Side Project / Shared (2021)

BBT is the non adjunct pinnacle for BA stouts 4 years running in my book. Honestly the only beers close I've had in that time span were from AS (sons and LD), Modern Times (Bovine b1 and meadows) and more recently 8th State (time Dilation and cypher). And I'm an absolute hater on most 8th state beers.

 

Had some good conversation on the BBT vert subject in one of the SP FB groups recently. Im opposed to the vert having done 17/18/19/Rye together in 2020 between 4 people. Just feel like the beers weren't appreciated to the level the deserve when paired against each other. I'll never drink them this way again.

 

I felt the exact same (although I havent done all those at the same time). It's fun to compare but the subtleties of each get lost and taste fatigue sets in. Prefer sipping each slowly as the star of their own show then doing that again on another date (and another)...

 

The brewery is only Friday - Monday normally

 

Apologizes for distracting.

Understood. Thank you.

As of now, plan is to head over there early, run, then hit the Cellar at open. Catching up with a college teammate at the Cellar.

If you want to split a bottle, or you want to swap some cans from KC, I'm sure we'd appreciate the help. If the latter, let me know early so I know to pack it. Otherwise, happy I can make a quick trip over there.

Now back to your discussion of incredible beer *bows out but hits head along the way*
Seriously. Thanks for indulging me.

 

I’ve never understood the fascination with doing either verticals or big shares beyond conspicuous consumption. It’s almost assuredly an absolute waste of money when everything is in a bottle. Can it be fun? Sure. But the amount of enjoyment you’re getting from the beer (not the experience with people) can’t possibly be the same as if you’re opening each one individually on a different night. Now, imbibing to that degree on draft or at a festival? Very different circumstance.

*Obviously if the beers in question are easily obtainable/inexpensive, that’s something else entirely.

 

Yeah...it's objectively stupid to do a BBT vertical, if you assume this is the best beer in the world.

Savor every drop you can get, and put each bottle on a pedestal.

BBT is probably overrated, and I'd love to shit on it...but I had a 2018 vintage this year, and it's the best beer I had over the last 12 months even though I'm dying to say otherwise. It's that special.

It's not light years ahead of the runner-ups, and again, I think us middle America folks crave this kind of confirmation...but I think it's the best American beer you can get.

I'm conflicted, I'm drunk, and I'm dying to contradict myself...but god damn, BBT is the truth.

 

I think you nailed it Darwin. It's fun getting together with a group and geek out over everyones whales, but I agree that it's over kill and doesn't give most of the beer the justice it deserves. Especially towards the end of that session. But with that being said Im gonna keep on doing it because I love the overall experience.

 

they open at 1 or 3 tomorrow?

 

Yeah I once did a BA vanilla stout share and it got pretty hard to focus on the subleties towards the end . we did a FO 4yr vert w FF and FT. Bourbco OG nilla/VR/Vanilla18, Handjee, ANTEAD NILLA b1 and several more. All bangers. next morning i cant remember the second half of bottle we cracked. and bottles like OG Nilla/Handjee and others still had 1/3 left in the bottle. Total waste.

 

I was just having a conversation with a friend of mine about saisons, and it occurred to me that I’m not sure if I know (or if SP produces) a good, affordable saison on the caliber of Hill Farmstead’s “shelfies” that aren’t top tier in terms of expense. Arguably La ruche would be, but it is not around much, and as I recall it’s still at least double the price of the Hill Shelfies.

Am I off my rocker, or is this accurate?

 

BdP and Grisette have always been fantastic in my opinion. They are typically the least expensive of all to go options, but it looks like HF has them beat at least in terms of price.

 

Cellar is open at 3 today.

 

Thanks. I figured these would qualify, but I am not a master of style to know if either of those should be classified differently.

The real reason I ask is because I would LOVE it if they did so I could buy a couple cases a year. Sofie was a beer that got me into craft. I love it. I’d love it if I had a saison I had access to once a year where I could get a case or two for ~$10 a bottle. Preferably 2 or 3 different ones.

Really wish La Ruche was more plentiful and a bit cheaper. 2 releases ago I bought 6 Bottles I think. I’m sure the honey drives the price in that one, but not sure how much of a contributor it is overall.

I can’t get HF, but I can get SP, so just over here wishing.

 

Even Grisette, Biere du Pays, and Saison du Ble spend several months aging in a foeder. It makes the price and availibilty comparison apples to oranges.

 

As do Hill’s “shelfies.” They are foudre aged. Used to be $10/750 with a recent increase (last year or so) to $12. Unless you are comparing those SP beers to La Ruche as the apples to oranges.

 

Arthur is the best buy in craft beer!!! unfortunately, you’re never going to hear that term (best buy) when talking about SP. best you’ll do is Grisette, Dry-Hopped Grisette (but who knows if that’ll get made again) and Marietta Ave, which are all $15 i believe.

 

Yea, this pretty much.

I didn’t like Marietta the one time I tried it, and didn’t get to try the dry hopped Grisette, unfortunately.

I do wish there were more available in the $15 range. $15 is starting to push it for something that I’d want to consider a “daily” (even though I am not literally drinking it daily), but $20/bottle is more than I want to spend on that front.

The other thing I was really getting at was availability. I remember when some of them, like Grisette and such, sat for a lot longer than they do now. I think they are making less? Or just having bundled more? Kegging more? I dunno.

Guess I am just dreaming of being able to swim in saisons for an affordable price.

 

From some reason I did not realize that.

 

@Beer_Economicus i will say, on the other end of that spectrum, that Ann and Art are ridiculously priced and harder than hell to get ahold of while Tete & Oude Fermier go for $50 and aren’t terribly hard to trade for (or try on-site if you’re in the area). kind of funny how that works.