Does Hardywood GBS sell out quickly?

Don’t worry. You will be able to buy all the ba gbs you want.

 

In the past couple of years, you can roll to HW last major release day and they still have loads of the non exclusive variants.

 

GBS and BGBS started hitting retail in RVA and other parts of the state the past couple days. On the rare chance the brewery is sold out you shouldn't have a problem finding it at local shops and big box. There's a Wegmans in Short Pump right at the 64/288 interchange if you happen to go to West Creek. They usually have a pretty big display. Just keep in mind BGBS is in 12oz stubby bottles this year. I'm not in RVA but the Wegmans around me still has last year's 750s on the shelf pretty much since they reached distro last year.

 

Release this morning regarding this 2021 GBS and possible infections...
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"The Gingerbread Stout brand family is such an important part of our Hardywood history and the release season is traditionally one of our most exciting times in our taprooms. We take great pride in this beer, and all the variants that have been introduced over the years. We also take quality very seriously at Hardywood, and we research and answer every individual quality concern that comes to us.

We have had a number of folks contact us with concerns from some of this year's Gingerbread Stout batches which have included a single batch of Gingerbread Stout, one of Christmas Pancakes, and one of Kentucky Christmas Morning out of 39 total batches. As we have continued this investigation, we have a better understanding of the cause and extent of the issue, and wanted to reach out to you to share what we’ve learned.
We keep a library of samples on hand from every packaging date just in case issues arise once the beer has made it into the market. After completing lab testing, including microbiological testing for beer spoilers and taste panel testing, we have determined that there are noticeable off flavors developing over time in three specific batches of the 39 total.

- GBS: canned on 10/22/21 and 10/25/21
- Christmas Pancakes: canned on 10/25/21 and 10/26/21
- Kentucky Christmas Morning: bottled on 10/29/21, 11/3/21, and 11/4/21

As a part of our investigation, we used PCR testing to identify the specific beer spoiler that had developed in these batches. We found that some of the packages from the above packaging dates have tested positive for a microorganism called Lactobacillus Acetotolerans. Although this can result in unintended flavors, this microorganism is not at all harmful. Lactobacillus strains are common in sour ales, as well as cultured foods like yogurt.

This particular microorganism is a lactic acid-producing bacteria that is typically slow-growing and unfortunately very difficult to detect with traditional micro testing at lower levels. It is not until it reaches levels that are high enough to taste off-flavors that you are able to actually detect it. Although these batches passed our sensory and quality procedures at every step of the process and continued to taste delicious, the longer the Lactobacillus Acetotolerans had to grow, the more off flavors are detectable. It is one of the biggest threats to barrel-aged beers because it thrives in alcohol levels up to 15% (which is rare for beer-spoilers). This bacteria has gained national attention among craft brewers in the last several years as more brewers are barrel-aging, and has reared its head at some of America’s best breweries.

We used over 120 bourbon casks to age our Kentucky Christmas Morning this year. It looks as though at least one of these barrels was also the likely root source of the microorganism that affected the GBS and Christmas Pancakes, as these were all transferred and processed in our cellar within the same few days in late October. While we have very strong sanitation procedures in place between batches, it appears this got through.

Unfortunately, it takes only 1 of the 120 casks to have a low level of this microorganism to eventually affect the entire batch. It is very challenging to get a sterile sample from every bourbon cask using our existing analytical equipment prior to putting the beer into the tank. Sensory analysis of each individual barrel becomes challenging as well (often off flavors don’t arise for weeks or months) with the quantity of barrels used and potential for low levels to go undetected. Moving forward, there are some additional measures we can add to our already existing procedures to ensure we are monitoring those individual barrels more closely. This will help eliminate future problems.
We are exceptionally disappointed that this issue has developed and have already taken steps to ensure it does not occur in future batches including increased microbiological testing of batches and upgraded sanitation procedures. We ask that if you have any packages left from the above dates, please contact us at [email protected] and give us the chance to make it right. Please specify the brand, number of packages, and packaging dates that you currently have left and we will set up an e-gift card that can be used at our taproom or online shop. Packaging dates are printed on the bottom of Hardywood cans, and on the shoulder of stubby bottles, in black ink (easiest to read shining a light from behind).

Once again, we are sorry for the poor experience on these specific batches but are appreciative of your understanding and continued support!"

 

I don't see a canning date on my GBS or a bottling date on my KCM. Where are they located?

 

"Packaging dates are printed on the bottom of Hardywood cans, and on the shoulder of stubby bottles, in black ink (easiest to read shining a light from behind)."

the bottles are super tough to see even when trying to get the light to shine on it to see due to the black ink use. At least on the 750s when they were near the bottom of the bottle just below the label. Doesn't help it being a brown bottle, black ink and dark beers but it's there if you look hard enough and get the light on it at the right angle.

 

I have one stubby of KY Xmas morning and for the life of me I cannot find the date. Guess only one way to find out....haha.

 

I had one KCM and one Pancakes since I only kept one of each to see how they would age. KCM (11/3/2021 bottling) definitely tasted off but I was still able to finish it. Almost tasted as if it recently started turning. Holding onto longer and it definitely would have gotten work.

The Pancakes (10/26/2021 canning) still tasted really good and I was not able to detect anything off on mine.

My GBS is a late Sept 2021 canning so I didn't open that since it was not part of the dates HW listed but maybe I'll crack that in the next week or so just to see.