Bourbon County 2018

Yeah, I expected this would be the response to my post. I know they do. Doesn't mean I won't scream into the void on BA, though.

I'm definitely going to feel some FOMO as I'm leaving the city Thursday night, and will be tempted to turn to my wife and say "hey, how bout we just swing by the McHenry Binny's at the crack of dawn?" Just means I'll have to drown my sorrows that much harder in the beer I do have.

 

I like that some people seem think that a long line creates news stories and TV news crews to appear naturally like a fungus and not that a PR team calls news channels and newspapers and asks them to cover BCBS.

 

There isn't a better system to alleviate the effects of intentional scarcity. Goose Island not only loves but creates the mess by producting 7 (!) variants.

 

Any idea what time people will need to be at some of the Binny’s in the suburbs (Lake Zurich, McHenry, etc.) to get a decent allotment?

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. I think I am leaning more towards O'Tooles.

 

Last year I got there (LZ) around 6am I beleive ( @vikingpillager might be able to verify) and only got Regular and BW. I would say plan on getting there before 5 am.

 

What’s your standard for decent allotment?

 

they could charge $500-$750 for a pre-ordered package of all variants that you could pick up at a later time and it would sell out in milliseconds.

 

I went to lake Zurich last year and they had a pretty low amount of variants. If you weren’t in the top 30-40 I doubt you got anything other than Barleywine and regular. Personally, I feel like LZ must be low on the list of Binny’s stores for stock.

This isn’t me trying to get you out of the way, I’m probably not even bothering. I’m just going to be happy finding a few regulars this year.

 

While this is true, does it matter? They are still there covering it, it goes on the news when people are home watching the news - which was the point of the post about this anyways.

 

Yeah, but the point here is that the PR team would have nothing to PR if people didn't line up. Regardless of what causes the event to become a news story (organic or manufactured hype), if no one lined up, there'd be nothing to cover.

(also I do kind of suspect that news crews sneak around like fungi from time to time)

 

I don't want more stupid fucking variants. Midnight Orange???? Northwoods???? Coffee Barleywine????

Kill the cute shit and make good beer. Last year was glorious in that you could walk into any liquor store in January and still find BCBS

 

I am really just looking for a variant or two. Was hoping for a Prop, but am limited to that area and not too concerned if I miss out on the tougher to get bottles.

 

I think those of us who have been in the beer scene for a long, long time now have been protesting these increases so that it doesn't become like the wine/spirits scene. Good beer used to be for everyone and maybe I'm nostalgic, but I'd like it to stay that way.

 

This is my biggest gripe. If I had to make a list...

-Continue to nail BCBS every year
-Revert barleywine to the original method of re-using the prior year's BCBS barrels
-Make coffee every year using dark roast beans, it's fine to use the same beans years in a row, no need to change the beans every year
-Make one variant every year and absolutely smash it the way they used to
-Make a prop every year that is more experimental in nature

 

You'll never be allowed into the pastry beer club with that attitude. I'll tell you that!

 

On the ABN podcast Mike Siegel (GI R&D) said they pumped the brakes on the coffee because of the green pepper taste that was coming through and they were trying to hammer out why it was happening and how to prevent it from happening.

I do agree with that set up of 5 types of beer though, think it works best. Maybe throw in a Rye too...

 

I can confirm that LZ binnys gets a smalllll amount of variants. I was there earlier than I’d like to admit last year and got the last prop and missed out on Reserve.

 

Genuinely curious if you just want regular and that's it or you want some variants but not too many? If so what's the limit on number and variety?