Sorry to be a noob, but I have had a few runs on Backacre and have one from Oct or November of last year. Looked last night after reading the thread and didn't see anything to indicate the batches. Other than remembering when it was purchased and cross referencing with the Blends #s on the page, is there anything on the bottles themselves? Thanks!

 

I'll check my bottles when I'm home tonight, but I don't recall anything marked on the bottles. I think the website with batch dates/ABV is the only way to confirm batch numbers, but others with more Backacre experience may have better info

 

There is no indication of batch number on the bottle, only by cross-referencing the ABV as listed on the website as @Justin42 stated above.

 

As long as we're on the subject, is there any retail outlet that actually has Backacre on the shelves right now? Or are we waiting for the next blend to drop?

 

Th

Thanks I have a 7.3%.

 

You might try calling this place: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25037/ Meditrina Wine and Cheese in Chester, VT. I know the drops tend to happen in the first week of each month but I always had good luck in the past with them still having bottles. It was usually a 2-bottle limit though.

Or this place: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26273/ Brewfest Beverage in Ludlow, VT

I believe both place will hold bottles too. Good luck!