Look at this lovely box! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
A month later, I got a random DM from my good buddy, @bedwetr7 aka Josh. He had seen in my Instagram stories that I was hoping to score a Proprietor’s—a story I had posted mostly as a shot in the dark—and he’d answered my call.
Josh contacted me saying that he’d bought one with me in mind, if I was interested in a trade. All Josh wanted was some Trillium brews. I was pretty shocked. The Proprietor’s goes on Ebay for tons of money, after all. To get an offer for a fair amount of brews was great. Thankfully, I don’t live prohibitively far away from either Trillium location, and I’m always looking for a reason to go to them. I asked Josh to cellar my stout for a month while I planned a road trip to Canton. Two Saturdays ago, I went (you’ve been seeing the fruits of that trip for the last 9 days). A week later, I shipped out his beers, and he shipped me mine.
And yes, this beautiful bottle was inside! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
Last night, I got my end of the trade, and completed the greatest beer hunt of my Windowsill’s young life. So, what makes the Proprietor’s so special? Every year, Goose Island makes a special version of their Bourbon County Brand Stout for the ones they consider “the adventurous beer lovers who responded so favorably to our first batch of Bourbon County Brand Stout in the early 90s, and who loyally, year after year, share our passion for bourbon barrel-aged stout.”
The Proprietor’s is always the best of the best, made with unique ingredients from the rest and a special recipe put together by Brian LaGro. For 2018, the magic word is chocolate. It uses a combination of dark chocolate and two kinds of cocoa nibs. It’s rich, decadent and includes all the chocolate flavors, from “silky milk chocolate” to “deep and earth dark chocolate.”
Head over to Instagram to see this one it all its glory. Make sure you follow Beers on Windowsills for more great beer!
There’s an epic battle on the Windowsill today. Who will win?
If you know anything about me, you know that I love collaboration beers with a passion. Can you imagine my absolute joy when I saw that one of my new favorite breweries, Beer’d Brewing Company, had decided to collaborate with one of my other favorite breweries, Pipeworks Brewing Company? That’s what we have on the Windowsill today… the Dogs Vs. Shinobi, a New England-style IPA with guava puree added that essentially mashes together the two breweries’ most iconic brews—the Dogs & Boats from Beer’d and the Ninja vs. Unicorn from Pipeworks.
I spoke to Beer’d’s Aaren Simoncini about this collaboration. Here’s what he had to say:
How did the partnership with Pipeworks come about?
Mike from Pipeworks has family in CT and had planned a trip back home to visit them. As luck would have it, Sarene Craft Beer Distributors, our Western CT distributor, also carries Pipeworks here in CT and thought it would be a great idea to put us in touch. We started the conversation and it was pretty obvious early on that our brewing styles were similar. We discussed some of our favorite ingredients and techniques and Dogs Vs. Shinobi was born!
How did you incorporate the two brands to make this one beer?
The final product is certainly a mashup of the two brands (there’s an IP issue preventing us from calling it Dogs Vs. Ninja). We talked about the beer we like to drink, and how we wanted those brands in a bit more of a sessionable ABV range. We also wanted a fruity punch to be included in the final product, and we both immediately gravitated to the Guava, as it plays so well with the Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic.
Check out the awesome label, created by Dan Hamilton. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
Who did the label for this can?
Dan Hamilton created the imagery for the can label. We started working with Dan a few years ago and love the fact that we can pitch him a cool name or concept and set him loose. We wanted to incorporate both brands without loosing our style and this is where we landed!
Anything else cool about this collaboration?
We love collaborations because they get us outside of our wheelhouse. They’re a great opportunity to learn a new technique or incorporate unfamiliar ingredients in someone else’s workshop. With all that said, it’s time for us to get outside of our wheelhouse, wink, wink, so keep your eyes out for the next step.
As for the Dogs Vs. Shinobi itself? I think you already know… It was awesome. Great mix of hops, and the guava made everyone so nice and fruity. Great collaboration!
Thanks to Aaren! I can’t wait to visit Beer’d myself in a couple of weeks!
Check this one out on Instagram. Make sure you follow Beers on Windowsills for more great craft beer!
One thing beer hunting has taught me, it’s to never give up. This beer is proof that it pays to keep working the internet and the phones when you’re trying to track down specialty brews. Being that I don’t want to pay over $100 or more for the Chicago-only Proprietor’s Stout (that’s what “empty” bottles are selling for on Ebay), the acquisition of this 2018 Bourbon County Brand Reserve brings to an end my hunt for this year’s BCBs from Goose Island Beer Company. It was a fun ride, too!
Look at this silver sensation… (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
How did I get the 2018 Reserve? I went back to a watering hole that had previously been emptied—the East Side Grocery on 2nd between 74th and 75th. Knowing they were expecting another shipment, I called them Thursday afternoon, and they graciously held me a bottle. Store policy dictated that I also had to buy another flavor in order to get the 2018 Reserve, which I suppose is fair enough. I ended up deciding on another bottle of the regular Bourbon County Brand Stout, which was the cheapest option available. Good to have another one for cellaring anyway, right?
I have to give yet another shout out to Windowsill Hero, Kristena, who once again saved me a 30-block trek to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She actually also saved me from not getting the 2018 Reserve at all. As it turns out, through what I assume is a miscommunication, when she got to the store, they didn’t have my bottle held, and claimed to never have heard of any Kristena. Did she give up? No! Like any true Windowsiller, she—in her own words—caused a scene until they “magically found” one last bottle behind the counter. She made the clerk so nervous that he had to call the owner… twice! Anyway, she bought it, and delivered it to my desk the next day. Hero! It’s good to have friends who enjoy a good treasure hunt!
You know it’s quality because of all the paragraphs. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
The difference between the 2018 Reserve and the 2018 regular is all in the barrels. The recipe for both beers is exactly the same. Same malts, same hops, same aging time. Other than the packaging—how cool is that box and the silver label?—the only distinction between the two is that the 2018 Reserve is aged in 12-year-old Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon barrels. The Elijah Craig won whiskey of the year from Whisky Advocate, which is basically the top prize in the industry. I bet it’s gonna be smooth. I hope so, anyway… it was pricey!
Anybody want to send me the Proprietor’s Stout? Lol. Worth a shot, I think!
Once again, head over to Instagram to like and follow!
I’m still hunting down the BCB releases for my Windowsill!
BeerMenus saves the day again! I sat down to eat my lunch today, which gave me an opportunity to search for more places around my office that might be carrying Goose Island Beer Company’s 2018 Bourbon County Brand releases. Again, I hit upon a local shop with several of the variants, including the Bramble Rye Stout! The place, Malt & Mold-Gramercy on 2nd Ave between 21st and 22nd, is a small shop that sells two basic things: Craft beer (the Malt part of the name) and Cheese (the Mold part of the name). I’d never heard of it, but it ended up being pretty awesome. Check out the beer and cheese gift baskets they do!
Just a portion of the Bourbon County Brand releases I found at Malt & Mold. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
As any good hunter knows, if you have the chance to get your prey, you take it. I called up Malt & Mold to confirm that they, indeed, had the Bramble Rye, and had them hold me a bottle. I gathered my heavy jacket (it’s cold out there in these NYC streets), and my hat, and started the roughly 24-block-walk. I hustled all the way, making it basically in 20 minutes. I couldn’t browse long because I had to get back to the office, but the little I did see was pretty impressive. Lots of solid craft beer, including what looked like the remnants of several cases of the BCB releases and even the 2018 Founders CBS (You’ll be mine soon, horse). In short order, I picked up the bottle from behind the counter and paid for it. I returned to work feeling great… the thrill of the successful hunt! I may or may not have changed the lyrics to “Bamboleo” by the Gypsy Kings to “Bramble-eyo.” Reports of that are, and will remain, forever unconfirmed.
Don’t worry, I didn’t drink it at the office! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
The Bramble Rye is a little bit different than the other BCB stouts. First of all it’s aged in rye whisky barrels, rather than the traditional bourbon barrels used for the other variants. Secondly, Goose Island brewed this one with additions of blackberry and raspberry—in both juice and pureé form. The fruity stout is something I haven’t been able to taste too often, but I’m excited to crack this one open, and soon.
What’s your favorite variant so far? What has been the toughest to track down?
Check this one out on Instagram right now! You can also see the other variants!
As the great Beatles song says, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Every good beer hunter knows that sometimes you have to rely on the eyes, ears and hell sometimes even the feet and money of your buddies to get those rare brews. That’s how I ended up getting my hands on this bottle of the 2018 Bourbon County Brand Coffee Barleywine from Goose Island Beer Company.
I have the luxury of working in Midtown Manhattan—ok it’s not always a luxury—with access to an entire city’s worth of craft beer. A quick search on BeerMenus revealed the existence of a little bodega named the East Side Grocery, on 2nd Avenue, between 74th and 75th on the Upper East Side. Not only did the site say the grocery had the Bourbon County Brand Stout, it also said they’d gotten the Barleywine, the Bramble Rye Stout AND the BCBS Reserve. Say what?
Another day, another Bourbon County Brand release at my desk. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to make the 30-block walk. Rather than give up, I did some digging and found a friend that lived near the store. Kristena didn’t know she was going to be a Windowsill hero when she woke up yesterday, but she stepped up to the challenge and, although the bodega was out of the Reserve and the Bramble Rye, she snagged me the Coffee Barleywine on her way home!
The exciting part about this beer is that it’s the first ever Bourbon County Coffee Barleywine release. It’s a traditional, malt forward English-style Barleywine aged in 4+ year old Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels. Goose Island worked with Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee, flying all the way to Guatemala to source some of the world’s best coffee—Finca La Soledad. I’ve never had a coffee barleywine before, and I can’t wait to try it!
Pop over to Instagram to see our other 2018 Bourbon County Brand Releases. Make sure you like and follow!
Special Notes: Grade A vanilla beans from Madagascar. The vanilla stout makes its return to the Bourbon County Brand release after several years off the roster.
Hops: Millenium
Malts: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich, Roast Barley
Thought I was done with these on the sill, but surprise, surprise!
There’s only one thing better than scoring a specialty release beer on the day it hits stores: Getting one of the rare variants three days after it reaches shelves! Thanks to my good buddy, Brian, and a well-placed day off from my day job, I managed to snag the Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout from Ridgefield Wine & Spirits in Ridgefield, CT.
Got my bottle and headed back home! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
I was driving around town after running some errands, when I got the word from Brian. I immediately drove to get some coffee—a little Nitro from Donut Crazy in Westport—and then made the roughly 30-minute drive to Ridgefield. Although the cashier temporarily put a fright in me by saying the system showed they didn’t have any left, she quickly asked the manager and he came out from the back with a bottle for me. I snagged the second-to-last one!
I will be reposting this once I taste it—probably some time in early 2019—but I was too proud of my find to not share it with you guys. Like the other Bourbon County Brand Stouts, this one is aged in bourbon barrels that are at least four years old. However, Goose Island’s brewers decided to add Grade A vanilla beans from Madagascar to the mix. The vanilla variant has been gone from the Bourbon County Brand release lineup for a number of years, but it’s back for 2018… and on my Windowsill.
Check me out on Instagram. Like and follow my account for more great Bourbon County Brand finds!
Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. We’we hunting Bourbon County Brand stouts on the Windowsill today!
As a certified beer nerd, I have to do my best to get all those hard-to-find-brews, so… Yes. I hunted around town to bring home some Bourbon County Brand Stouts and its variants. This year, I was able to snag the 2018 Bourbon County Brand Stout, as well as the Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine and Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout flavors from Goose Island Beer Company. Although I haven’t tasted them, and won’t for a while, but I’m happy to add them to my collection. For this photo, I threw in the 2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout, which I bought last year, and the 2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout, which my good buddy Tom gifted me last year. You like?
Now, this release is not without controversy in the craft beer community. You see, back in 2011, the Chicago-based brewery was purchased… by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Yep… Big Beer. For many craft enthusiasts, this was the end of the Goose. No Big Beer will touch their lips, and so, no matter how good a Goose beer is, the Goose is dead to them. I respect that, but for me? If you take the time and care to make a beer like this, you’re still making craft. It’s craft supported by a giant corporation—the enemy of small batch and craft breweries everywhere—but it’s still a work of art. I still believe this beer is great, and I’ll continue to try to snag some every year… Big Beer or not.
What do you guys think? Should BCB lovers be ousted from the craft beer community? Or is it OK to lust after this quality stout every Black Friday? While you mull it over, check out some more information about the releases I’ve been able to score so far.
2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout
Goose Island Beer Company: 2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels
Special Notes: Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels that are at least 4 years old.
Hops: Millennium
Malts: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich 10, Roasted Barley
Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels
Special Notes: Spanish orange zest and chocolate added. It’s the first time fruit zest has been part of the recipe. Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels that are at least 4 years old.
Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine Ale (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
Style: Wheatwine Aged in Bourbon Barrels
Special Notes: The Wheatwine Ale is making its debut in 2018 as the first of the Bourbon County Brand brews to deviate from the imperial stout recipe since the Barleywine debuted back in 2013. Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels that are at least 4 years old.
Hops: Pilgrim
Malts: 2-Row, White Wheat
ABV: 15.4%
IBU: 60
Availability: Even more limited… Why are you still reading?
Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)
Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels
Special Notes: Grade A vanilla beans from Madagascar. The vanilla stout makes its return to the Bourbon County Brand release after several years off the roster.
Hops: Millenium
Malts: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich, Roast Barley
You ever have a sungasm? I’m having one on the Windowsill today!
I love me some Chicago beer, but this was the first time I’ve ever had anything from Finch Beer Company. After a couple of years of turmoil and upheaval, the company is back in full swing. What happened? Well, original founder Ben Finch was voted out of the business by his investors in 2016. Why? Well, rather than focus on beer quality, Finch had some ideas that were a little too pie in the sky for the money peeps behind the company. He made two separate plans for a state-of-the-art brewery that fell through. Also, apparently he wasn’t very well-liked by others in the industry. Anyway, I’m obviously not going fully into all the facts, but push came to shove and Finch is out of Finch. The brand has been trying to rehabilitate ever since.
The Sungasm is a really tasty Belgian Pale Ale. It’s got that fruity quality that the Belgian yeast provides, and a tropical goodness from the mix of hops. It’s also light on the ABV, which makes it the perfect summertime drink. The Sungasm was so good, I ended up having multiples! Thanks to my friends Victor and Jess for this beer, and the lovely glass on the sill today!
Check out more delicious beer on my Instagram page!
Would you care for a spot of tea on the Windowsill today?
Let’s chat about Chicago’s Marz Collective Brewing! The Marz collective—housed in the Bridgeport area of the Windy City—is made up of homebrewers, pro brewers and artists. They first came together because they all liked to drink beers at Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar. They’re dedicated to “making small, artisanal batches of beer in a sustainable and socially responsible manner.” Can’t wait to learn more about these folks, and to have more of their beers!
The Jungle Boogie is a pale wheat ale brewed with rooibos tea. Rooibos means “red bush” (tee hee), and boasts a ton of health benefits. It will help you with everything, from diabetes prevention to digestion to heart health. I don’t know if the Jungle Boogie has enough rooibos to do any of that for you, but it sure as hell tastes good. It has some good fruity hoppiness—and that rooibos flavor—but the wheat backbone really helps balance the flavors and provides some good mouthfeel. Really interesting beer!
Check out my Instagram page for more great craft beer!
In the land of the Windowsills, the lizard can is king!
The great Jim Morrison once wrote: “I am the Lizard King, I can do anything” in a poem named “The Celebration of the Lizard.” Although the verse was written in the point of view of a fictional author, fans of The Doors—possibly because the 60s were a hell of a time for drugs—assumed Morrison was anointing himself King of those little reptilian creatures, and the nickname stuck.
Pipeworks Brewing Company‘s Lizard King is an American Pale Ale hopped exclusively with Mosaic. It’s light, crisp and really delicious, with lots of incredible tropical, piney and citrusy goodness. One sip, and I really did feel like I could do anything! Is the Lizard King named after the great Jim Morrison? I wasn’t sure until I took a look at the description. A pale that “gets our mojo risin’?” Even Mr. Mojo Risin’ himself, Jim Morrison, could figure this one out, and he’s been dead since 1971. Also, how many nicknames can one man have?
Are you a lion in the street and roaming? Roam over to our Instagram to check this beer out!
