Side Project / Shared (2022)

At all, or just not specifically during pickups?

 

specifically during pickups. they always keg some they just don’t make appearances very often (festivals perhaps or the anniversary weeks where they do the verts).

 

I picked up my bbt last year and drank my bbt draft out of a plastic cup while waiting in line for bubble wrap and 69 candles or whatever at the cellar anni

 

Question for those that know a lot about blending!

For anyone that follows whiskey even a little, you may have seen that Breaking Bourbon released capsule reviews of the BTAC bottles yesterday/today. It got me thinking.

Someone mentioned that Continuance is the BBT of Barleywines, and both have a lot of blending (if for no other reason than out of necessity due to batch/bottling size). I don't know a lot about blending, but hoping others in here do. I assume that the very best 'honey' barrels are saved for Derivation blends (assuming smaller or DBD batches), while ones with more "flaws" (less nuance?) are blended for BBT.

I'm asking, because I thought it was an interesting choice to use ORVW barrels in BBT. You'd think those would get saved for Candles or a Derivation or other specialty blend. -So, I assume they didn't age the way they had expected (cue lack of GTS last year as an example).

 

It would be a mistake to assume that a bigger name barrel is going to produce a better beer. I know Cory is actually partial to Willet barrels in a lot of cases. Also, BBT is probably some of the best barrels because you can't hide the beer behind a bunch of adjuncts. While that doesn't mean they are dumping shitty barrels into a Derivation, adding a bunch of maple, coffee and vanilla(in the case of D16) can cover up things they don't like about a particular barrel.

Also, Continuance would be the stout/barleywine version of Pulling Nails, not BBT.

 

i would think it would be the exact opposite. the best most nuanced barrels go towards BBT since there are no adjuncts to cover up imperfections. with most derivations, they’re so heavily adjuncted that you can cover up some barrel flaws. however, that also leads to the discussion of: do certain barrels express qualities that would mesh well with the intended adjuncts? i would guess there is some of that going on too.

the best, most recent examples would be BAA and Rye BBT 22. certainly the best barrels were saved for Rye BBT since BAA has so many additives. i know that’s a shared BA IS but it’s essentially the same process as Derivation at this point. then again with BBT22 and D16. i’m sure the better barrels went towards BBT since D16 had maple, coffee and vanilla.

 

i think Cory did say Continuance b3 was the BBT of barleywines (blended barleywine recipes/no additives). we need to keep in mind that all the Continuances have been fairly different (save maybe b2 and TWCP), where as the Derivations may use different recipes and different barrels but are still all American Imperial Stouts.

 

I’ll admit i was wrong. I also hardly ever visit during pick ups anymore cause I hate how crowded it gets and much prefer to enjoy my beers at home.

 

The nice thing about last year was that it was pretty chill if you weren't there during the celebration (pickup option 1?). This year should be even nicer / more relaxed - unless the 'special' bottles that are not yet announced (but teased) end up getting announced ahead of time.

 

Loved Bubble Wrap. One of my favorites and one the bottles I finished ‘21 with. Will be curious to hear how it is on draft if anyone feels like sharing their experience with it and versus bottle. Thanks. Cheers!

 

curious to see what people think:

would you pay, let’s say, $200 (before tax) for the same BBT set that was just released except it came with 2 375mL bottles of BBT instead of a 750mL? i raised the price because you know those little bottles of BBT wouldn’t be $30…

 

Yup.

 

Yup

 

maybe

 

I think I'm strongly in the "maybe" category with @KevSal

 

I'd hate to start this debate, but the 375ml stouts have caused mass price inflation that perhaps wasn't even necessary. Yes, I get that the bottling line probably costs a small fortune, but they wouldn't have bought it unless they had the cash to begin with. Profit 100k and pay taxes or re-invest it and now it's a tax write-off?

The pricing for the first couple togo bottles were sticker shock, but they were double and triple barrel aged juice. Then we have DB Derivations at $40 earlier this year. $80 for a 750ml? Ok, it's derivation and they're double barreled. I was very shocked at the $40 non-adjunct Terminus collab. IMO that was their chance at offering a $30 375. Which goes in line with Generational $60 750 collab. Terminus comparable to DB Derivation?? It hasn't even been a year and I'm starting to think that $50 will be the new norm when it comes to 375's. Looking at you, For TWCP.

What the hell is happening?! It's like SP swapped 750's for 375's and we're paying the same price if not more? Would a $80 750ml collab with Narrow Gauge go over well? $100 750ml For TWCP??

I definitely understand the desire to have 375ml bottles. Many folks on here like the option to open a smaller bottle from time to time. I know Darwin, @Beer_Economicus has been a huge advocate. Paying a small upcharge for the luxury is not the same as paying a 50% increase.

I'm a huge SP fanboy and a La Coterie member, but I'm starting to get price fatigue. I have the luxury to try things on site so I'm not as invested to buy all of the white labels and fruited wilds. I used to buy more though. Am I off here?

I'm gonna quote the great punk icon Johnny Rotten "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?"

 

Terminus at $40 was a huge sticker shock for sure. I agree with everything you say. But every time I talk about pricing i get yelled at, so if I’m gonna spend money on it, might as well be the format I prefer. But, again, I agree with all your points.

 

i don’t think you’re off. they shock-eased us into it with the collab 375s but i agree, $80 for the Terminus set and then For TWCP right around the same time made it official. and along the same lines as you were mentioning, Forever Darkness was going to be a $120 750mL??

feel like everyone (not just SP fans) wants smaller formats. comes at a price i guess.

however, in the scenario i presented, i feel like a little upcharge in order be able to have BBT twice from one package is kind of justifiable.

 

We need ultra premium 8oz or 167mL bottles next.

 

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