Bottle Logic Brewing (2020)

I enjoyed a Ghost Proton this weekend. Not a ton of barrel, but loads of marshmallow and definite chocolate. Can’t say I picked up graham cracker at all but would concede it came after a split Assassin haha

 

FO 2020 vs. Darkstar November anybody?

 

Maybe a longshot here, but in Anaheim this week from Northern CA to pick up FO. If any Saving Throw people aren't getting their full allotment on Space Jam, would love to try and pick one up this week while here.

 

I thought FO 2020 was pretty meh to be honest. It was thinner than every batch I remember.

 

I thought this years batch out of the bottle was fantastic..

 

I got you, no way I need six bottles of this.

 

Many thanks!

 

I love this time of year. Here come the “FO isn’t as good as it used to be” posts...pretending it has nothing to do with how easy it is to get now.

 

I mean, it's no b1....

I kid, I kid!

 

Batch 1 better.

 

everyone knows b0 or early preview is the best

 

Y’all talking about FO and different batches while I’m over here lamenting the one-off that was Ideation.

 

This years FO doesn’t even taste like the same beer in comparison to previous years. It has nothing to do with accessibility of the beer.

 

One could argue that increased production (increased accessibility) could lead to an inferior product. Not saying that's the case, haven't tried this year's batch yet, but i have been hearing from multiple people it's not as good as past batches.

 

Of course not.

 

I know you're joking, but during BL's 2015 WoL, they were pouring preview kegs of the single barrel treatments of FO (one keg ea. of FO aged in a Buffalo Trace, a Bernheim, a Heaven Hill, and a Four Roses) before they blended everything into the original FO. Probably the closest thing to a b0 FO you'd come across (even though they weren't in bottles).

And yes, they did something similar in 2016 with the 2016 single barrels (BT, 4R, HH, and Weller) as a reward for those who attended 2016 WoL, but that wouldn't be a b0.

I keep hoping they'll release one or two of the single barrel treatments in bottles sometime, but so far not luck.

 

Because previous batches of FO have had heavy berry notes. Doesn’t even taste like the same beer in my opinion.

 

Just for fun though, opened 2020 and 2019 side by side. 2020 is thinner and hotter. More chocolate on the 2019 for me.

This has definitely got to do with being able to get this easier than last year. Really doubt it’s any of the hundreds of variables throughout the entire life of ingredients, brewing or aging. Definitely just because I was able to buy a full allocation before public sale.

Both tasted wonderful in their own way.

 

FO has been easy to get since 2018. Accessibility hasn’t changed in a couple years at this point. It has nothing to do with accessibility. It’s just not as good this year. It’s still a damn good barrel aged stout, but compared to previous years IMO it is lacking. That’s not to say that BL hasn’t been hitting it out of the park this year otherwise. Almost everything else that’s dropped this year has been incredible.

 

I never bothered to do lines or hunt for the beer before, so I don't think it is fair to say that my impression is being judged by accessibility. I think 3F gueuze is better than Cantillon gueuze. I think ASB is better than Monkish, even though it is far easier to get. I have found Bourbon County batches after the sale to measure up to their best personally, though many disagree. Etc.

But this batch of FO doesn't taste similar to me; it's thinner, less decadent, full, and I get a mild molasses note that is not pleasant. But I might be wrong.