Deep River - Collaboration Without Representation

Released BR-RDU today. Way more coffee than last year and not as sweet up front. Still Very good but personally I liked last years better as it was much different than all the BA coffee stouts out there.

 

Hitting charlotte tomorrow

 

I was honestly a little disappointed with it, it was good, but nothing at all crazy. I went to the release and had it, Drag The River and the Cinnamon DtR variant.

Collab was very bitter for a milk stout, and quite boozy, Drag the River tasted like a very old IPA, and the cinnamon variant was decent, but nothing to write home about.

I haven't had last years to compare, but for all the great things I heard about Collab, it wasn't really worth the wait in line.

Luckily not everyone was buying their full allotment so everyone that showed up to the release was able to get some.

 

So, not nearly as good as last year? I want to try it. Hoping it hits distro here. I know a couple places dropped Deep River due to sales issues, so my options are more limited.

 

Man I hope these early reviews aren't true. Four packs are $27 here, grabbed one of each based on loving it in previous years. Hope I'm not stuck with some very pricey duds.

 

I had this year's on tap and now twice from the can, it's a damn amazing beer in my opinion. I drank it with several friends head to head with 2016 and it was a split decision, about half preferred each version.

The 2016 was a bit sweeter and more chocolate forward (especially after aging), but the 2017 is a damn fine beer on its own.

 

Same, drank one last night and enjoyed it very much.

 

I saw a sign in Deep River a few weeks ago indicating Collaboration Without Representation will be released again this year on January 13th starting at Noon...

 

From Deep River's Facebook page today:

"Canning our famous Collaboration Without Representation today which is a bourbon barrel aged imperial milk stout brewed with coffee from Raleigh Coffee Company and cocoa nibs from Videri Chocolate Factory! Barrel aged for 12 months and clocks in at 12.8% abv. Available this Saturday at our taproom at noon! Very limited release so get it while you can!"

 

I wonder if this will hit as wide of distro as last year? Although picking it up at the release was pretty darn easy last year.

 

I'm gonna just hit up the release and maybe look for some 4pks in distro depending on limits. $25/4pk is getting pricey though

 

64 oz bourbon barrel aged 12.8% ABV impy milk stout aged on coffee and choco nibs for $25 is pricey? It they bottled it in bbers, they'd be about $8.50 a piece.

 

I don't think it is cheap, but I don't think the price is out of line...Not sure about the distribution...I saw Raleigh Beer Garden was having an event with a couple of varieties on tap...

 

Just curious what the supply looks like on this one. I can't get there at noon but if I stopped by in the mid to late afternoon might cans still be available?

 

I have heard there is more available this year than last year...I do not know if that is true or not...here's what I saw from Deep River a few minutes ago:

Purchase limits on cans for tomorrow:
---The first 75 people in line will get the opportunity to purchase a full case (six 4packs). Those folks will have a wrist band which we will start handing out at 10am. ***AND the first 20 people in line ALSO get an opportunity to purchase one 4pack of collab 2017 cans for $25!***
--The next 90 folks in line can purchase up to three 4packs of cans
If folks don't get their full allocation we will sell the rest of the beer until it's gone
Each 4-pack of 16oz cans are $25 (includes tax) so a case is $150 including tax. Cash and credit accepted.

 

Sold out in 80 minutes this year. I got to the brewery maybe just after 11am and snagged the last parkin’ spot at the brewery. Over a hundred people in line ahead of me and maybe some 50 behind. I snagged two four packs, and I’m pretty sure everyone in line by 12 noon walked with at least a four pack. I had two of the coffee variants (one Columbian and one Sumatra) and both were quite good. But I’m also gettin’ over some sinus shit some my tastebuds are screwed up.

Happy huntin’ throughout the Triangle this week!