Has anyone ever bought a commercial beer this this much yeast?

[evrose]

I read the OP. :cross:

Okay, so 1 out of 30 that HE opened was bad... which doesn't mean that 1 out of 30 that the brewery is selling is bad. It could be more, it could be less.

Regardless, the bigger issue is the response by the master brewer... which I think we all agree is not satisfactory.

 

[MisterTipsy]

Okay, so 1 out of 30 that HE opened was bad... which doesn't mean that 1 out of 30 that the brewery is selling is bad. It could be more, it could be less.

Regardless, the bigger issue is the response by the master brewer... which I think we all agree is not satisfactory.

I'm not arguing.

I've already boycotted this brewery. Since the OP won't tell us who it is I'll have to boycott all Canadian breweries. :rockin:

 

[neophilus]

I don't agree with the tone of their response but it isn't necessarily a sign of poor brewing practices. A lot of breweries don't filter their beer and rely on time to flock the yeast out. Sometimes if they are at capacity and up against time to free up space for the next batch you have to bottle the beer and move on. It could be the difference between a couple imperfect bottles slipping through or losing thousands of dollars while your bottling line sits idle.

They should have just offered to replace the beer though.

 

[HopKeller]

I had a green flash IPA that looked about that bad. I didn't think much of it...drank it and lived. Never had another bad one, love their beers. The master brewer's response is a bit irresponsible, I agree.

 

[ktblunden]

They should have just offered to replace the beer though.

That would have been the proper response. I still think that admitting you're allowing inferior product to go out the door to meet demand is a really stupid way to run a business, though.

 

[kaz4121]

breathe everyone! breathe!

There is no argument that the brewer's response was quite unsatisfactory. But did anyone consider that MAYBE the brewer has already received dozens or hundreds of emails similar to the OP's, already realized he made a mistake by "rushing" the beer, but does not have the finances to replace everyone's beer? After all, he MAY have rushed the beer to begin with because he was financially strapped and needed to continue to churn out his best seller to stay afloat.

Even if this is not the case (which is very well may not be), I still think some are too quite to pull the trigger based on a SIMPLE email response.

And props to the OP for not disclosing the brewery. We as homebrewers should be more supportive of the brewing industry, not calling for the heads of brewers who are living our dream! What happened to the www.supportyourlocalbrewery.org mentality?

 

[Transamguy77]

breathe everyone! breathe!

There is no argument that the brewer's response was quite unsatisfactory. But did anyone consider that MAYBE the brewer has already received dozens or hundreds of emails similar to the OP's, already realized he made a mistake by "rushing" the beer, but does not have the finances to replace everyone's beer. After all, he MAY have rushed the beer to begin with because he was financially strapped and needed to continue to churn out his best seller to stay afloat.

Even if this is not the case (which is very well may not be), I still think some are too quite to pull the trigger based on a SIMPLE email response.

Seriously?! Yes maybe he doesn't have the funds right now but what about a coupon or voucher? I dont know now what brewery but I would not be giving them anymore of MY business, there are many breweries out there that would like my business and if they don't want to make good on their product I'll take my business else where.

 

[hoppedupbrewer]

Last winter I poured one of my favorite commercial beers just like I'd poured the dozens before it and my glass looked like this:

Looks like hop particles in the photo, but it was actually yeast. I got in touch with the brewer. He was extremely apologetic about the issue and told me it was due to an equipment malfunction and a few bad cases slipped through QA. He offered to send me some replacement beer which was on my doorstep 2 days later.

I can see how this brewer might have gotten slammed with complaints, but I'd be put off by that response, too. If that's the new "normal", I'd be finding a different brewery to support.

 

[homebrewdad]

breathe everyone! breathe!

There is no argument that the brewer's response was quite unsatisfactory. But did anyone consider that MAYBE the brewer has already received dozens or hundreds of emails similar to the OP's, already realized he made a mistake by "rushing" the beer, but does not have the finances to replace everyone's beer? After all, he MAY have rushed the beer to begin with because he was financially strapped and needed to continue to churn out his best seller to stay afloat.

Even if this is not the case (which is very well may not be), I still think some are too quite to pull the trigger based on a SIMPLE email response.

And props to the OP for not disclosing the brewery. We as homebrewers should be more supportive of the brewing industry, not calling for the heads of brewers who are living our dream! What happened to the www.supportyourlocalbrewery.org mentality?

Sorry, man, but this is bunk. Allegedly, the brewery in question is a business. If any other business screws something up, we expect them to make it right - be that a restaurant, the tire shop, a software manufacturer... you nme it.

If a brewery is so financially strapped that cannot give consumers replacement product, then they have one foot in the grave already. ANY reputable business stands behind their product, period.

The "simple" response in question said they were cutting corners, and the OP would just have to deal with it. That's not cool, and they deserve to lose business for it.

 

[thatjonguy]

Wow! I would never let anything like that out of my brewery much less acknowledge that you expect consumers to drink it. Plate filters aren't that damn expensive.

It strikes me as odd that they have the time and resources to start playing with culture populations when beer that looks like that is going out the door. Call Wyeast or White Labs and let them play microbiologist for the day while you (the brewery) should attempt to salvage their reputation.

No doubt in my mind that some BMC somewhere got a bottle like that and told all his buddies about that "craft beer crap", not the brewery, crafts in general.

If there is one thing I have learned in the last two years of working on going pro, is that you need the cash for everything right away.

Case. In. Point.

 

[evrose]

I'm not arguing.

I've already boycotted this brewery. Since the OP won't tell us who it is I'll have to boycott all Canadian breweries. :rockin:

Canada makes beer?

Heh, who knew?

 

[kaz4121]

Sorry, man, but this is bunk. Allegedly, the brewery in question is a business. If any other business screws something up, we expect them to make it right - be that a restaurant, the tire shop, a software manufacturer... you nme it.

If a brewery is so financially strapped that cannot give consumers replacement product, then they have one foot in the grave already. ANY reputable business stands behind their product, period.

The "simple" response in question said they were cutting corners, and the OP would just have to deal with it. That's not cool, and they deserve to lose business for it.

The point I was trying to make was that it is unfair to the brewer to jump to the conclusion that he was just "cutting corners" when it could have been a variety of factors - we simply do not know why the beer was "rushed". Although it seems logical to blame the greenbacks, no one can say for certain.

I agreed with the majority here in stating that the brewer's response was unsatisfactory (see line 2 of my initial post). The brewer's response is what should be criticized here. Keep in mind the original question posed by the OP was:

Does this look like what you would expect out out of a commercial bottle from an established craft brewer? Has anyone had a similar experience?

 

[Geordan]

Just wanted to provide a bit of an update -- though I know lots want me to disclose the brewery, I will admit I would prefer to give them the chance. The brewer has apparently sent a sales rep to the store I bought the beer at to "check for issues with other bottles."

To answer some questions that have come up: it's an IIPA, and is advertised as "unfiltered;" however, if I recall correctly, every bottle of this beer up to now has been very clear with no visible yeast flocs whatsoever.

I suspect one poster hit it on the nose earlier: because this is a high demand beer, I suspect the brewery wrung every last drop from the tank, meaning the bottles at the end had a large balance of trub.

In the end I am disappointed by how dismissive the brewer was during our phone conversation and that there wasn't an offer to replace the beer, as petty as that sounds. Some mentioned that the brewery may have been overwhelmed by similar complaints already -- I suspect not, as the brewer was quite dismissive of it on the phone and somewhat impatiently tried to explain to me what unfiltered beer was, and how it was "normal" before I convinced him otherwise.

 

[Shooter]

Personally, I've had a lot of people offer to make things right when something got messed up. At least 99% of the time I just say, "It's not necessary and I appreciate the offer." I think the key here is seeing the producer take some pride in their product and concern about the customer. If I see that, I'm good!

 

[Dan]

Takes a foot upon the soapbox.

Geordan, I think you made the right decision not disclosing the brewer's name. I don't know how many of us on this forum know with certainty we could brew a perfect beer every time, batch after batch.

I'm sure it is the same with micro/nano breweries. How many of them have the automation to exactly replicate a beer - each and every one, every day?

I like to believe to error is human and to forgive is divine. The small craft breweries have many struggles. For one, they have a billion dollar industry against them.

The only thing that bothers me, and I think most people; is the brewer’s attitude. But how do you know for certainty it was the Brewmaster and not one of his assistants you spoke to?

There are two sides to every story and I hope the brewer’s (who might have been one of us before he went pro) story is not the one told.

Thank you for your discretion not calling out his name … at this point.

I can not even imagine going full scale. I probably wouldn’t be myself with the pressure put upon me.

I’m just rambling to everybody reading this so don’t take offense Geordan.

Support your local small guy brewer because maybe someday one day that will be one of us if we decide to go pro.

Stepped down from soapbox.

 

[jspence1]

I have to say I find it very unlikely that you talked to the brewer and got a response like that. I Know most of the brewers in the area and find it hard to believe any would respond like that. That being said if you get a bad bottle take it back to the LCBO and get your money back. I would really like to know the brewery in question, if you don't feel comfortable posting it for everyone please PM me it.

Still trying to figure out what brewery your talking about, I can't think of a single brewery that has a IIPA available now. The last one I was able to get was 10 bitter years and I had to go to the brewery and was only able to get two bottles

 

[jspence1]

Wow! I would never let anything like that out of my brewery much less acknowledge that you expect consumers to drink it. Plate filters aren't that damn expensive.

It strikes me as odd that they have the time and resources to start playing with culture populations when beer that looks like that is going out the door. Call Wyeast or White Labs and let them play microbiologist for the day while you (the brewery) should attempt to salvage their reputation.

No doubt in my mind that some BMC somewhere got a bottle like that and told all his buddies about that "craft beer crap", not the brewery, crafts in general.

If there is one thing I have learned in the last two years of working on going pro, is that you need the cash for everything right away.

Case. In. Point.

You won't find a plate filter around here everyone uses DE

 

[Geordan]

I have to say I find it very unlikely that you talked to the brewer and got a response like that. I Know most of the brewers in the area and find it hard to believe any would respond like that. That being said if you get a bad bottle take it back to the LCBO and get your money back. I would really like to know the brewery in question, if you don't feel comfortable posting it for everyone please PM me it.

Still trying to figure out what brewery your talking about, I can't think of a single brewery that has a IIPA available now. The last one I was able to get was 10 bitter years and I had to go to the brewery and was only able to get two bottles

jspence,

I am confident that I spoke directly to the head brewer, and we communicated via email as well. I am considering taking the bottle back to the LCBO, but at the same time, I might write off as more trouble than it's worth, trying to explain to them about yeast sediment for a two dollar bottle of beer!

Looks like you're in Hamilton -- now I'm trying to figure out what brewery you're at!

 

[ktblunden]

As has been mentioned, the issue is not that a bad beer slipped through, it's that the brewer brushed it off as normal rather than apologizing and offering to make it right. I've said this before on here, but customer service is simple when you never make a mistake, you just keep doing what you're doing. It's the times when something goes wrong and how you respond to it that define your level of customer service, and in this case I'd say this brewery has horrible customer service. It could have been a really off day for the guy and maybe he had other stuff going on, but in business you're only as good as your last mistake and it's that easy to lose customers forever.

 

[motobrewer]

it looks like surly furious to me.

the worst part is its in cans, so you have no idea where the yeast is until it starts coming out.

 

[paulster2626]

I have to say I find it very unlikely that you talked to the brewer and got a response like that. I Know most of the brewers in the area and find it hard to believe any would respond like that. That being said if you get a bad bottle take it back to the LCBO and get your money back. I would really like to know the brewery in question, if you don't feel comfortable posting it for everyone please PM me it.

Still trying to figure out what brewery your talking about, I can't think of a single brewery that has a IIPA available now. The last one I was able to get was 10 bitter years and I had to go to the brewery and was only able to get two bottles

Ha! I split a whole case with a friend at work!

Anyway, I think the only widely-available IIPA right now at the LCBO is one from Tree Beer Co. Saw it a while ago but didn't bother to pick it up because my hands were full.

So I will just assume the beer is from Tree. Shame!!!

 

[MisterTipsy]

Oooooo. The cat is out of the bag now.

Boycott Tree Beer Co!

Wait...who?

 

[VTDuffman]

I bought a 6-Pack of Starr Hill (Charlottesville, VA) Double Platinum that looked just like that, and the biggest problem with the beer wasn't the yeast per se, it was the fact that it was oxidized like I couldn't believe. I contacted the brewery through their website to let them know and got a very prompt response from one of the co-founders of the Brewery who not only connected me with a sales rep who provided me a replacement 6-Pack, but they sent me a T-Shirt for my "troubles."

All I wanted to do was let them know they were seeing some QC issues on their retailer end. I was blown away by their response.

 

[jspence1]

Ha! I split a whole case with a friend at work!

Anyway, I think the only widely-available IIPA right now at the LCBO is one from Tree Beer Co. Saw it a while ago but didn't bother to pick it up because my hands were full.

So I will just assume the beer is from Tree. Shame!!!

I wouldn't call tree "local" but you are probably right. I was expecting something from Trafalgar.

 

[jspence1]

I bought a 6-Pack of Starr Hill (Charlottesville, VA) Double Platinum that looked just like that, and the biggest problem with the beer wasn't the yeast per se, it was the fact that it was oxidized like I couldn't believe. I contacted the brewery through their website to let them know and got a very prompt response from one of the co-founders of the Brewery who not only connected me with a sales rep who provided me a replacement 6-Pack, but they sent me a T-Shirt for my "troubles."

All I wanted to do was let them know they were seeing some QC issues on their retailer end. I was blown away by their response.

This is how it should have been handled

 

[Geordan]

Hey! When I said I wasn't saying who the brewery was, I meant it! No boycotting And Tree is only local inasmuch as it's Canadian -- there's several thousand kilometres between them and me (unfortunately).
jspence, it's funny you should say that about Trafalgar; that's the only local brewery I won't buy beer from anymore because I've just never had a good bottle.

 

[MisterTipsy]

If they have a pub, go there with pics of the yeasty beer and a copy of the brewer's email blown up into a big picket sign.

Don't leave until you get an apology, free beer and a big plate of poutine.

 

[paulster2626]

I wouldn't call tree "local" but you are probably right. I was expecting something from Trafalgar.

A Trafalgar stout exploded on me this past winter. Yes, it was in the cold cellar, but so were 200 other beers that nothing happened to. I don't even think it gets below freezing in there anyway.

To be totally honest, Tree has been around for a while (1996) - they are also pretty professional people and I don't see them saying something so foolish. They would probably go ape**** if they found out one of their beers looked like this.

Trafalgar Ales & Meads is a place that I couldn't even find an email address for to tell them about my bottle explosion. Their website is so mickey-mouse - and I realize it's a brewery not a web design shop - but based on this, the fact they have no apparent email address, and the fact that a bottle exploded on me leading me to suspect some kind of infection, I would not be surprised.

 

[Geordan]

A Trafalgar stout exploded on me this past winter. Yes, it was in the cold cellar, but so were 200 other beers that nothing happened to. I don't even think it gets below freezing in there anyway.
...
Trafalgar Ales & Meads is a place that I couldn't even find an email address for to tell them about my bottle explosion. Their website is so mickey-mouse - and I realize it's a brewery not a web design shop - but based on this, the fact they have no apparent email address, and the fact that a bottle exploded on me leading me to suspect some kind of infection, I would not be surprised.

I once had someone much more knowledgeable than myself say they suspected the consistant off flavour in Trafalgar's products were from a persistent infection in the brewery. It's something I agreed with, having tried a few of their beers.

To be clear, I'm not here to slag on any of our local craft brewers -- Ontario needs more of them! -- but man, there's some I just won't waste my dollars on.

 

[jspence1]

A Trafalgar stout exploded on me this past winter. Yes, it was in the cold cellar, but so were 200 other beers that nothing happened to. I don't even think it gets below freezing in there anyway.

To be totally honest, Tree has been around for a while (1996) - they are also pretty professional people and I don't see them saying something so foolish. They would probably go ape**** if they found out one of their beers looked like this.

Trafalgar Ales & Meads is a place that I couldn't even find an email address for to tell them about my bottle explosion. Their website is so mickey-mouse - and I realize it's a brewery not a web design shop - but based on this, the fact they have no apparent email address, and the fact that a bottle exploded on me leading me to suspect some kind of infection, I would not be surprised.

I won't buy anything with their name on it now, too many problems. I really don't know how they are still in business I don't know anyone who still buys the their beer