FiftyFifty Eclipse - worth $32?

If your expectations are Black Tuesday territory, you will be let down. I'd rather have a parabola at half the cost and a better beer. I've been less than impressed with these beers the past 2 yrs.

 

I've had the Maker's Mark so far. Going to do a side by side of the Elijah Craig and Evan Williams some day.

At $33 ea they were a Christmas gift to myself that I won't be doing next year. It would help if they were 750s.

So far in the big imperial stout realm, I'm the happiest with Black Tuesday.

 

Ask yourself this: Is the wax worth $15?

 

I think it's at least worth trying once. If you're going to plop down $32, do it on the Elijah Craig 12. I had an opportunity to taste all the variants at the release party this year and it was by far the best of the variants sold outside the brewery. I've had this year's Black Tuesday, and I think the Eclipse is by far a better and much more complex beer, but that's only my opinion.

 

I hope you're referring to drinking the beer, and not paying for it, that gives you the erection. One is substantially less disturbing than the other.

 

I had a bottle of the Elijah Craig 12 in the last week and I did enjoy and felt it was worth the money to try once if you have it in your budget. I might buy another bottle next year if I have the extra money, but it wasn't something that was that much better than other cheaper barrel aged stouts.

 

Pass me that $6 bottle of Bourbon County please...

 

Some beers are worth $30. Eclipse is not. There are 2012's sitting on my local store's shelves still.

 

My two cents, I bought an Elijah Craig when I was hitting 500 unique beers on untappd and I didn't regret my purchase one bit. That said I can't bring myself to shell out that much for another beer or variant, but if I suddenly found myself with a padded bank account I'd certainly pick up more.

Granted I'm incredibly foolish with money so don't take my advice on fiscal matters.

 

I hear they are nice stouts, but for that price tag, it has to be very powerful like a Black Tuesday or of a similar caliber.

 

I have been passing on the chance for a few years. As others have said, there is enough quality BA beers available that I just don't feel the need to pull the trigger. I have dropped $30 on bottles of beer from the Bruery, but don't seem to feel the same need for Eclipse. Did I mention that 4 packs of BCBS were $19.99?

 

eh, is it worth it? not really. it's better than a lot of BA stouts (no really it is; i know taste is subjective, but it's hard to believe anyone who thinks it's mediocre isn't either 1) hit by sticker shock, or 2) drank every single variant and the lesser ones stick out in their minds). there's better, cheaper ones.

that said, with these kind of beers, i'm okay if the price goes up a little, since that means it sticks around a little longer, and i can have an occasional bottle. i don't need to drink eclipse (or anything) every day, so if the pricing makes it available, i may take the plunge. it's often very good after all.

 

I balked at buying one this year. I bought two last year (EC & RRye) and found them to be on par with other barrel aged stouts in the $10-20 range.

 

Westy 12 is.

 

I disagree. I tried it once and actually liked St. Bernardus Abt 12 better. But to each their own!!

 

$32 is a hefty pricetag. yes. I have had 2 of the eclipse variants (Elijah Craig 20 bottled and old fitzgerald on-tap). Both were very good-but the bottle was a gift and the on-tap version was clearly not that expensive.

The big difference between the eclipse series and Black Tuesday is the balance the eclipse series offers. The 2 examples I have had are not really big bad aggressive brews. I'd actually be quicker to spend $ on the eclipse series than Black Tuesday.

I guess the answer is that it depends on what you are looking for.

I find cantillon 750ml to be worth the $30 a bottle.
This is a great series of stouts- especially if you are into bourbon.

 

Hell to the no.

 

Fair enough. They are both Aces!

 

You boys are hurting this 50/50 fanboy's heart.

I love the Eclipse series, & it's been really cool to taste the variations with the different barrels over the years.

That said, I've been doing the Futures thing since they've offered it & never once regretted it. The beers range from very good to superb, & someday I'm going to get out to Truckee for the party.

But to actually answer your question, some of the variants would be worth $32 for me, some would certainly not be. It might not help, but tasting groups are a great way to try beers like this. I know there are a couple tasting groups here in Minnesota that have had a healthy does of Eclipse over the past few years!

 

One of the most overpriced beers on the market IMHO. I'd say $18.99 would be a fairer price.