Goose Island Cooper Project

I don't know, this thread just seems to illustrate the complexity of taste and of brewing. There's not really a guideline for what makes a good beer most importantly what makes a stand-out BA beer. I was more than happy with the Grand Prestige and that was aged for 6 months in second use barrels. If the price is right and the availability is somewhat easy to come by I think it's worth checking out in the least to gain the experience with other BA beers that AREN'T stouts.

I certainly agree that more time in barrel = more intense flavors but I would also say too much and I'm just drinking something that's really one note (I sort of felt this way when I drank Frootwood and to a lesser extent KBS). I love a solid stand alone beer aged in barrels for an added peaty and liquorish flavor.

Maybe I'm speaking to the wrong crowd here, but I kinda feel like I'm for the ride and enjoy seeing a variety of styles in my cellar, particularly with GI stuff.

 

1) I definitely want to try Grand Prestige, since I've heard good things. I would imagine the price and availability are right.

2) I went to Links today and had BA Darkness. It's definitely very good, but it's also (in my opinion) a beer that could've used more time in barrels. The effect of the bourbon barrels on the original stout is subtle, and while I'm not saying it's worse than regular Darkness, I'm also not saying it's better (it's more like a different take). Certainly worth trying, just not something I'm going to put much attention into grabbing (given the assumed price and availability). When I buy a BA stout, I want to be hit over the head with how different it is from the base beer.

 

Certainly get that, and sort of feel the same way. I guess what I'm getting more at is; if it's a good beer then does the time in barrels matter so much? Seems there's a whole array of time in barrel and changes in flavor. It's easier to talk in hypotheticals, but if you know what you like and want something particular best bet is just to get what you want.

That being said, interesting to see what this beer is like.

 

In general I don't care how long a beer is in barrels, as long as it does what it's supposed to. But when it comes to something like BA Darkness, I know what the non-BA version tastes like, and I know what various non and BA versions of other stouts taste like, so I adjust my expectations accordingly.

Not saying there's anything wrong with liking a 3 month-aged beer on its own merit, just saying that if I'm going to both pay a premium and bust my ass to grab a bottle (I'm sure BA Darkness will be a pain to track down), personally I'd rather the beer be more in line with what I want/expect from a typical BA stout (which is a slightly thicker body and more barrel character). Essentially what I'm saying is, to me Darkness is good enough that it warrants more than a 3 month barrel treatment. I'm not sure that's true for all beers (I've had some ales that I think would've been better with no barrel treatment at all), just saying that if you're going to age a stout in bourbon barrels, I'd prefer you do it for a while (Stone was criticized for similarly short aging times, which is why I mentioned it).

 

Hmm, is there really any reason to believe viscosity and barrel aging are related? Would a greater angel's share make a beer more viscous?

It seems to me there are a bunch of super viscous non-BA stouts (Darklord, Ten Fidy, Expedition, Founders Imperial Stout), though obviously that's just anecdotal.

 

Sorry to continue to keep this thread off topic, but wasn't the prior batch of barrel aged Darkness (2015) aged for a full years in barrels? I think I remember reading this somewhere.

Just wanted to ask to point out that those having darkness on tap might not actually be drinking a 3 month barrel aged beer.

I remember having 2014 Regular Darkness (which was actually barrel aged or partially barrel aged for a shorter amount of time) side by side with 2015 barrel aged Darkness at an event at Emporium and there was a huge difference between the 2. I got virtually no barrel from the 2014 version (still delicious) and huge barrel flavors and aroma from the 2015 BA version.

I'm with others on 3 months not being the optimal time for beer to spend in barrels, but I like a heavy barrel presence in my beers. Beers aged for shorter durations can most certainly be tasty, but they always leave me wanting more (BA Scotty Karate, I'm lookin at you).

 

I'm not trying to imply that a stout can't be thick without barrel-aging, and I agree with your examples. It's also entirely possible that the feel I attribute to "thickness/viscosity" is more of a bourbon smoothness than anything else, but I haven't done a side-by-side of BA and non-BA versions of any beers in a while, so this is based off memory.

Anyway, the main point was/is that I don't like my stouts given such short barrel treatment.

 

Will pre apologize for the off thread comment but if you get a chance try a side-by-side with Jackie O's Dark Apparition and Bourbon Barrel Dark Apparition because that one blew my mind.

Cheers

As far as the Cooper project goes I will be awaiting the 2nd & 3rd release cuz I'm not a big Scotch ale fan but have liked some Doppelbock's and really dig Porter's. Will be looking forward to it though and glad I got a chance to stay on topic.Lol

 

depends on if they were fresh barrels or not. 4 months seems like plenty of time if they are fresh scotch barrels. especially if they didn't blend it back in with the original base. barrels are usually only good for about 5 turns or so then they just become regular old oak barrels.

 

For the record, the GI tweet say it's a scotch ale in bourbon barrels. Not scotch barrels.

 

same holds true for any barrels

 

So anybody know when copper project #1 hits shelves??

 

FYI, GI mentioned 4pks (as well as it being on draft) are on sale today at the taproom. 15.99 per 4pk.

 

That's it?? They want $35 for a 4pk of Lolita.

 

The Open Bottle had some 4 packs of this for sale yesterday at their anniversary party. They were gone by the time I got there. Don't know what those were going for and didn't ask. They were still selling singles at $4.49 each, limit 1 per. This was about 1pm. So i did grab one. Going to try it soon...

 

Ehh. Considering the 750's were $17.99 its the same price per ounce and its in a better package for the consumer and probably cost a lot more to package that way. If anything I expected those to be more.

 

I picked up a single bottle there, as well.
Also got to have it on tap yesterday at Open Bottle Fest 2. Good stuff.

 

Ardmore Station has a case on the floor. I grabbed a 4-pack $15.99