BCBS or Similar Suggestions

IMO, not much better than BCBS but I think there are other good barrel aged stouts out there. Also easier to get. I am a fan of Anderson Valley Wild Turkey aged stout and DORIS. Both, at least in WI, are pretty easy to get. DORIS is an Akron beer, so should be easy for you!

 

Most of the comparable offerings are going to be hard to get this time of year. Firestone Walker's stuff is usually my go-to if BCBS is out (Parabola in specific), but it'll be tough to get a hold of right now. Black Butte XXVI recently was released, so maybe try for that (it's a porter, but whatever)? The majority of the really good bourbon barrel stuff is hard to get a hold of, unfortunately. I'm not as well versed on the year-round offerings, but I've heard things like Dragon's Milk and the like pop up when people are trying to find something easily obtainable.

Also, if you rule out BA stuff, see if you can find something like Ten Fidy or Founders Imperial Stout--Two of the best non-BA stouts out there, and a little easier to find.

 

New Holland's Dragons Milk rocks and is available year round.

 

Dragon's Milk is okay. Look for Central Waters Brewers Reserve BBA Stout in November. Much more affordable and yet incredibly good. Or go for Evil Twin Double Barrel Jesus, Even More Jesus, Aun Mas Jesus con Cafe.

 

For a gift I would look into acquiring a Parabola from Firestone Walker.

1) Better, IMO, than BCBS.
2) Attractive packaging
3) Larger format (22oz)
4) Relatively easy to obtain

 

Other BBA stouts that may fit the bill:

Jackie O's BBA Dark Appartition
Hoppin' Frog BBA BORIS or DORIS
Thirsty Dog BBA Siberian Night (seasonal)

Dragon's Milk is also good and available year-round, although I feel the bourbon character is somewhat lacking until it has been aged for a bit (~6months or so).

Also, IMO, the BA Dark Apparition and BA BORIS have a bourbon profile similar to BCBS (I have not had an opportunity to try BA DORIS, unfortunately).

 

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout.

 

A 4 pack of the BCBS is never a bad thing. However, why not get him more BBA beers so it can broaden his views more. Honestly I would go through the top 250, or even the Beers of Fame and find what Bourbon Barreled stuff you can find. It might be good to throw in a BCBS, so he is getting one you know he likes.

 

Maybe Expedition Stout? We don't want him thinking beer can only be deep and complex when it's been steeped in bourbon barrels, do we?

 

Black Xantus

 

Dragon's Milk doesn't have the same intensity of bourbon flavors as BCBS but it does have a good wallop of woody vanilla flavor, as well as a marshmallow character. It's available year-round as well; if you need something right now, that would be my suggestion.

Not a stout and marginally more difficult to get than Dragon's Milk, but Weyerbacher Heresy would be my second choice. As far as I know, any other big hitter besides these two either isn't in stores now or isn't sold in Ohio.

 

I don't know about availability in your area, but Epic Brewing Big Bad Baptist is available here pretty regularly and is quite good.

 

Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout is terrific, easy to find (if you get distribution, of course) and inexpensive. It's a more than capable replacement for BCBS.

 

Big fan of Uinta Labyrinth. Technically a "black ale" but let's face it, that shit is a delicious big ass barrel aged stout.

 

You're in Ohio and therefore should have ready access to some of the great Bourbon Barrel aged stouts from Hoppin' Frog, correct? BA BORIS is great and not too bad on the wallet.

 

There are other high quality Bourbon Barrel aged beers available (and some have already been mentioned) but they will be different from BCBS.

I was fortunate to be able to purchase a 4-pack of the coffee version (BCBCS) last fall and those beers were OUTSTANDING. If you could obtain a 4-pack of BCBCS for co-worker I am confident that he will find those beers to be AWESOME!

Cheers!

 

Good beer, but not bourbon infused as per the OPs original request.

I'd say Dragons Milk too. It's not near as good as BCBS, but it's available and it's way easier to drink for bourbon barrel n00bs.

Heresy is definitely a stout and a good suggestion, if you can find it......it's not the easiest thing to find months after the release.

 

If you really want bcbs, setup a trade. There's tons out there, just not in stores. But everyone's suggested beers are great...everyone has their owns tastes as to what's good. Me...I love parabola. It's amazing. I also like Bomb!, Speedway Stout, Black Note, Central Waters, Mikkeller and of course Three Floyds. If you do go with bcbs, try to get the variants...barleywine if easy to get and coffee should be doable...coffe is my favorite variant. Good luck!

 

Big Bad Baptist from Epic in CO. Not sure how widely it's distributed, but they seem to make quite a bit of it. $12 a bottle, bourbon barrel-aged w/ cocoa nibs & coffee. Bonus is that each batch is unique, usually with a different coffee.

Tyranena from Wisconsin has several barrel-aged goodies, Devil Over a Barrel comes to mind quickest. Still on a few shelves around Wisconsin if you are looking to swing a trade. $10-12 for a 4-pack, 60% barrel aged I believe.