BB Stout Blind Tasting Results

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by runner440, Apr 22, 2013.

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  1. runner440

    runner440 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Maryland

    My tasting group and I did a little blind tasting of a few Bourbon Barrel Aged Stouts over the weekend, so I figured I would post the results. There were 8 people in the tasting, and we ranked the beer 1 - 5. 1 being the favorite and 5 being the least favorite. Therefore, the lower the final tally, the better the beer in the eyes of the group. The beers we tasted and the scores were:

    A. 50/50 Eclipse 12yr EC - 3,2,5,4,5,3,3,3 = 28
    B. Bourbon County Stout 2012 - 1,1,1,1,4,1,2,2 = 13
    C. Central Waters BB Stout = 5,5,3,5,2,2,5,5 = 32
    D. Barrel Aged Gonzo 2013 - 4,4,4,3,1,5,4,4 = 29
    E. Black Tuesday 2012 - 2,3,2,2,3,4,1,1 = 18

    For a Final ranking and average score of:

    1. Bourbon County - 1.63
    2. Black Tuesday - 2.25
    3. Eclipse 12yr EC - 3.5
    4. BA Gonzo - 3.63
    5. Central Waters BB Stout - 4

    For me, BCS and BT were easily well ahead of the other four beers with Eclipse and Gonzo running mid-pack and Central Waters bringing up the end. It was a great time and there really wasn't a "bad" beer in the whole bunch. The biggest surprise for the group was that BA Gonzo was so close to Eclipse in ranking. Although, I was pulling for the hometown beer lol :slight_smile: . Thanks for all who participated. Anyone else have any experience with a blind tasting of these beers or similar styles beers to each other?
     
    #1 runner440, Apr 22, 2013
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  2. Highbrow

    Highbrow Pooh-Bah (1,770) Jan 7, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    hella' technical i know but if you're talking "bourbon" barrel aged specifically, i think BA Gonzo might not have been aged in true bourbon barrels.
     
    #2 Highbrow, Apr 22, 2013
  3. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    I'm going to have to seek out BA Gonzo now, would have not believed it would have danced with the big boys like that.
     
    #3 Hanzo, Apr 22, 2013
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  4. Momar42

    Momar42 Initiate (0) Sep 19, 2010 Maryland

    Yeah I am surprised too. While I enjoyed BA Gonzo (I had a 750 bottle when it first came out) I didnt think the barrel came out near as much as I had hoped. Also since its technically a porter, the mouthfeel and body was thinner by comparison. Price point wise, would easily have to agree that BCS was clearly superior. Of course just my totally uneducated $.02. Sounds like it was a great tasting though. Cheers.
     
    #4 Momar42, Apr 22, 2013
  5. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    That's funny, because it's also not a stout.

    Anyway, I'm not particularly surprised in this outcome given the lineup, BCBS and BT are just in a different league from the others.
     
    #5 stupac2, Apr 22, 2013
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  6. Siggy125

    Siggy125 Maven (1,318) Nov 10, 2006 California
    Trader

    Anxious to know how you selected these particular bottles when there are so many to choose from.
     
    #6 Siggy125, Apr 22, 2013
  7. Momar42

    Momar42 Initiate (0) Sep 19, 2010 Maryland

    Probably the, "Hey bring a BA beer and lets do an awesome blind taste test." method. :grinning: Of which I would gladly partake in at the drop of a hat mind you.
     
    #7 Momar42, Apr 22, 2013
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  8. runner440

    runner440 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Maryland

    Yes, this is exactly how it was decided. And throwing in Gonzo was a nice benchmark for us since it is a fairly readily available BB stout/porter for Maryland. I have also felt Gonzo skirts the porter/stout boundary so I felt it wouldn't be too farfetched to add. It even had the same ABV (9.5%) as the Eclipse.
     
    #8 runner440, Apr 22, 2013
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  9. TheLostGringo

    TheLostGringo Initiate (0) Dec 7, 2011 Connecticut

    I always enjoy blind tastings and enjoy hearing about others experiences especially when the details and findings are presented.
     
    #9 TheLostGringo, Apr 22, 2013
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  10. runner440

    runner440 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Maryland

    It is a really good beer and pretty widely available, at least around my area. They are really good around the 1 and 2 year mark. In my opinion, the aged might even be a little better than fresh bottles. I think this year they did all 750ml bottles, whereas they have done 12oz bottles in the past. Hopefully you can find some.
     
    #10 runner440, Apr 22, 2013
  11. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    We get all the rest of their stuff so I assume it would make it here. I'll certainly keep a lookout. I would have likely passed it by had I not seen this.
     
    #11 Hanzo, Apr 22, 2013
  12. 1up

    1up Initiate (0) Mar 5, 2013 District of Columbia

    Where in VA are you
     
    #12 1up, Apr 22, 2013
  13. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    Southeast VA (Hampton Roads).
     
    #13 Hanzo, Apr 22, 2013
  14. 1up

    1up Initiate (0) Mar 5, 2013 District of Columbia

    Ah, don't know that area sorry
     
    #14 1up, Apr 22, 2013
  15. Lare453

    Lare453 Pooh-Bah (2,884) Feb 1, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Isn't gonzo a porter???
     
    #15 Lare453, Apr 22, 2013
  16. seeswo

    seeswo Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2010 Ohio

    Comparing 8-10% BA stouts/porters to 15-19% BA Imperial Imperial Stouts seems...unfair?
     
    #16 seeswo, Apr 22, 2013
  17. runner440

    runner440 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Maryland

    Probably true. 3 were at 9.5%, 1 at 15%, and 1 at 19.2%. We really didn't have any other 15+% BA stouts just lying around though. I couldn't taste the different in alcohol percentages among the 5 beers. The booze in BCS and BT were hidden extremely well. So that didn't detract from the "blindness" of it at least.
     
    #17 runner440, Apr 22, 2013
  18. 1up

    1up Initiate (0) Mar 5, 2013 District of Columbia

    It really has more to do with gravity than ABV and I'm pretty sure BT and BCBS are in a different league gravity wise.
     
    #18 1up, Apr 22, 2013
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  19. Titans77

    Titans77 Zealot (588) Jul 21, 2011 Maryland

    Yes it is, but it is 9.5% and more like a stout. It really does blur the lines between stout/porter and should be treated as such. It is one of the best beers I have ever had, but falls short of stuff like Parabola and BCBS while still being VERY good. Best "porter" I have ever had. Best stout? Hell no....
     
    #19 Titans77, Apr 22, 2013
    runner440 likes this.
  20. BeastLU

    BeastLU Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2012 Virginia

    If you haven't seen it yet, I don't know about your chances. Been in rva and nova for weeks already.
     
    #20 BeastLU, Apr 22, 2013
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