Revolution Brewing (2020)

Treated myself to one of these.

It's a night-and-day difference between what they were doing in 2013 and now.

The 2013 is at 11.5% and is MUCH thinner than the current day iteration. I'm sure there was at least a little oxidation going on, as it's a 7 year old beer, but the flavors were muted and the whole thing was pretty boring.

I don't say this to crap on Revolution; I think every year for the past 3 years Deth's Tar has improved noticeably, so they are clearly on the right track.

I DO say this to dissuade you from plopping down $25 unless you are doing so for historical research. You're much better off waiting for the 2020 Deth's Tar.

 

If they can't get rid of them guess who will get them in the next mystery bag they purchase....

 

Yeah, this was my experience back when they released it. I was hoping it would be closer to BA Baracus as their first BA imperial stout since that one. But was ultimately disappointed. None of that matters now, however, as they righted that ship in a big way.

I did pick up crowlers of Deth by Berries and Spermassive though. I know I won’t be disappointed by either.

I also finally got some Maintains and Shapes. It’s enjoyable, but not nearly as much as District North Line. This comes off as more of a pale ale than an IPL (in a similar way that Old Irving’s Betamax does). It has a great fruity hop presence, but doesn’t have that distinct lager yeast profile I enjoy in an IPL. But again, still an enjoyable beer.

 

Somebody who loves Greatest Teachable Moments...@Bburns87?

 

Older versions of all Rev's BA stuff was honestly just pretty bad in my opinion. Not like, bad as in gross, just like, much below par for what a BA beer should be.

Now though? They are producing some of the bet BA beers in the city. Pretty incredible turnaround.

 

I agree except with Straight Jacket. That stuff was always a great BA Barleywine. But it’s gotten even better in the last few years.

 

Agreed...even in the bomber days, Straight Jacket was something special.

 

I had a 2015 Straight Jacket this May, and it was awesome, one of the best Barleywine's I've ever had.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/cellar-reviews-2020.630642/page-6#post-6888782

2018 was the first year I had Revolutions stouts and other BA offerings, the result of me boycotting the 2018 Binny's release because of the 2017 debacle.

 

Hey now, Eugene is an excellent robust porter. I just wish they used Hugene as the base for all the BA variants. I think it would have been a more successful series.

 

I never had those two, but @BeerCruncher and team pulled out a keg of Mean Gene at the Brewery to honour Mean Gene Okerlund's passing in January 2019. Was one of my favorite Revolution variants. Eugene BA in Woodford Reserve for several months, aged well with a very smooth and mellow whiskey. Would definitely head back to the brewery anytime this was offered, even through the brutally cold day they tapped Mean Gene.

 

Bean Gene and Blue Gene were discussed a few pages back - consensus is they were amazing fresh. My first bottle of Blue Gene was so great we bought two more but waited a few weeks before opening, then they were sad and sour. My Bean Gene bottles were gushers, but by then I knew to open them in the sink and took pics of the gushing. Revolution sent me a $60 gift card for the 4 bottles that we used for an awesome dinner at the Brew Pub - so we continued to be fans, and now are just total fan boyz (and girlz) of all their products.

 

Yeah, I had Blue Gene and Mean Gene (?) on tap really fresh when Links Taproom first opened. They had a Gene takeover. They were incredible. And then slowly the stories of people's bottles going bad just started taking over forums and such. It was so sad.

 

I agree on the older stuff (at least in my limited experience), but with one exception though: Straight Jacket has been awesome for a long time. I'm not sure how far back you're going, but I tried it a few times in the old bomber bottles, and I loved it every time.

 

VSOJ cans for onsite consumption only at noon today, per IG.

 

As someone who lives nowhere near there & doesn't feel comfortable in restaurants yet, this is...horrible.

Hope some here get to enjoy them!

 

Posted a comparison to my draft pour at the 2018 release in the cellar review thread. Most excellent, vanilla dropped off, texture even more smooth. This beer will kick my ass at the high 13.8% ABV. Well worth the trip if you are a V. S. O. J. / Straight Jacket fan.