FiftyFifty Eclipse - worth $32?

if its an elijah craig id do it in a heart beat, ej eclipse is magical

 

But then, you're paying $16 for 11oz. Now is that worth it?
[...and the debate rages on..]

 

My personal upper limit is no more than $1/oz of beer. So that means, on principle, I would not pay more than $22 for a bomber, or $25 for a 750ml. Even then, my expectation for said beer is extremely high - think in the range of Parabola, BCBS, FW Anniversary beers. There are many, many, world class beers at every price range (SN, Stone, FW etc) and in every category - so I just don't see the need to splurge any more than I absolutely must. I think I am at a stage where I am content walking into a store and picking up a sixer for $10 or less, that I know will enjoy much for the rest of the week. YMMV...

 

It'd be cool to do with a tasting group to get all the variants and open them up at the same time. Educational too.

Judging from the bottle of last year's EC12 that another BA bought to a recent tasting, they are certainly very good beer but I can't justify paying that much for a bottle when there are so many other interesting BA stout options out there that I haven't really gotten to try.

 

Excellent beer but no. If it was the Elijah Craigh 20 year yes, if it was their Java yes if it was the Vanilla HELL YES!!!! but well the Vanilla at least was for Party Goers only this year and that's unfortunate it was easily my fav at the party. I liked it so much I only drank half my PVW and went back for more vanilla, then got them to blend a Java and Vanilla for me and that was even more superior. But of all the other variants no not $30, I'd throw down $20 easy even 25 for a few of em (the Elijah Craig 12 is fantastic as well). I found the PVW to be overrated as usual, maybe with a year or more on it but still the EC is my fav easy to find variant.

 

i bought myself a bottle for xmas. guess i'll find out tomorrow. #yolo?

 

I think I'd buy the Pappy one, but if it didn't make me do somersaults, I'd probably never buy one ever again.

 

I will skip buying one bottle, toss in an extra $10 and get myself a bottle of Balvenie Doublewood instead.

 

I may be in the minority here but I thought the elijah craig variants were rather disappointing. Granted I think elijah craig tastes terrible so my opinion is a bit biased. That being said, the brandy barrel was good but rittenhouse rye is one of my favorite beers to date. The price is a real kicker on this beer though and is one of the few instances where I would not recommend buying it without trying it first. $32 seems high regardless and I upvote anyone who suggests just going out and buy a semi decent bottle of scotch instead.

 

Some variants are, some aren't.

 

I bought 4 this year: EC 12, Four Roses, Java Coffee and Evan Williams..

Elijah Craig was the only one I had so far, was similar to Bourbon County to me but toned down. I liked it..

Also bought mine for $22 to $25

 

So, I don't know about pricing in NY, but here in Chicagoland, by drawing the line at $9 you ruled out any FFF bomber, as well as any Pipeworks or Half Acre - which are lesser known, but worth the $10 they ask, IMO...

 

Slight change of heart from last year eh.

 

I've had a few variants. really liked the Elijah Craig versions from a few years back. But...not worth it. Black Tuesday is a bigger, better Impy Stout, and for the same price you get MORE. THose Ecclipse bottles are small enough as is, but when they retail for $30 plus they seem even smaller. $4$ you can't compare them to BCBS. Less than half the price, and BCBS is oh soooo good.

 

PS. Last year was the last time I bought bottles. Last year, I swore to not pay that much again...Looks like I finally lived up to that promise. This year ZERO.

 

Depends on the variant. Some batches are among the best barrel-aged stouts out there. At its worst it still isn't bad, but I wouldn't recommend choosing blindly.

From this year's distributed variants, I recommend High West Rye, Java, Elijah Craig and Evan Williams. Can't go wrong with any of those.

 

My .02:

The ONLY Eclipse I've had which I felt warranted the price was the Elijah Craig 20. Everything else was a 20 dollar bomber at best.

 

I personally don't think it is worth $10. One of the more thin and one-dimensional stouts I've had recently. (Elijah Craig 12 yr)

 

enjoyed the EC 20 year for $30. I got it to celebrate my first 4.0 ever. While I enjoyed it I would not get it again unless it was around half that price.

 

What if I said I was paying for the more disturbing part with the beer?