Discussion: I'm burning out on beers > 1.065 SG

[Homercidal]

Craft beer is defined by it's differentiation from BMC. Since BMC is pretty much ONE style (or close enough, don't argue!) that leaves PLENTY of other styles to choose from.

I personally enjoy changing it up frequently. I've made imperial this and that and have had success and some of them I've loved to drink quite often. But I also like a light beer now and again, especially right after work when I need a half-glass to wash down a snack before driving off somewhere. They are great sometimes in the evening if the food pairing is right.

But there are plenty of styles in the mid range that appeal. I highly doubt session ales are taking over craft beer sales. Yes they may be on the rise, but that is only natural considering that there are different strokes for different folks. It's a relatively new product. I'm pretty sure sour beers are outselling session beers (beers that didn't already fit neatly into a low alcohol category.)

 

[ArrogantDusty]

I go through a roller coaster. It used to be beer focused and less specific. Lights to darks, heavy to light. Now I am all over the place.

Most of 2014 for me was sucking down light Saisons and that was after a major cognac phase. Lately it has been stouts and ciders aged on oak (woodchuck makes a dynamite one but Edworts Apfelwein aged on oak is even better.

 

[user 62649]

Thats something I love about homebrew. If I want a DIPA, Cream Ale, Wheat, Siason, Russian Imperial, or that one off that I wanted to be just one Hell of A Wild Ride (my version of a Barley Wine that clocked in at 24.5%) I can brew it and drink it just the way I want. If I want a session IPA I can make that. My tastes change every year or so, so for myself thats great. I agree you'll come back eventually to those hard hitting beers once your palate gets tired of the light and fluffy beers.

 

[MrSnacks]

LOL @ "demonstrably untrue". Here's a demonstration: Whens the last time you saw an 11 hour line for a session IPA? When the gates open at any festival, which beers get the first lines of customers?

Founders All Day IPA is now 27% of their TOTAL production.

http://www.brewbound.com/news/growing-session-sales-pushes-founders-brewing-past-100000-barrels

 

[Mike_kever_kombi]

LOL @ "demonstrably untrue". Here's a demonstration: Whens the last time you saw an 11 hour line for a session IPA? When the gates open at any festival, which beers get the first lines of customers?

There's always a long wait wait at the government cheese line also.

Just sayin

 

[blizz81]

Founders All Day IPA is now 27% of their TOTAL production.

http://www.brewbound.com/news/growing-session-sales-pushes-founders-brewing-past-100000-barrels

From the same page:

But session isn’t the only area of the Founders portfolio that is growing. Higher ABV offerings like Centennial IPA, Dirty Bastard and Breakfast Stout accounted for nearly 53 percent of the company’s total production volume in 2013. Centennial IPA grew at a 16 percent clip while Dirty Bastard and Breakfast Stout grew 32 percent and 42 percent, respectively.


Don't get me wrong though, I'm happy to see any beer sales pick up. More options for the consumer is always better.

 

[MrSnacks]

From the same page:

But session isn’t the only area of the Founders portfolio that is growing. Higher ABV offerings like Centennial IPA, Dirty Bastard and Breakfast Stout accounted for nearly 53 percent of the company’s total production volume in 2013. Centennial IPA grew at a 16 percent clip while Dirty Bastard and Breakfast Stout grew 32 percent and 42 percent, respectively.


Don't get me wrong though, I'm happy to see any beer sales pick up. More options for the consumer is always better.

Breakfast Stout IS a damn fine beer. I'm not surprised those beers are also picking up, but the point is All Day didn't exist until what, 2, 3 years ago and now it's 27% of their total? Clearly from those numbers All Day isn't supplanting sales of higher ABV beers, it's bringing in new customers.

 

[blizz81]

Breakfast Stout IS a damn fine beer. I'm not surprised those beers are also picking up, but the point is All Day didn't exist until what, 2, 3 years ago and now it's 27% of their total? Clearly from those numbers All Day isn't supplanting sales of higher ABV beers, it's bringing in new customers.

True, true. I'm glad it's picking up a market even if I might not be the one spending $ on that type of beer (yet / at this point).

 

[1977Brewer]

All Day IPA is delicious. Two pennies.

 

[Zepth]

I notice a similar phase shift myself. Who here didn't start homebrewing and think "This yeast can go how high %?" We've all been there, and trying to make something strong that isn't rocket fuel is often in the top 5 reasons to start homebrewing. I have failed 3 strong batches at this point, none warranting Drain-Pour Ale as of yet. 1 underattenuate, 1 alright but nothing special, and 1 Black IPA that should have been a double.

On the topic of the last coming in at 7.5% it just wasn't quite where I wanted it to finish at. Somewhat my own fault, I have this terrible habit of not taking a pre-boil gravity because it's just too easy to fire the element as soon as wort covers it and by the time the tun is done draining I'm most of the way to a boil. My fault, I could have boiled down farther or scrounged up some extract to make up the difference. Process faults aside and back to topic it's still great. Just didn't hit the mark I was aiming at. Yet my father when hearing that it was 7.5% asked again "Damn son, why do you always make these heavy hitters?" despite the fact he rather enjoyed it.

I've always tried to keep a respectable variety in stock. Something for everyone who claims to be a beer drinker anyways. Even for a few friends SWMBO keep a Cent. Blonde or Cali Common around. I could go for these any day of the week, but try not to have the keg kick the day before company comes over. We've all been there. Part of the variety will inevitably contain "strong for the BMCers," as my opinion is that there is no good reason to entirely boycott an entire style of beer simply because it's high %. Will there be a time where I have all 4 taps with 10+% brews? I certainly hope not.

Part of why I've stopped aiming high % must be related to those few brews that didn't turn out quite like I wanted. Learned something each time though, so not a total waste. Wouldn't go so far as to say that disappointment ruined the whole ordeal for me, or else I wouldn't have a 1.084 Dubbel in the other room at the 3 week mark. I'm still searching for that great imperial that I can create, but 7/8 of my pours from the tap are below 1.060 SG.

 

[jbaysurfer]

There's always a long wait wait at the government cheese line also.

Just sayin

Wait, 3 Floyds is doing handouts of Dark Lord and Russian River is doing handouts of Younger? Damn. No wonder there's such a big line.

 

[jbaysurfer]

Founders All Day IPA is now 27% of their TOTAL production.

http://www.brewbound.com/news/growing-session-sales-pushes-founders-brewing-past-100000-barrels

Irrelevant. So people drink MORE VOLUME of lower gravity beers? No kidding.

 

[jbaysurfer]

Lets get one thing straight. Session Beers is not a new concept, it's just a new name brand for an ancient movement. Belgian brewers have made both Patersbier and Dark Strongs for centuries on end.

 

[beernbourbon]

I like variety and brew beers from 4% to 12%. There are some days where a couple of low gravity beers sounds good. There are other days when I come home from work and reach for that bomber of an 11% Tripel. AHHHHH.

This right here.... if you can have that variety, all the better. Kind of like only having hamburger in the freezer vs. having steaks and chops and bacon.... plenty of BACON!!....oh, sorry.... I myself go through weeks of drinking doubles, imperials, black IPA's anything 8-12%.....then I'll be like....oof.... too much tonight.... and I'll pull out a Corona clone, or a blue moon clone, or an All Day IPA, or one of my own lower IBU/ABV concoctions..... is a mood thang.....

I do have the luxury of a big pipe....

Really? Now yer just braggin'

 

[beergolf]

This right here.... if you can have that variety, all the better. Kind of like only having hamburger in the freezer vs. having steaks and chops and bacon.... plenty of BACON!!....oh, sorry.... I myself go through weeks of drinking doubles, imperials, black IPA's anything 8-12%.....then I'll be like....oof.... too much tonight.... and I'll pull out a Corona clone, or a blue moon clone, or an All Day IPA, or one of my own lower IBU/ABV concoctions..... is a mood thang.....



Really? Now yer just braggin'

That's not what she says..

 

[paperairplane]

Want to be popular, appeal to the lowest common denominator. Take your artisanal, gorgeous product and dumb it down to give it mass appeal.

Do you want to make art or money? No one would ever say McDonalds makes the best hamburger, but boy do they sell a lot of ****ty ones.

What's the biggest craft beer by a landslide - I'll give you a hint, it's American Amber Lager from MA. Very approachable, very sessionable. Boring.

Stone has been used as an example. How many people, even real craft drinkers, would drink more than 3 Ruinations in a sitting - or do that more than twice a week? (I would, but I'm never giving up hops) Now how many BMC drinkers would drink even 1/2 a bottle? So you want to grab some Joe Sixpack market share - you appeal to his sensibility. Low ABV, low IBU beer you can slug down 3 of with dinner.

 

[TheJasonT]

I personally don't make high-ABV brews on a regular basis. Here's what's brewing and either actual or anticipated ABV's:

ESB: 5.9%
Brett Saison(s): 8.0% (the outlier here)
Pale Ale: 5.2%
Apollo-Bravo IPA: 6.9%

I much prefer brewing stuff I can enjoy a few of before being plastered.

However, my ideas may be a bit biased because I am trying to start my own brewery and I would like to have a lineup of semi-sessionable beers when we open - I want people to be able to drink and spend money and enjoy good beer, not forget to pay!

 

[Jimmeh-James]

I like beer!

 

[Qhrumphf]

I like beer!

Well that's odd. I don't much care for it myself. Why would anyone say such a thing?

 

[Jimmeh-James]

Beer!

 

[Rotor_Head]

Yeah beer is stupid anyway. why the heck would we worry with it? Its only the proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy.... but what does he know?

 

[Grossy]

I have been brewing for 3-4 years now and on this forum for the same amount of time.

And I can honestly say that I have no idea what a general preference home brewers have when it comes to beer. I think we are all over the place.

I have tried Barley Wines, dont like them.
Double Imperial Stouts, not my thing.
On tap Left Hand Brewery, Voo Doo American Stout, 8% alcohol... loved it.

I think my threshold is that I do not want to taste the alcohol (thats what scotch is for), I want flavorful beer.

So for me 4-6% is about right, but a great IIPA at 7.5% is still in there.

 

[brewbama]

I like a well balanced beer. That includes the ABV being reasonable. 1.060 ± .005 tends to be my preference.

 

[Xpertskir]

These days 80% of my beers have an OG in the 1.050's or lower.

I enjoy the occasional big dark and roasty beers but DIPAs are just not something I care to drink anymore.