Drunken Vigils By Southern Pines

It's a good tasting beer, but much too thin for 14% IMO. I was told they use a strain of yeast used for fermenting bourbon, not sure if that's true but seems to make sense. But unless they lower the abv or make it thicker then I probably won't buy it again (glad I was able to get a single can).

 

I don't pretend to understand the algorithms, but it appears that if it had enough ratings to make the cut, it would be the highest rated beer in the state.

 

Just remember that if that ratings qualifier was lifted there would be a lot of other beers eligible as well. What you're saying might still be the case I dunno, but you'd then be looking at more beers than the current list.

 

Super thin. No coffee. No bourbon. Tons of cocoa. It honestly drank like something in the 6-8% range, which is trouble considering it's 14%.

 

I'm hearing the 2016 release isn't up to par with the 2015. What's the consensus?

 

I thought that the flavor of the 2016 was top notch. I got plenty of chocolate and barrel notes but wanted a bit more coffee. The biggest flaw to me is that this is undercarbonated. It detracted from the mouthfeel. Haven't had the 2015 so I can't compare. Nice beer but certainly not world class.

 

Did I hear or see they had a BA version as well? I know the current version is aged on barrel staves, but curious if anyone tried the BA version on tap at the brewery.

 

I agree with you that the prior release was a bit more coffee forward, but thought the current release also had amped up the maple flavor/nose in addition to the chocolate. Personally I thought the mouthfeel was medium and bordering on thick, but it sounds like others disagree. Either way, in my opinion this is easily one of the better stouts in the state and at less than $20 for a 4-pk I thought this was a steal.

 

It's not that it's thin compared to all stouts, just thin for a 14% abv. It's basically a novelty beer for me, just trying to make something as *extreme* as possible without any thought as to whether it might actually be good or not.

 

Too much chocolate for me. Almost too sweet. Still enjoyable, but I prefer the first iteration. More coffee/chocolate balance when it came out earlier this year.

 

The alcohol seems pretty well hidden in this one.

 

Otherwise, I don't think it lives up to its ratings.

 

BA version is on tap at Pelagic. Very tasty, but not quite enough bourbon and a bit on the thin side.

 

i just got one as an extra, cracked it and was completely blown away i had to look it up haha. i'd say it's definitly deserving of its ratings if it makes me go the extra effort to find out about what's it's all about. best maple beer i've ever had and it doesn't even state maple on the label

 

They're brewing another batch now that will be aged in bourbon barrels. Yum.

 

Anyone heard anything this years Drunken Vigils release?

 

I was just thinking about this over the weekend as I saw they had their 3rd anniversary party. I haven't heard or seen a peep yet.

 

I have one left. Planning on stocking up this year!