FIB War Room

[beeraficionado]

Vegas Odds were 7,500:1 of Cask Conditioned English Mild Ales being the topic that steered the conversation away from last night's long lines.

 

[Lansman]

My favorite part of last night were the bartenders at Delilah’s arguing with Lansman about it being called van winkle rye and not pappy rye. This was a good 2 mins until they pulled the bottle out to show him.


A+++ would buy from again

Wouldn't call it an argument, I was just confused. They were very passionate on correcting my incorrect nomenclature. That 25yr Willett pick tho. Also champagne flutes and ice bucket for High Life was a nice touch. I miss not living close to Delilahs.

 

[disapowzment]

Wouldn't call it an argument, I was just confused. They were very passionate on correcting my incorrect nomenclature. That 25yr Willett pick tho. Also champagne flutes and ice bucket for High Life was a nice touch. I miss not living close to Delilahs.

Let’s just say you were completely wrong.

 

[mjohnson171]

Noooooooooooooo!



I know we’re only a few weeks into 2018, but pretty sure this is the biggest disappointment of 2018.

Curiosity killed the cat. I had to do a quick trade and see for myself how Mindshift Gap was.










And it’s damn good. Fantastic. I love coffee cognac bws. It doesn’t seem as rich and sweet as last years, and I feel the can is a little overcarbonated at first. Leaving too much prickling on the tonge. But after letting the CO2 off-gas and the beer open up for like 10 minutes it goes away.

 

[RedCoffee]

Also I went in blew up the bathroom then left. RedCoffee listened to people talk about technology or something.

Some guy was making a passionate argument about cryptocurrency. The ideal cryptocurrency was said to be "like Jennifer Lawrence's vagina. *pause* or Jennifer Lawrence's ass! *gesture to me* this guy knows!"

 

[trickytunadicky]

Room is full of FIBs

 

[vav1]

Ok I’m off, where’s everybody drinking?

 

[ChicagoGuy]

Some guy was making a passionate argument about cryptocurrency. The ideal cryptocurrency was said to be "like Jennifer Lawrence's vagina. *pause* or Jennifer Lawrence's ass! *gesture to me* this guy knows!"

Would invest.

 

[RedCoffee]

I've ticked em all now. Canned Deep Wood Rankings, IMO:

BW Division:
1) Straight Jacket
--- Every bit the perennial winner it always is. Sticky sweet beer candy deliciousness.
2) Mineshaft Gap
--- Better than advertised ITT. I dig cognac and I liked what it did to the beer. Fite me.
3) Ryeway
--- Just not as big a fan of rye, myself. I'm unfairly rating it low because of that but I recognize it as good for what it is.

DT Division:
1) Cafe Deth
--- My #1 beer of 2017, especially for the price. When this is fresh, it is in contention for my favorite beer of all time. Even towards the end of my stash I was loving every can.
2) Deth's Tar
--- The new recipe with extra umph is the way to go. This is everything I want in a basic huge BA stout.
3) VSOD
--- Not really a fair comparison as I think this is an older recipe so it's thinner in body than regular right now. Still love the extra barrel character. Looking forward to VSOD using the current DT recipe.
4) Cherry
--- Some might string me up for saying this but the cherry is extremely dominant and I think right now it's overshadowing the base beer too much for me. Maybe I'm also just dreaming of more Deth by Currants when I drink it.
5) DBVSOD
--- Still getting a handle on this one - only had one can so far - but right now it's fairly intense and overwhelming. A whole hell of a lot is going on in there and I think the body of the beer isn't fully up to the task of holding it together. Liked it more as it warmed up. Curious what a bit of time will do on this one. Also curious what future versions of barrel-aged experiments will do with the newer DT recipe.

I'm sure this topic will calm down on the Rev talk again soon but big thanks to beeraficionado for keeping us in the loop. Looking forward to next year's barrage, even if my wallet isn't ever gonna be ready.

Unsolicited wish list for future cans:
- VSOJ
- Deth by Currants
- Deth by Plums
- "XOD" (because I'd be curious to see what comes next after VSOD)

 

[tinypyramids1]

- "XOD" (because I'd be curious to see what comes next after VSOD)

hoping for VSOG, 'very special old gap'

 

[middlebrow]

Quasi-shameless plug...

What are we doin for that ABV Chicago (Rizdac ) anniversary party, they want a stout variant or something?
- age some on plum for a few weeks.
PLUM...sounds gross.
- nope, ***** delish, probably my fav fruited stout in some time. Ask the neckbeards who went to the rev release.

Beer is theft

 

[Tooch4321]

The latest batch of Coffee DinoS’mores is aces, I’m just saying...

 

[mdomask]

I've ticked em all now. Canned Deep Wood Rankings, IMO:

BW Division:
1) Straight Jacket
--- Every bit the perennial winner it always is. Sticky sweet beer candy deliciousness.
2) Mineshaft Gap
--- Better than advertised ITT. I dig cognac and I liked what it did to the beer. Fite me.
3) Ryeway
--- Just not as big a fan of rye, myself. I'm unfairly rating it low because of that but I recognize it as good for what it is.

Mineshaft gap is better than the naysayers lead you to believe, but I'd switch it with Ryeway. Only one I wish I'd bought more of.

DT Division:
1) Cafe Deth
--- My #1 beer of 2017, especially for the price. When this is fresh, it is in contention for my favorite beer of all time. Even towards the end of my stash I was loving every can.

So delicious. Went back for more multiple times. Not quite my top 2017 beer, but an easy choice for a good all-rounder and nice desert beer. Went through like 2 4-packs at a friend's cookie-focused Xmas party.

Unsolicited wish list for future cans:
- VSOJ

I keep seeing that Rev confirmed this for October release at the BW dinner Thursday night. Very much hoping that's true...

 

[tinypyramids1]

I keep seeing that Rev confirmed this for October release at the BW dinner Thursday night. Very much hoping that's true...

that they did. it was definitely mentioned during the dinner, but obviously sometimes things can go awry or delayed so let's hope it stays true.

 

[adhdjon]

I feel spoiled to be a FIB these days. The last two months has been an insane whirlwind of some amazing, world-class BA stouts.

Revolution killed it. But I want to offer my plebian and contrarian opinion by saying that I think this year's V.S.O.D. and Double Barrel V.S.O.D. are amazing.

First off, Josh Noel is a talentless ass-clown hack. That guy is in the pockets/ballsack region of Goose Island. I assume that's where people are parroting this nonsense about VSOD and DBVSOD being too thin. Also, inb4 "last year's vintage are in the barrels." I KNOW MAN. When you age a beer in barrels it is a totally different game.

VSOD is this amazing display of BARREL. The beer is reminiscent of Rare and Reserve. I have no issue with how thick the beer is because I don't think the beer is the star of the show. The base is a vehicle to put this amazing fusion of barrel and beer on display, with the barrel in the lead. In that regard I think VSOD is ******* fantastic.

DBVSOD is an entirely different beast. For whatever reason, when I had the DBVSOD on tap at Revolution for the Straight Jacket release, I was getting a weird minty flavor note. This note was also reported by others, so I'm not alone. I'm not sure if it is because I was doming Straight Jacket before or what. I just cracked one of my cans of DBVSOD and holy ****. The beer is an insane fusion of barrel and fudge with tons of oak, coconut, alcohol, vanilla, maple, bourbon, and Eggo waffles. Not every beer needs to be T H I C C, and at 17% if you made this beer any sweeter or maltier you probably risk cloying.

VSOJ was just candy sweetness, which is amazing and I love it. It's the #BIL DDB **** that your #newmoney "have been drinking beer since 2014" beer drinker is gonna love. I personally think Revolution released some really finessed, mature beers this year that are beyond the basic bitch palates of your Josh Noels.

Anyway, what I'm saying is, I think instead of spending 20 hours in line for BCBS next year I might just spend more money and time at Revolution.

 

[RedCoffee]

I mean to be fair, thinner =/= worse or bad. Maybe it didn't come through in my brain dump but I still think every single one of those beers is killer and I wish I had more of all of them.

 

[Lansman]

Hoping someone with a lot more beer knowledge than I can help me out here.

Mineshaft Gap is the same base as SJ, right? If that is the case, is it the barrels themselves that lend that huge mouthfeel to SJ (coupled with the base beer of course) and thus would it be the Cognac barrels taking something away from the viscosity of MG?

MG is a good beer. In a vacuum it is very good. 99.9% of breweries around the world would kill to have it in their lineup because they simply can't pull it off. Putting price ($35 is fine IMO), shitlords, #NewMoney hype, etc. aside, my issue with MG is that the January 2015 OG batch of MG was very close to the current mouthfeel of the new SJ. So...what changed? If you put SJ side by side with MG, the mouthfeel is completely different, as if the base were an entirely different entity altogether. (Of course, if that is the case, that explains everything - perhaps the brewers felt that the SJ base doesn't lend itself well with Cognac barrels, etc.)

 

[PHBoiler]

Hoping someone with a lot more beer knowledge than I can help me out here.

Mineshaft Gap is the same base as SJ, right? If that is the case, is it the barrels themselves that lend that huge mouthfeel to SJ (coupled with the base beer of course) and thus would it be the Cognac barrels taking something away from the viscosity of MG?

MG is a good beer. In a vacuum it is very good. 99.9% of breweries around the world would kill to have it in their lineup because they simply can't pull it off. Putting price ($35 is fine IMO), shitlords, #NewMoney hype, etc. aside, my issue with MG is that the January 2015 OG batch of MG was very close to the current mouthfeel of the new SJ. So...what changed? If you put SJ side by side with MG, the mouthfeel is completely different, as if the base were an entirely different entity altogether. (Of course, if that is the case, that explains everything - perhaps the brewers felt that the SJ base doesn't lend itself well with Cognac barrels, etc.)

This year's SJ is 1/3 VSOJ per the brewer at the Life After Deth event Thursday. So maybe try MG side by side with a different vintage of SJ for a mouthfeel comparison. That's my best explanation for the difference.

 

[disapowzment]

Need VSOJ and cherry rye in cans. Rev crew put on one hell of a weekend.

 

[sacrelicio]

This year's SJ is 1/3 VSOJ

 

[Scalzo]

Hoping someone with a lot more beer knowledge than I can help me out here.

Mineshaft Gap is the same base as SJ, right? If that is the case, is it the barrels themselves that lend that huge mouthfeel to SJ (coupled with the base beer of course) and thus would it be the Cognac barrels taking something away from the viscosity of MG?

MG is a good beer. In a vacuum it is very good. 99.9% of breweries around the world would kill to have it in their lineup because they simply can't pull it off. Putting price ($35 is fine IMO), shitlords, #NewMoney hype, etc. aside, my issue with MG is that the January 2015 OG batch of MG was very close to the current mouthfeel of the new SJ. So...what changed? If you put SJ side by side with MG, the mouthfeel is completely different, as if the base were an entirely different entity altogether. (Of course, if that is the case, that explains everything - perhaps the brewers felt that the SJ base doesn't lend itself well with Cognac barrels, etc.)

I had them side by side and preferred Mineshaft Gap <3
MG is full of depth and nuance. Its not as sweet, full of flavor and finishes dry and clean..
and the cans are even better than what I had on tap at the release. Thin? maybe less syrupy and sweet, perceived mouthfeel etc who knows who cares, drink what you like

 

[PHBoiler]

I had them side by side and preferred Mineshaft Gap <3
MG is full of depth and nuance. Its not as sweet, full of flavor and finishes dry and clean..
and the cans are even better than what I had on tap at the release. Thin? maybe less syrupy and sweet, perceived mouthfeel etc who knows who cares, drink what you like

Full agreement. I enjoyed it more at the tasting. I think by itself at home when only drinking one beer I might prefer SJ. That night I appreciated the dialed back sweetness and hint of dryness.

 

[PHBoiler]

https://www.guysdrinkingbeer.com/the-new-illinois-beer-labels-for-january-2018/

Double Dry Hopped Galaxy Hero
Both Middle Brow beers
Bramble Might Meets Right

Legit excited for all those beers. Very nice Chicagoland. Very nice.

 

[Wagon Circler]

Hey FIBs, is the Revolution brew pub online taplist reliable?

 

[DiscountMegaMall4ever]

I think instead of spending 20 hours in line for BCBS next year I might just spend more money and time at Revolution.

Unlike you, I require 20 hours a year of scenes from Humans Against Humanity to feel better about myself.

 

[beeraficionado]

Hey FIBs, is the Revolution brew pub online taplist reliable?

It's accurate. It's also on Untappd.

 

[mdomask]

VSOD is this amazing display of BARREL. The beer is reminiscent of Rare and Reserve. ... The base is a vehicle to put this amazing fusion of barrel and beer on display, with the barrel in the lead. In that regard I think VSOD is ******* fantastic.

DBVSOD is an entirely different beast. ... I just cracked one of my cans of DBVSOD and holy ****. The beer is an insane fusion of barrel and fudge with tons of oak, coconut, alcohol, vanilla, maple, bourbon, and Eggo waffles.

Now I want to run the series on DT, VSOD, and DBVSOD in a non-VSOJ environment, starting above draft temp. All the VSOD variants benefited from a good amount of warming.

 

[Wagon Circler]

It's accurate. It's also on Untappd.

 

[JRBecks]

RedCoffee

 

[Lansman]

RedCoffee

Dark Lord Day + 1: May 20, 2018
'ISO: BA Vanilla Dark Lord+
FT: BA Vanilla More Stout

Saw this done several times.'

This is going to be fun.