$42 bottle of beer on the wall...

$42 for a beer is absurd.  Granted it is a bomber (220z), but that’s a lot of money for a single beer.  A shit-ton (a standard measurement on the Balkan Islands) to be exact.  My friend Paul had forwarded be an article from the Chicago Tribune about the release of a “rare” Bourbon County from local Chicago brewery Goose Island. 

Fun Fact #1: If a 22 ounce beer costs $42, each ounce (or shot) of beer cost’s about $1.91.

Here’s what Goose Island has to say: ” This stout was aged for two years in the finest old barrels Goose Island has used in its 18 years of bourbon barrel-aging beers! A true rarity—savor and share it only with those you hold dear, as it will never be made again.”

Fun Fact #2: At the Liquor Barn, one can get 63 cans of Miller Lite for the price of one Rare Bourbon County. 

Recipe Information: Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 13%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black“Rare” is stored in Pappy Van Winkle Barrels that originally had been filled in 1985 with Whiskey and were then emptied 23 years later.  Goose Island takes these 23 year old casks and then stores the regular bourbon county in them for two years.Fun Fact #3: In 1985, I was 3 years old.  I could maybe walk then, well maybe I strutted.  I still carried a blanky. No concept of what beer was but knew if I had crapped my pants.Once I heard, I immediately called a college buddy about getting me a bottle.  Binnys was sold out.  Then I felt bad about spending that kinda money on the beer and nixed the idea, figuring I could make something just as good (well not really).  I soon found out that Ashley had been trying to find it for me for Christmas, but the prices were jacked up online.  I took a mental step back and thought, “Is a beer really worth this price”.

Absolutely.  If people can spend hundreds of dollars on a wine, why can’t we spend this much on one beer.  I mean, most college kids can go out and spend $42 dollars in a bar easily.  Trust me, I used to be one of them unfortunately.  Like a fine wine, it’s an investment. 

So while in my ole college stumping grounds we stopped by a Friar Tucks.  I picked up beers we can’t get in Kentucky like Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale, Two Brothers Bitter End Pale Ale, Lakefront Local Acre Wisconsin Wet Hop , and Hoppin Frog Barrel Aged BORIS Oatmeal Imperial Stout.  Ashley mixed her own sixpack and then grabbed a bottle of Samuel Adams Infinium to drink on New Years Eve.  Right before we walked out, Ashley found the Rare Bourbon County.  It’s the holidays man!#2,361 will not be opened for a long time.  Probably on an anniversary I assume.