Ok so I would like some unbiased opinions(People not from Cali) on whether this beer is worth seeking out. IE much better than all other of the Eclipse series. Which I find too thin and oily an sweet for my liking. I can't imagine it is but it can't hurt to ask. It is still an eclipse after all. I really don't want to trade for it considering the greed that went down at the release. But I have a desire to try all the best stouts and want to know if this is one of them.
I think it's a little unfair to exclude people from CA. Other than a few, I don't think they are all biased. Moreover, while general comments on the quality of the beer are somewhat helpful, I feel you're better off waiting for people to have a chance to try, rate, and write a full review and go from there. That would be more useful in determining if Masterpiece is one of those "best stouts".
It might be unfair to exclude all Cali people but right now its probably for the best most unbiased opinion. I just think either people are holding a ton of Masterpiece or are butt hurt because they got shut out because the allotment was purchased by a few greedy individuals. Either way I'm really looking for opinions of people who really don't like the regular Eclipse offerings. Because I fall into that category.
How are you going to exclude people from California? This release was in California, attended by ~120 people, and I am guessing 90%+ of the attendees were Californians, so you are basically asking to only hear from 12 people. I did not attend, but have talked to people who had it, and I heard it was very, very good, up there with EC 20yr. IMO, I believe the EC 20yr is head and shoulders above anything else I have had from Eclipse, so I am interested in trying it.
Excluding California residents means you'll be lucky to get any opinion. You also want opinions from people who don't really like eclipse either? Who are these mystery non-California residents that do not like eclipse but still decided to spend $100 on a release party ticket plus travel expenses?
Im pretty sure that the people that ended up with a Dozen will be trading some of them. To people outside of Cali. Don't be offended. Its not that I don't take Cali reviews into consideration I just try and avoid any reviews from locals on these super limited beers with high value. I have been burned before by homerism.
I'm from "Cali" and got to experience Masterpiece at the party. I won't offer opinion but I will offer fact. A special base brew, a "double" imperial stout was brewed for this beer so you will notice a difference from previous variants.
I'm sure its good (hopefully much better than the other Eclipse beers), but I just can't get past the price tag....!!!!
Had it on draft. It was good. 18 months in the barrel made it a bit bozzy imo. I thought it was really really good once it warmed up to almost room temp. However it wasn't my favorite variant of the night, that belonged to EW 23. Barrel is very prominent. You cant go wrong, especially if you get a good deal.
The java this year was on point. I only got the futures this year, I didnt think that the price point was bad. I bought some more of the futures at the party. I also bought some EW23 because that was just a super smooth beer. Thought that barrel complemented very well.
Yeah, but that is also no longer a shocking price point. There are lots of beers that are passing the $40 price point these days.
And I'm not buying them! Yea, the price of some beers is getting a little out of control. I had to pass on the last round of Black Damnation as I couldn't justify the price
