I say as long as they are remaining dedicated to putting out the same product that got them popular and are continuing an effort to remain relevant in today's market, more power to them. But that's just my 2 cents.
I used to really like Sam Adams, but Sam Adams is now as close as a craft brewery can get to a Miller or Coors. Every year craft beer conventions have to redefine the number of barrels produced a year to allow Sam Adams to even be considered a craft brewery. Some of their beer is pretty good, but overall they produce WAY too many different beers and it seems as though they aren't as dedicated to their beer as a Stoudt's or Victory. I guess that's what happens to big business, even the one-time underdogs.
There are a lot of Sam Adams beers i like. Although, the worst would have to be Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout. Top 3 worst beer I have ever had.
SA gets such a bad name lately for what they have done and still do. They literally saved over 100 breweries of breweries during the hop crisis. They employ hundreds of people in my state alone, and pay well and take care of their employees.
They are not trying to make a pliny or heady. They make typical beers to grade of several styles, usually not earth shattering. They appeal to the casual beer drinker and not to the hardcore "craft" head. They produce overspiced nonsense, but so does nearly every craft brewery in the fall (big and small). At 1% of the market, they are not a giant by any means. And as they grow, they are cutting into BMC, not craft breweries. No one says "I used to drink Lawsons until I found Sams." They open the eyes to BMC drinkers that their can be light, crisp and drinkable beers in other styles. Many of whom will begin trying other local/regional/national breweries who are truly craft breweries.
I don't really drink SA that much, but I usually try anything new they make, just to see. Sometimes its aweful, sometimes I make fun of them, sometimes I drink Utopias and love them. I'm still happy they are apart of the scene though. The worst part is that some of their more interesting and well done beers have been local only or extremely limited in release, such as Kosmic mother funk.
Their growth shows one amazing fact in America: people want beer that tastes like something. The rest is subjective
There are a lot of Sam Adams beers i like. Although, the worst would have to be Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout. Top 3 worst beer I have ever had.
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