Goose Island web site says this beer in not currently being brewed. I'm guessing it would be worth picking up if you saw it on the shelf somewhere.
Damn shame. They should bring it back since it was awesome. I had a Dec 2012 dated bottle this past summer and loved it.
It's decent. worth picking up if you see it around 15 bucks....or what ever that converts to in NY beer prices. If your going to trade for it I would go for Night Stalker instead. Had 2012 Big John and 2010 Night Stalker a few days apart a few weeks ago. Night Stalker had a thicker mouth full. If it means anything to you older Goose Island has been hitting shelves that last few months in Chicago. Even today a Place posted they got 2012 Night Stalker.
It's decent. worth picking up if you see it around 15 bucks....or what ever that converts to in NY beer prices. If your going to trade for it I would go for Night Stalker instead. Had 2012 Big John and 2010 Night Stalker a few days apart a few weeks ago. Night Stalker had a thicker mouth full. If it means anything to you older Goose Island has been hitting shelves that last few months in Chicago. Even today a Place posted they got 2012 Night Stalker.
Word, that Night Stalker was better than the Big John. A place by me had the 2012 vintage on tap this past winter.
Yeah on paper Big John seems tastier but for some reason a 2010 hoped up Cook County stout tasted better than a Cook County with cacoa nibs less 2 years. Kind for makes you think what a plan Cook County stout taste like. They said Cook County stout is not that great by itself but I really can't see Bourbon County's base beer being bad. At least throw it on draft every once in a while.
If you are going to go for Night Stalker just try to avoid the 11/19/2012 batch. Widespread reports of autolysis from that one.
I was lucky to find some Night Stalker aging on the shelf in the 'bargain bin' of a low rent bottle shop. I did not think Night Stalker was that memorable when it first came out, but given the price I took a chance on a bottle. What a great find! In my opinion it improved greatly with a bit of age. Of course I went back and cleaned them out.
Big John is a fantastic beer. Up there with BCBS/WWS/KBS? Arguable, but probably not for most people. Still, it is definitely worth picking up (depending on price... I'd pay up to $15ish for a 22oz). Also, BJ and Nightstalker are listed as "Not currently available", NOT discontinued/permanently retired, such as King Henry/BCBS Rare. On hiatus, hopefully to be brewed again.
I hate that these aren't brewed anymore. Since they are <12% we could get them in Ohio. Not the same as BCBS but a lot easier then driving 3 hrs or having to trade and ship. Recently I Found a bottle shop that had a few of each on the shelf, so I snagged 2 of each.
Strange since they are the same base beer. OP: Yes, I'd recommend picking up Big John. Looks like I'm in the minority here, but I actually liked it better than night Stalker.
had a '12 Big John this weekend at a bottle share. it was one of, if not the, highlight of the evening (in part because we were burnt out on sours and BJ's thickness and delightful sweetness was a perfect solution to palette fatigue... nonetheless it was a great beer).
