Black Ops 2009. How You Have Changed

So what does it take to get me out of a little blogging slumber?  One might think a great bottle share event held by Philly Beer Scene and Philly Tap Finder a few weekends ago might unleash my inner beer spirit.  The event offered up some  impressive beverages provided by a stellar group of beer aficionados from the area. Even though imbibing a mind blowing variety of beers did awaken my Beerwise spirit, my blogosphere remained silent. However last week's rumbling weather sent me into the basement for something equally dark and devious.  Brooklyn Black Ops (2009) seemed the perfect fit for a blustery night and it was all that was needed to break the blogging drought

Brooklyn Brewery was one of the first breweries to catch my attention eons ago when I got into craft beer. Black Ops was the first of the big barrel aged bourbon beers to find it's way into my cellar. Back in 09 when I bought the bottle I bitched a bit about the cost (here). At that time there were very few beers I'd willingly lay down over $20.00 for in order to purchase a single bottle. Now that's laughable.

Garrett Oliver & Mr. Iambeerwise
Philly Beer Week 2008 London Grill

(Brooklyn Brewery commercial description)                                                                   Barrel-aged in Woodford Reserve bottles. Brooklyn Black Ops does not exist. However, if it did exist, it would be a robust stout concocted by the Brooklyn brewing team under cover of secrecy and hidden from everyone else at the brewery. Supposedly, "Black Ops" was aged for four months in bourbon barrels, bottled flat, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast, creating big chocolate and coffee flavors with a rich underpinning of vanilla-like oak notes. They say there are only 1000 cases. We have no idea what they’re talking about.

Black Ops has always been a good beer. Big dark chocolate, espresso, raisin and oak flavors with a hint of vanilla.  When fresh the bourbon flavors were never huge and the beer did come off boozy.  Age has knocked back the booze factor and made the raisin, espresso and bourbon blend more enjoyable. The key to enjoying this is to have it at room temperature. There is a HUGE difference. When cold the flavors are very muted. Once the chill fades the true flavors come alive.

So was it worth the hefty price tag back in 2009? Hmmm, almost. As good as it is I could never put it up there with some of the barrel aged heavyweights such as Parabola or KBS. There just isn't enough bourbon or that richness you would expect from an aged imperial stout. I haven't had the most recent version so I'm not sure how it compares. However if you're lucky enough to have an older bottle, no fear, open it and enjoy. Though it might not be the most impressive BA Bourbon Stout it is one that has improved with age.

Brooklyn Black Ops: Show Me the Money

A few years back if you would have told me I'd spend close to $30.00 for a bottle of beer I would have called you crazy. Oh how things have changed. After a quick stop at TJ's (only had one beer during the tap special) on Wednesday I walked out with a $29.00 bottle of Brooklyn Black Ops (750ml). This eclipsed my previous most-money-spent-on-a-beer purchase, The Bruery's Papier (750ml), by $4.00. That beer is currently in my cellar aging nicely. I'm sure some of you think all this financial belly aching over beer is silly. Wine connoisseurs don't think twice about spending much, much more on a great bottle. I understand that ounce for ounce when stacked against wine and taking into consideration the time and effort to produce the finished product, the value is obvious. Still my old school miserly self cringes with sticker shock wondering if the expected mega hype instead of the quality is what really drives the price.

Overall is it worth it? For me, hell yeah! It was during Philly Beer Week 08 I first had the deliciously smooth bourbon aged stout and it was love at first taste. Thanks again Ed for picking up the bottle. I need to make sure you're around when I open this one. Hands down it is one of my favorite bourbon aged beers. After sharing that bottle at Tria, later the same night I ended up meeting Garrett Oliver during a Brooklyn Brewing event at London Grill. After gushing about my love for all-things-Brooklyn and trying to sound knowledgeable about beer I jumped at the chance to have the bottle signed. Yes, I became that beer geek guy. I have no shame. Hey, we all have our rock stars.

Next year I'm sure I'll again seek out the Ops, bitch about it being even more expensive, grumble under my breath and hand over the cash. Hmmmm, sounds like a new warm and fuzzy holiday tradition. Cheers!

BLACKENED by BROOKLYN

Wow what a week it has been. Sorry for the little hiatus from my, so called beer life but work and family life took over the drivers seat. I'm sure all of you happily survived the turkey holiday and the Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping madness. I survived by stuffing my fat face and not going anywhere near a store or shopping website. If history is a guide I probably won't start knocking people off my shopping list until the weekend before Christmas. Call me Mr. Procrastination.

While sugar plum fairies invade the sweet, cheerful dreams of many my thought are on things roasty, malty and bold. With a chill in the air tis' the season to go dark (even black). Put down the IPAs and wheat beers and pick up the Stouts, Porters, Barleywines and seasonal ales. Even a hop head like me can't resist. Two beers I look forward this time of year are Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and Black Ops. While we all have to wait until Dec 10th (or so) for Black Ops, Mr. Oliver promisses the same recipe as last year and a slightly higher abv (11.7%). I've already experienced my first bottle of Black Chocolate Stout.

Years ago Black Chocolate Stout was my introduction to Brooklyn Brewery. This year's version of the Imperial Stout as expected offers a good flavor combination of roasted malt, coffee and bitter chocolate. The look is black, black, black in the glass with a thick mocha head. It seemed a little sweeter than in past years and was best once it hit room temperature. If you have never had this 10% + abv black delight don't expect a smooth chocolate milk shake effect, e.g., Young's Double Chocolate Stout. Mr. Oliver has harmed no chocolate pieces to make his beer. The chocolate refers to the specially roasted malts. Now all I have to do is happily sit back in my big leather chair, sip on a few more of these and patiently wait for the Ops to arrive.

A GREAT BLACKENED PERFORMANCE

Me a Beer Geek? Blame it on the Ops.

Philly Beer Week can bring the true inner geek out in any craft beer lover. It happened to me last night. After spending the early part of the evening at The Grey Lodge enjoying some fantastic beer from Voodoo Brewing and Dark Horse (I need more Double Crooked Tree) I met up with friends at Tria Cafe at 18th & Sansom. My friend Ed asked me to trust his beer choosing abilities, which I did, and soon I was sharing a bottle of Brooklyn Black Ops. Bourbon aged beers are my weakness and this on did not disappoint.

The Black Ops is a Russian Imperial Stout aged for 4 month in bourbon barrels and fermented with champagne yeast. The pour was jet black with a two finger deep tan head. Hints of bourbon worked through the upfront aroma of chocolate and roasted coffee. Although on the boozy side the bourbon stayed subtle and never took over. Oak, some dark fruit and vanilla all started to appear as the beer warmed. Since I wasn't at home, kicked back in my leather chair by a fire I was glad to be sharing this bottle. I highly recommended you get to Tria before it's gone.

My geek moment of the night happened after my last sip of Ops. The power of the bourbon aged treat moved me to convince Kelleigh to drive over to the London Grill so I could shake hands with Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster for Brooklyn Brewing. My guess is the 11% was part of the motivation. Of course I wasn't the only one waiting to bend Garrett's ear with questions about food and beer pairings. However I may of been the only one to take an empty bottle of Black Ops from Tria, bring it to London Grill and have him sign it. This beer geek has no shame?