Chicago Stout Releases (2022)

So the 2nd Shift/Binny's BA stout is very nice.

 

I found some Alesmith BA Speedway at Beer on the Wall and thought it was good! It's definitely the early 2000's BA stout with lots of Black malt, it's got a big raisin and plum vibe along with a dry finish. If you like Speedway, you'll like this.

 

ohhhh I looked at that one and got the BA Speedway instead. Man, speedway was such a great beer back in the day.

and I guess it still is! Really enjoyed this one.

edit: lol @audis4gasm - we’re vibing on the same wavelength!

 

Plenty of 2nd Shift at Bottles & Cans...just not fresh. Turding it up.

 

I actually went in looking for BA Speedway and the 2nd Shift beer. No Speedway down here yet. There were 4 or 5 Bottle Logic stouts though. Against my wallet's better judgment I grabbed a Lost Coordinates.

 

I think that's considered good 'training' for autumn.

Your wallet can expect more training, I suspect, when Rev releases their summer DW beers...

 

I popped my first one last night. I was hoping for a more LSD type base (as LSD is one of my favorite RIS’ ever), but it was still very good. Barrel really shines.

As others mentioned, I really wish we got more 2nd Shift up here again, they are one of my favorite Midwest breweries.

 

Yeah, but at least when Rev fucks me I get a 4 pack outta the deal.

 

Caved and bought a bottle(or 2) just because of this and it’s well worth it!

 

Had a BA Speedway last night and thought it was lovely.

 

Gold Eagle has a few Bottle Logic stouts at $35 a pop.

 

Also grabbed a 2022 BA Speedway Stout today and going to crack it shortly. Really excited to revisit this beer and just grabbing it off the shelf is just an added bonus! Chicagoland distribution is really incredible the beers we are getting on the shelf these days! I traded for & shared a bottle of 2012 BA Speedway Stout back in January 2013 with my beer group, so it's almost been 10 years since the last time. Ahhhh, I can taste the nostalgia already!

 

Confirmed. BA Speedway Stout is an old school delicious barrel aged stout! Alesmith barrel program is still killing it almost 10 years later!

 

Are these actually worth it?

I know Bottle Logic's stuff is generally great, but are these like, some of their best? Or just very good stouts?

 

I just popped Memory Systems, their BA Cinnamon Roll stout and it was legitimately great, the nose was straight mall Cinnabon from the 1990s-2000s and while of course sweet with the vanilla and marshmallow, the cinnamon, above average barrel and wood notes, and a slight char roast kept it balanced. Very thick as well. It struck me as like a Eunoia with heavier barrel, as I generally find Eunoia to be a bit light on the barrel but usually bang on with the adjuncts like BL. I have Lost Coordinates waiting which is rated even higher on Untappd and a few weeks back I drank the Scatter Signal (mocha marshmallow) from a couple months ago and that was also stellar.

 

Seen the 12oz bottle for $6.99 at Binny's and no more than $7.99 at other places. Good call!

 

Based upon your review I decided to pull the trigger on Lost Coordinates. The price was definitely difficult to swallow but the beer itself was fantastic. Tremendous balance between charred barrel and vanilla.

I'd probably hesitate to buy another, but I don't regret it.

 

I have not had very many Bottle Logic beers, but of the ones I have had, I do think that there is just something very special about the way they make their BA beers. It is rare (I think) to get so much flavor (of whatever they are targeting) while retaining the barrel presence.

Personally, for the thicker ones I still only want 4-6oz at a time (and even then it is like a 60-90 minute consumption time for me), but they seem to last well when capped, so they can comfortably be consumed over multiple sessions (days) without concern.

 

I wonder if any breweries are using oak barrel flavor concentrate to flavor/balance their BA beers...