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Anyone else not crazy about New Belgium?

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Maybe it's a "better when it's closer" kinda thing, but I like the majority of NB's brews. Fat Tire is their least common denominator beer, so I don't expect a lot from it. Really like the Trippel and 2Below.
 
Well you are allowed to have an opinion of your own of course...

They definitely have a distinct yeast character to their beers, as do other brewers (Magic Hat comes to mind immediately). That you do not like that character does not mean they are a bad brewery. Furthermore, that you did not like all three beers you had is actually strong proof of that point.
 
signed up to Homebrewtalk to chime in on this discussion.

They make average beers imo. They all have the same aftertaste, that's not a pro to me. Not sure why so many like their beers.
 
I dont hate 'em or love 'em. I like 1554, but frankly I never buy any of their stuff. Decent, sure, but I'd rather choose another option.
 
Well you are allowed to have an opinion of your own of course...

They definitely have a distinct yeast character to their beers, as do other brewers (Magic Hat comes to mind immediately). That you do not like that character does not mean they are a bad brewery. Furthermore, that you did not like all three beers you had is actually strong proof of that point.

I tried all 3 with an open mind and all were sub-par at best and I don't get what you mean by your last point. I don't think you know what you're trying to say. Do you mean since I didn't like the 3 that I tried then New Belgium is good? Please explain your logic.
 
I know exactly what I am trying to say, and it was pretty obvious what I meant.

But I guess I can say it in a simpler manner:

The fact that you did not like ALL THREE beers of theirs that you tasted proves the point I made that the distinct flavor their beers have (I offered an example of Magic Hat, which also has a distinct flavor) which has been mentioned by a few people on here is something you either like or don't like. YOU don't like it, HENCE, you didn't like ALL THREE beers you tasted.

Lastly, I wasn't saying that this makes them a good brewery, I was concluding that the fact that they have a distinct yeast profile in their beers means one will either enjoy most of their beers or abhor them just the same.

Re-reading that, I think I know what I meant. Whether you agree with it is not what I was aiming for.
 
I agree that they have a distinct profile but the fact is that their beer tastes bad. You, theorizing that just because I don't like ( 3 beers that I tasted = distinct profile = possibly not a bad brewery ) is flawed logic. There hasn't been a lot of support for their line up here either which is what I suspected. The fact that you choose to believe that it is just their "distinct" yeast is up to you. Me? I fvcking hate it.
 
My sarcastic response came from you telling me that I didn't even understand what I was saying after I dared offer my opinion in your thread. The civility is much appreciated. I'll certainly avoid your posts in the future.

Well done. Can the civility and say what you think. Don't beat around the bush trying to be clever, it only serves to annoy. You have to be the snobbiest person I've ever posted with on here.
 
Well we're both in agreement on that. How about you crack a homebrew right now (I'm drinking one of my pale ales) and we call it a night?
 
First post on here, I just finished one of the 1554s. I thought it was a pretty good beer. Had a very choc, malty flavor. Also left a hoppy sensation on your tongue and roof of your mouth. Not much a hoppy flavor, but a sensation. It was either the 1554 or the moose drool (hadn't tried either). The 1554 just seemed interesting. Although after one I didn't feel like another. hmm, strange.
 
I've drank many a Fat Tire instead of a BMC. It's a decent quaffable microbrew. Not spectacular, but definately not terrible. I'd also drink just about any NB over any Sam Adams 9 times out of 10. Their popularity (without needing nearly the mass marketing that BMC or even SA put out) speaks for itself.
 
I don't taste the same 'thing' in all their beers.

MeatyPortion,
I took a tour @ NB and the tour guide had the opinion that not all beers are for all people and if you don't like a beer that's fine, there's another beer (or brewery) that will suit you. Of course he said this as we were about to taste a Brett-soured beer (which I did NOT like one bit).

I just spent some time in Colorado and tried a few Deschutes beers and didn't like any of them. They just don't suit me but I won't say they are 'bad' per se, even though they taste bad to me. Taste is subjective and a personal thing.

Goinbigger,
It was prob the Moose Drool. 1554 (allegedly, per the brewer @ NB) has no finishing hops at all. I got to try MD just recently and loved it.
 
I've drank many a Fat Tire instead of a BMC. It's a decent quaffable microbrew. Not spectacular, but definately not terrible. I'd also drink just about any NB over any Sam Adams 9 times out of 10. Their popularity (without needing nearly the mass marketing that BMC or even SA put out) speaks for itself.

Being popular without a mass marketing campaign doesn't mean much. In the Chicago Area, Old Style is one of the most popular beers, and the do NO advertising...and it's good for watering plants only, IMO.

For the record, in regards to the OP, the only New Belgium that struck me as drinkable is the 1554...which I first had in a Italian restaurant. The first time that I had a Fat Tire, I was with another beer geek buddy, and we both had the same reaction, "What's the big deal?"
 
There are so many beers that are better, and cheaper. For example, Bridgeport isn't my favorite brewery, but the Hop Czar is $6.99 a sixer, same as NB beers.

Is the hop czar good? It was on sale this weekend when I was in Seattle and I turned it down in favor of something else because they were braging on the bottle that it had 2 lbs of hops per barrel and I thought that is pretty damn crappy for a IIPA when for example firestone walkers IPA (not IIPA) has 4lbs of hops per barrel. I figured it was going to be mostly bitter with not much aroma and nose to it. So how is it?
 
the transatlantique kriek from new belgium/frank boon is fabulous. i pretty much agree with not elbowing people out of the way for a fat tire, abbey, tripel, wit, etc.
 
Being popular without a mass marketing campaign doesn't mean much. In the Chicago Area, Old Style is one of the most popular beers, and the do NO advertising...and it's good for watering plants only, IMO.

Old Style does no advertising? Theres like 3 bars in the whole city without some sort of lighted old style sign. Thats advertising.
 
Old Style does no advertising? Theres like 3 bars in the whole city without some sort of lighted old style sign. Thats advertising.

I'm referring to media advertising. Other than MAYBE radio broadcasts of baseball games (I honestly can't tell you if they still do or not. I haven't listened to a game on the radio in years!) when was the last time you saw a TV commercial, or heard one on the radio?
 
I also think Fat Tire has gone down hill over the last 10 years or so. It is not the same Fat Tire I had in the "James" (now the fake Irish Pub)on Peal St in Boulder. I do like Blue Paddle, Skinny Dip and I love 2 Degrees Below. I tried the Ranger IPA and I do like it a lot. It is not amazing but it is not swill either. Left Hand SawTooth...now that is a damn fine beer
 
I also think Fat Tire has gone down hill over the last 10 years or so. It is not the same Fat Tire I had in the "James" (now the fake Irish Pub)on Peal St in Boulder. I do like Blue Paddle, Skinny Dip and I love 2 Degrees Below. I tried the Ranger IPA and I do like it a lot. It is not amazing but it is not swill either. Left Hand SawTooth...now that is a damn fine beer

I just think all their beer tastes dirty, like autolysis. It all has the same dirty brothy taste.


(1554 being the exception, although its probably just all the dark malts covering the taste)
 
I just think all their beer tastes dirty, like autolysis. It all has the same dirty brothy taste.


(1554 being the exception, although its probably just all the dark malts covering the taste)

I wonder if it's their 'plate boiler' (or whatever it's called) that is adding this similar flavor others have noticed? I haven't noticed it but I only drink it when I'm on vacation. Their kettle has these plates in it that a thin layer of wort passes over and boils, the whole kettle doesn't boil all at once. Supposedly this saves a lot of energy (NB is one of the 'greenest' breweries around).

1554 doesn't have that much dark malts and imo isn't very roasty at all.
 
I don't taste the same 'thing' in all their beers.

MeatyPortion,
I took a tour @ NB and the tour guide had the opinion that not all beers are for all people and if you don't like a beer that's fine, there's another beer (or brewery) that will suit you. Of course he said this as we were about to taste a Brett-soured beer (which I did NOT like one bit).

I just spent some time in Colorado and tried a few Deschutes beers and didn't like any of them. They just don't suit me but I won't say they are 'bad' per se, even though they taste bad to me. Taste is subjective and a personal thing.

Goinbigger,
It was prob the Moose Drool. 1554 (allegedly, per the brewer @ NB) has no finishing hops at all. I got to try MD just recently and loved it.


I think you misunderstood me, I have never tried Moose Drool, I was referring to the 1554. When I was at the store, I was trying to decide between those two. Next time I will probably try the Moose Drool. :mug:
 
Mighty Arrow & the 1554 are pretty good to me, without a doubt. As for Fat Tire, I used drink my fair share of it.

If I'm out somwhere and it's on tap I'll usually order it (either that or Sierra, depending). In my area the other "standard fare" choices at bars are usually generally along the lines of BMC, Red Hook, Newcastle and Gordon Biersch Marzen. Obviously depending on the place there could be something a little more off the beaten path of beer. However, if I'm buying a pint with a aforementioned selection, it'll be Fat Tire (or Sierra) every time.
 

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