FiftyFifty Eclipse Futures Announced

I get it, I'm just arguing the case that it's plain old oak at the end of the day.

 

Yes it is, based on the difference in how quick (PVW) sells out comparatively at a higher price. Its not a perceived perception, its reality. There is a higher demand for PVW barrels and beer aged in PVW barrels.

Which factually is an incorrect statement.

 

Charred oak. My bad.

 

Charred oak saturated in a particular liquid. Again, its the perceived value of the liquid that is changing the availability and cost of the barrels

 

A liquid which was once free goods on a Buffalo Trace purchase. A liquid which you couldn't give away before it became "rare." The whole premise is ridiculous to me. Then again, maybe it's just me being old school and working in the business for some time. It's the same with wine or any other beverage. I'm getting off topic. Back to your regular scheduled programming...

 

Couldn't agree more.
Can't wait til the Pappy fad comes to an end, bourbon in general for that matter. It'll happen, no trend is eternal. People will move on to the next 'it' thing (sneaking suspicion it'll be tequila and mezcal, but we'll see)

 

I definitely personally agree with your sentiments. Just commenting on why different barrels do cost more, same reason different liquid costs more, customer perception of value. For better or worse pricing and availability is at least partly dependent on the cultures perceived value of the product.
The one physical variable that I can understand is the notion that a barrel that held liquor for longer might have a stronger spirits flavor to impart while one that feels liquor for less time might impart more charred wood character vs the spirit flavor

 

I understand all that, I was just playing devils advocate. Place two stouts on the shelf, one aged in Pappy barrels and the other aged in Heaven Hill barrels, we know which one will sell out first even though it might be the lesser of the two beers.

 

It would be a cool mixed 4 pack idea, same base stout aged in 4 different bourbon barrels. Of course then we might all have to face the fact that the barrel doesn't matter as much as they'd like to charge us to believe

 

That's the point of the Eclipse series right? I haven't drank those beers in many years but I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the barrels they use.

 

Haha Ya I guess I was thinking a 4 pack that would be under 100 bucks

 

First thought: this is still a thing?

 

It would be a 4 pack of pony cans

 

you could possibly make that statement work at this moment but you do realize that the Pappy barrels that were used (then) were created before Julian Van Winkle III went to Buffalo Trace? those were Stitzel-Weller barrels manufactured by S-W's cooperage. they weren't "Buffalo Trace " anything other than moved to Buffalo Trace's warehouse space years after production.

 

Yep. I just felt like being a pain in the ass on that particular day. Possibly still tipsy from the night before.

 

i didn't think you were being a pain in the ass at all. i think you expressed some thoughts that are very common. there are some key elements i have a feeling you & stevepat aren't factoring into it.

if you want to hear them i can detail a few.

 

I'm in PA and ordered Eclipse futures years ago. Had them shipped to a friend in CA, then shipped to me. It was more expensive than just getting them at the store. At the time it was hard to even find a bottle around me.

The last 2 years these beers have been sitting on the shelf like people said, so the futures option is not appealing anymore.

This year looks like some great options. Hope they are just as easy to get as last year. I like the 22oz bottles. Sorry to see them go small. Wonder if they will be waxed.

 

I've always loved these, some I have enjoyed more than others.

Everyone seems to make a deal of the prices on these every year. In some ways I kind of enjoy that since it keeps them around, and if I decided I want to splurge I can go for it.

I've also at times seen sellers discount them to clear them out and that my friends is a steal!

 

The new FiftyFifty Eclipses just dropped at the beer store local to me. Picked up the German Chocolate and Banana variants. Interested if anyone has tried them? Opinions?
I always splurge on at least one of these every year and enjoy for New Years Eve sipping.