Blushing Monk-3/15 Backstage Release

"Boundary Pushing" for you? Smoked Porter was the first time Founders ever did that style, and the Lager was the first in twelve years I believe (and their first imperial). Sorry their boundary pushing does not meet your criteria, but it is their series and I think they get to make that call.

I agree the price point for Dissenter was a bit much, but it was a solid beer.

 

Good deal - so the over one thousand volunteers and brewers and theoretically thousands of attendees to the Winter Beer Fest will have a dramtically reduced chance of buying this unless there's a metric shit ton of it to last through Sunday.

I hope that's not the case, just seems to be.

 

Huh? I figured just the opposite: those people will have a leg up since they'll be in town already. The taproom opens well before the festival starts.

 

Agree, on Friday it does, but it's close... VIP would start at 2:00 - taproom opens at 11:00. No way brewery folks could make it, and volunteers typically have to be there earlier as well. Cutting it close with timing with any kind of lines, even for attendees.

Not hating on Founders at all, just tough for those associated with the festival to get down there that weekend, hoping there's bottles around on Sunday still.

 

Any news on the distribution dates for blushing monk

 

From Founder's Blog Post back in December:

"Blushing Monk will be released in limited quantities across our distribution footprint beginning on Monday, March 2, and will be available at the brewery’s taproom the week prior."
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I haven't anything different, so I assume that's still the case.

 

Not only is Blushing Monk hitting the taproom on Friday, it's also hitting GR distro on Friday. Surrounding areas on Monday.

 

I'm pretty sure I want to get at least 6 bottles of this. Only bought 2 of the last release and the 1 I aged was perfect after a few years.

 

Is this generally distributed with enough quantity to make that easy? (similar to Big Lushious with no bottle maximums, etc).

 

Hard to predict, but my gut tells me yes. When Founder's looks at the bottle count and customer demand and decides NOT to make it a ticketed event (like with Doom, Luscious, etc.), then it typically hits the shelves and sticks around for a while. Blushing Monk is unique though in that it's a beloved beer that's being brought back, so I imagine it'll be a bit tougher to track down than more recent Backstage releases.

 

Big Lushious and Dissenter sat on shelves because they weren't highly coveted entries in the series, and they're not brewed for aging. People wanted to try them, but weren't rushing out on day 1 to snatch up a case for their hoard... the same can't be said for Blushing Monk. I'm sure it'll be available in good quantity, but it's not going to sit. If you find it, buy it.

 

Did it hit you guys already? I have seen people on the Northeast purchasing bottles locally already, which I think is early?

 

I don't think Blushing Monk will be as big of a deal as some people make it out to be. It's just a raspberry beer after-all. Lots of raspberry bombs sitting on shelves already. And with the last 2 in the series being underwhelming, I'd imagine the hype factor has faded a bit.

My guess is that it will sit on shelves for a few months, be on tap all over the place, and won't have an inflated trade value, so no reason to strap saddles on a team of mules for it.

 

I hope you're right, but I don't think you are. The last even slightly hyped entry was Sweet Repute, and that was relatively hard to get in some areas, and this is one cheaper and more sought after, because 1) It's a "hot" style (Belgian fruit beer), 2) It will age incredibly well, which encourages people to stock up 3) It's been out before, and people who've had it already know it's incredible, but probably haven't had a taste in years and will be itching to get more this time round.

 

I hope so. I'd like to give a single a go and then if it's as good as I hope I can go out and procure more.

 

It doesn't age well. It's not worth trying again. Stop spreading such lies here where everyone can see them.

 

Fair point, and I do imagine a lot of the craze is due to the hype factor.
Maybe it's just a little different in WI since we have Raspberry Tart, which is literally a liquid raspberry.
Rubaeus and Dark's Horse's raspberry beer are also everywhere, so there are plenty of options depending on how much of a sugar bomb is desired. Haven't had Blushing Monk before, but it sounds like it's the middle ground between Raspberry Tart and Rubaeus. To me, nothing to go gaga over. But hey, more for you guys, who appreciate it more.

 

It has been described by Founders as an "Imperial Rubaeus", but honestly, it's miles better. I've had all the beers you mention, and my ranking of Raspberry Beers would be something like:

Dark Horse Raspberry << Rubeaus <<<<< NG RaspTart << Blushing Monk < Lou Pepe Framboise
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Granted, it's been several years since I've had it, but I've had everything else on that list within the last 12 months, and that's where I'd rank it.

 

Hopefully it's not only an imperial Rubeaus, because it was pretty terrible.
A Blushing Monk and Rasp Tart side-by-side would be interesting.

 

It's not an Imperial Rubaeus. That's like saying KBS is an Imperial Breakfast Stout. Complete and utter bullshit. BM is a Belgian Raspberry Ale that uses an entirely unique yeast strain from all other Founders beers. It should never be compared to Rubaeus.