I'm about to finish building an overly complex chicken coop and run, and wanted to treat myself to a special beer or beers. Budget is $200. Looking for barrel aged stouts. I've had pretty much all the BCBS notable variants so not really after those. I really liked Bottle Logic Fundamental Observation and Darkstar November. What else should I take a look at? Yes I'm buying on the secondary market and don't want the conversation to devolve into whether people should or shouldn't sell beer for a profit.
Main and Mill stouts. Had barrel aged imperial breakfast stout recently, which admittedly paid secondary for. It was fantastic!
I've never built a chicken coop, "complex" or otherwise, but I don't think I'd spend that much: I'd have a few cans of my old favorites, but that's just me.
Good luck. Not sure anything EVER is worth it on the secondary market. With $200, I’d splurge with some pricier bombers and four packs at the beer store, then $50 for some steaks, and save $100 for the next round of drinking. Just thinking out loud here. But say a bottle retails for $20. What’s the general secondary market price? Are you dropping $200 on 2-4 bombers only?
I would be happy to do a C+S on fundamental observation batch 5 if you want to save money or trade me some chickens.
Against the Grain - Atilla The Hen Not a stout but a "rye-barrel aged imperial rye amber ale" with feathers on the bottle. It was released not that long ago, and it's quite expensive, but I thought it was really nice. Hard to think of a better celebration beer for you.
I'd also recommend checking out Against the Grains selections. There's a good chance they're available in your market but if not they should be easy enough to obtain. Their barrel program is solid and you should be able to get 6 - 10 bombers of delicious stuff from them for that budget.
Given your proximity to TG, it's not impossible that you could find someone selling a KBBS but $200 could prove to be a tad low. Still, for a BA stout, well worth it from what I've heard. I haven't captured one myself yet
I'd second the Rusty Nail recommendation, but sub the Spice Wars for Coconut BBomb or BA Unicorn Tears. Fremont rocks!
Any of the Weldwerks Medianoche variants. I'd suggest rye vanilla or peanut butter cup. Not sure how available they are in the secondary market though. BA Abraxas would be nice but I dont think you can get one for less than 200
If you're in the Park Ridge area, try BeerOnTheWall. They usually carry a good amount of limited release stuff that you don't see at other beer stores. However, not having been in there for about 2 months, I can't say what their selection of BA beers is like at the moment.
You might be able to pick up one of the Dark Lord variants roughly in that range if you negotiate well.
I will recomend Wild Onions "Drago". I will not vouch for the flavored varieties, but the stuff in the red cans is mighty good
OK, not themed by any means (I love those recommendations, though), but if you're talking about splurging on the secondary market (something of which I do not approve, but I'm not judging either), I would strongly consider: -Angry Chair limited releases. -Toppling Goliath KBBS -Cantillon Fou'Foune -Dark Lord variants (in particular Marshmallow Handjee) -Cigar City Double Barrel Huna Best of luck!
You’ve only “seen it all” once you get to see the cashier's face when buying such a beer. It never fails. Atilla The Hen is the imperial version of their Kentucky Ryed Chiquen (see below). I've bought each of these a few times and they make such a mess in the shopping bag. Good for a laugh, but more importantly, a joy to drink.
Oskar Blues/Cigar City Bamburana (see my avatar) might still be on the shelves somewhere. I'd buy eleven or twelve 4-packs of it with your $200 and call it a day. I'd get more myself, but it never turned up here, though got some in a trade. This beer is incredible. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2681/382422/
2 or 3x $60-80 scotch is a better celebratory bang for your buck IMO. Unless you don't like scotch of course.
Already have and love them. Favorite was the cinnamon smores. These might be out of my price range. What Angry Chair would you recommend? Got em already. I really enjoy them too! Personally more of a bourbon person but I like the idea. Never heard of it but I'll take a look
I can't really give you a well-versed Angry Chair recommendation; I've only had three of their beers - well, I've only had three of their beers while sober enough to review them. While I'm not into the secondary market, I would suspect any Cantillon, Dark Lord variants, and Huna variants would be reasonably priced. People trade them on these forums all the time, and they've been around long enough that they're not quite as hyped as they used to be. Of course, I could be wrong.
Do people honestly spend over $100 on a single bottle of beer? That seems insane. I've spent that much on scotch and really nice ryes and bourbons, but that's entirely different. That lasts months, if not a year. What on earth do you get for that much? I'm the world's biggest beer fan, and am in love with big BA stouts, but my plebian was has never even seen the likes of these ultra-hyped trade whales such as: Abraxas Dark Lord Darkstar KBBS Handjee Black Tuesday Reserve Hunahpu BCBS Rare/Prop Fundamental Observation SR-71 Mornin' Delight Assassin Etc... I've only heard they're amazing and have always wanted to try one. How much do these things actually cost? Someone offered to trade a BA Abraxas for Vanilla BCBS but I turned it down. I can't fathom spending $100 on a single beer. Is this for multiples? Do people do realistic $4$ trades for these in the trade forums? I'm a fsirly seasoned beer guy, but I have no knowledge of the secondary value hype world of beer. I keep out of that mess. $200 could get you a Rhetoric Orphan Barrel 23yr or a Highland Park 18, or even a Van Winkle bourbon, if you're into that whole scene. Most I've spent on a beer was $20 for a BCBS variant, and that was a truly amazing beer. Seems like a situation with a whole lot of diminishing returns.
Yes. To me it's about value for the experience. I personally get more value out of drinking a fantastic barrel aged stout than I do a glass of whiskey or wine. Also factoring in scarcity, availability, travel costs (Where is the brewery located? Do I have to stand in line) paying 100 dollars for a bottle may actually make more sense fiscally. Yes I understand that there are great beers available near me but I've had most of them. And this really wasn't the point of the thread. I just wanted input in what people thought I should try.
I'm not calling you out for your financial decisions. If you have that much disposable money that you can spend $100 on a bottle of beer, then go for it. I don't criticise friends who drive $175,000 cars. More power to you. I can't justify it because to me, $100 makes the difference of having rent for the week, food for the next two months, or gas to get to work. If that's pocket change to you, then that's great. My question was more directed at the general thread audience, and legitimate questions about the cost and availability of the aforementioned beers. You do you, man. Cheers.
I’ve bought off the secondary market albeit many years ago, but there can be some reasonable values out there for beers you want to try outside of your market. Honestly if I could find a place that would ship me 6 fresh Pliny’s I’d buy them. Most of the sites I’ve seen were always a one bottle and always sold out.
Having had BA Abraxas, DB Hunahpu and J. Wakefield Desperado, I'd honestly rather drink BCBS, KBS, CBS, Parabola, Bomb!, etc. This is why I stopped trading entirely, all these beers have been disappointing and nowhere near worth the trade to me, I really wish I had kept the Lambic instead. Overhyped and poorly balanced, every single one of them.