So, yesterday I saw some Willetized and Societe The Pupil pop up fresh in my TD Joe's! Willetized was going for, brace yeselves, 10.99 a 4pk. That's here in LA, in the West Side. I grabbed two four packs and one society sixer. I think this is the best batch of Willettized yet; roasty nose, sweet, good barrel presence. Full bodied, fuller than previous years, without being sticky or sludgy like a pastry. 13%, but it drinks rather easily. Previous batches came across a bit thin and overly sweet, but this has that roasty fullness of High Westified! Is it as good as High Westified? Probably not. But it's close, and for 10.99 a four pack (12 with tax) it is simply the best deal in beer out there. I bought an additional four pack today.
I enjoyed this years Willetized, but yeah, my recollection was High Westy was a little better. But as you mentioned, you can’t beat the price.
I grabbed a four-pack not long ago, and it's already gone. My "local" got a few cases in, so I didn't feel the slightest bit bad at grabbing 3 more four-packs, especially at that price. Tough to compare batches for me, especially with so many beers of that style now. I definitely enjoy the hell out of it, though.
I like them with some age on them. Nonetheless, at the price, I had to buy a case of the 2020. Excellent beer at any price.
I recently tried thus year's, a 2019, and a 2017 in the space of 3 days. 2017 had lost a step but was still good. Last years was a bit fuller feeling (which was my recollection of it fresh as well) and more chocolatey/fudgey (which I did not recall from it fresh). This year seems to have a little more barrel - not booze but that whole wood tannin, ash, leather thing - and a bit of a thinner body. To me its just a question of personal preference for the style though between those two and I'll be. Curious to see how this years will change in a year. I got 4 4 packs cause ive always run out in previous batches. Definitely a value.
Willetized used to be High Westified until Ballast Point's parent company bought the High West distillery.
This is my first year trying it so I can't say best ever, but I can't say it is god damn good. My case is almost half gone. For some unknown reason I just now felt compelled to put a splash of peanut butter whiskey in one. Not my proudest moment as a Beer Advocate, but it ain't bad.
I think as the carbonation tames a little on this one it might turn out to be the thicker batch yet. I definitely agree with the barrel. It's also roastier than I recall previous batches.
I do really like this year's Willetized Coffee stout, though this is also the first year I've had the opportunity to try it. For the price it's difficult to beat. On a somewhat related note, this might be a dumb question but does anyone know why the bottles state "aged in rye oak barrels" while the description reads "we were fortunate enough to get some of their Bourbon barrels"? Isn't rye whiskey aged in different barrels than bourbon? And if so, which are they using?
Bourbon & rye whiskeys each have to be aged in new charred oak barrels. Willett makes a high rye bourbon, maybe that's what they meant. Willett also makes a rye whiskey so maybe Lagunitas is just calling any American whiskey “bourbon” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Even the website is unclear implies both rye & bourbon, but seems to mean bourbon only.
I can’t remember years past but do know I have liked them all and this year is no expectation. What I get out of this years is a nice barrel and whiskey note with a lot of dark fruit and dark chocolate with caramelized brown sugar. It’s smooth with very minimal booze. A nice bitter finish to keep the sweetness in check. It does leave a stickiness on my lips.
