Bourbon County Sightings

I noticed the black licorice flavor too. Isn't night stalker supposedly the base beer for BCS, that beer has a really strong black licorice flavor when it has some age on it and the massive amounts of hops fade.

 

I've been told by a GI cicerone that Night Stalker, Big John, and Bourbon County share the same base beer. It's anyone's guess as to how true that is. The recipe information on GI's page shows them using the same malts, but different hops, fwiw.

 

There was a separate base stout (can't remember the name at the moment). Dry-hopped, it's Night Stalker; with cocoa/vanilla (whatever it really was), it's Big John; aged in the barrels, it's BCS. Such is my recollection of the the situation...

 

This is the impression that I was under as well.

So, have they never released just the base stout?

 

I wanna say it's been on at either Clybourn or at fests in the past, but I could be wrong. I do know it sure as hell ain't a common sighting in the slightest...

 

That's right in the sense that Night Stalker and BCBS share the same base. Night Stalker is hopped up while, obviously, BCBS is BBA.

Yes, both Night Stalker and Big John had been bottled and released. No longer available, however it's been spotted around the country as recently as two months ago.

 

Saw both of them in the cooler at GI Clybourn last night.

 

The base beer is known as Cook County stout. It hasn't been commercially bottled, but popped up on draft at a few special events in the past (last time I can think of was about 2 years ago though).

 

Adding to this, my understanding is that Greg Hall initially crafted the "Cook County Stout" specifically to take to barrel-aging (or it was later formulated to do so). I think the "Cook County Stout" would be more of a novelty (nothing wrong with that!) than anything since it's effectively an unfinished beer (from the brewer's perspective).

 

Completely agreed. I have always been told that it was designed as a jumping off point and never really intended to be a stand alone product.

 

they have been on the "vintage menu" the past week.

 

Spring Hill Mall Liquors 222 w. main st, just got BCBS, but it is rapage - $33 a 4-pack. Have at it guys.

 

so i think the current price record is $45/4 set by foremost on kedzie/wilson (as discussed earlier in this thread)...hope no one tops that. yeesh.

edit: i set myself a price ceiling of $30/4 at most - gotta have some discipline!

 

Vas Foremost still has a bunch at $26.50 so around $29-30 with tax. I went there yeserday and they had a bunch of cases still on the floor. 1 4pk per person

 

already got one there, and the dude knows me so i won't be able to get a second. surprised they still have it after a whole weekend and change..

 

I was really surprised at how much there was to go around - I had my two (plus my Wookey) and had to leave, but it looked like people were able to pretty much get their fill. Well done tapping!

 

when i was there a couple weeks ago they only had night stalker! (in which i picked up 3 bottles)

but they also had super old vintages of matilda and pepe nero (04 and 05 i think?)

 

Yes, I'm well aware of these 2 in bottles, which are essentially variants of the base (one dry hopped, one with cocoa nibs).

This is the info I was looking for. Thanks.

 

So no other fresh sightings? I know W Grocer in Wicker Park/Bucktown got their allotment -- but there's a list and it costs $29.99/4-pack anyway. Other Loop-ish stores (Warehouse Liquors, Un-Cork-It, etc.) also expect it tomorrow or the day after.

For those still looking, there are still stores out there who haven't gotten any yet!

 

priced as advertised. came out to about 26 something after tax. they should be getting more in on thursday.