Is Black Ops that bad?

Not at all. I think it's great.

 

I don't personally care for it, but I know a lot of people (like that guy above, for instance) who really enjoy it.

 

It once was the cats meow. I can remember people going crazy for it the first year out. Now, well....

 

It's been out for a few years and is thus no longer the trendy thing. Remember, it's rarely about quality...it's about what's the current trendy rare bottle to show off.

 

This beer seems to be one of the more polarizing beers on BA.

 

The issue many people have with it is the use of Champagne yeast to carbonate it. This gives it a higher carbonation and effectively a lighter body than what some people prefer/expect from a barrel aged stout. Even given that it's still got a 92 rating on here though so I'd say no, it's not that bad.

 

That's exactly what I disliked about it, though I understand it's a unique beer and would never fault anyone for liking it. It's just not my thing.

 

Because it doesn't exist.

 

What is this Black Ops beer of which should never be spoken of or that even exists for that matter?!

 

I drank a four year old of the beer that shall not be named over the Holiday, and it was exceptional! In fact it may have been the best in, what you can imagine, was the extensive lineup that was our Peabody's Employee Christmas Party, but to tell you the truth it's all kind of fuzzy!!

 

"we..we have no response...that was perfect"

Honestly just had the 3 or 4 year old one in my cellar and thought it aged terribly, it was a boozy mess. Remembered liking it fresh, but maybe I just didn't know any better.

 

Right on man..I've got an '08 a friend gave me last year. Probably need to get into it soon.. hope you had a good new year

 

Black Ops is good. It's just a bit of a pain in the ass to find and costs $20. It came and went without me noticing in 2009, I got two bottles in 2010, one bottle in 2011, and I think I already missed the boat in 2012 -- I just forgot about it.

It's of similar quality to the North Coast -bal beers.

 

I feel the problem that people have with Black Ops is they buy one, haven't had it before, and drink...it needs a year or two to work with that Champagne yeast...IMO

 

actually the only thing i really like from Brooklyn. i can get plenty of it at $16

 

The problem is BCS is far better IMO (with a year or so on it) and only like $7-$8 a four pack. I had this year's version of Black Ops a few weeks ago and found it boozy, buttery, thin, and lacking in complexity. BCS, though, is amazingly complex with a year on it.

 

"Wag the tail. You're better than that."

I bought a bottle at TW and had it last night. It was quite tasty. I used money from my Black Budget to fund my purchase of Balck Ops. Seems about right.