Let's Remember Some Beers (In Memoriam: Old Whales)

[Jnorton00]

Nobody cares about those anymore since they are now readily available.

I don't think anyone really cares about SoS anymore because it's mediocre as ****.

 

[JCastle1]

I don't think anyone really cares about SoS anymore because it's mediocre as ****.

Finally something we agree on.

 

[Jnorton00]

Finally something we agree on.

We agree on many things besides Night Shift being decent.

 

[Rowingbrewer1]

SOS has never been as good as when Sean was making it. When they scaled up for contract it dropped in quality

 

[JCastle1]

SOS has never been as good as when Sean was making it. When they scaled up for contract it dropped in quality

Didn't know they were brewing SOS at Lawson's before, I thought it was always meant to be a modified version of Double Sunshine for contract brewing.

Off-topic but Lawson's new brewhouse is one of the most beautiful I've seen, hope they can do well with it.

 

[JulianB1]

Didn't know they were brewing SOS at Lawson's before, I thought it was always meant to be a modified version of Double Sunshine for contract brewing.

Off-topic but Lawson's new brewhouse is one of the most beautiful I've seen, hope they can do well with it.

I feel like Lawson's has really slipped off the radar lately, what's their current situation? Do they actually have anything resembling a tasting room, do they do regular/semi-regular releases of beers besides the contract-brewed cans, etc?

 

[JCastle1]

I feel like Lawson's has really slipped off the radar lately, what's their current situation? Do they actually have anything resembling a tasting room, do they do regular/semi-regular releases of beers besides the contract-brewed cans, etc?

They're constructing a brand new brewery as far as I know. Their new brewhouse was on display at the Brewer's Conference this year, it's pretty decent-sized. Like 50-60 hL if I remember correctly.

 

[purephase]

Didn't know they were brewing SOS at Lawson's before, I thought it was always meant to be a modified version of Double Sunshine for contract brewing.

You thought right. Sip's been brewed at Two Roads from the start.

I feel like Lawson's has really slipped off the radar lately, what's their current situation? Do they actually have anything resembling a tasting room, do they do regular/semi-regular releases of beers besides the contract-brewed cans, etc?

There have still been sporadic bottle releases at the same 4 or 5 stores in Vermont, though it looks like there weren't any this month. There was also a farmhouse IPA collab with Two Roads recently that was canned and distributed to the states that get Sip and Super Session.

Besides the lack of a physical location and much availability outside of the contract cans, I also think Lawson's hype has been impacted by the NEIPA trend in a way their Vermont counterparts haven't been. It seems like lots of breweries are chasing a flavor profile similar to the one that made Double Sunshine so unique 5 years ago, only they're doing so with the yeast strains and adjuncts that create the turbidity beer geeks go crazy over. Meanwhile Lawson's still uses American ale yeast so people complain their IPAs look too clear and aren't "proper" NEIPAs.

 

[JulianB1]

You thought right. Sip's been brewed at Two Roads from the start.
There have still been sporadic bottle releases at the same 4 or 5 stores in Vermont, though it looks like there weren't any this month. There was also a farmhouse IPA collab with Two Roads recently that was canned and distributed to the states that get Sip and Super Session.

Besides the lack of a physical location and much availability outside of the contract cans, I also think Lawson's hype has been impacted by the NEIPA trend in a way their Vermont counterparts haven't been. It seems like lots of breweries are chasing a flavor profile similar to the one that made Double Sunshine so unique 5 years ago, only they're doing so with the yeast strains and adjuncts that create the turbidity beer geeks go crazy over. Meanwhile Lawson's still uses American ale yeast so people complain their IPAs look too clear and aren't "proper" NEIPAs.

This, of course, is one of the absolute most annoying things that can occur in a craft beer discussion these days. It's the same thing with Alchemist and complaints about how their IPAs look, although in that case I think there's also an argument that the flavor profile has changed with the scaling up/new location.

On the other hand, and you mention this, the ease of availability of so many good IPA options definitely cuts against caring about some sporadic Lawson's release, or even traveling to Vermont for IPAs in general, so it makes sense that their hype has taken a hit when you can drive to Trillium or Tree House basically any day of the week and leave with a lot of great IPAs. I haven't even gone to Alchemist on my last 3 Vermont trips, whereas running around looking for Heady was a major part of several previous ones.

 

[furley]

This, of course, is one of the absolute most annoying things that can occur in a craft beer discussion these days.

you mean it's not discussion of how a beer that everyone revered 6 months ago is today actually ****, even though nothing has changed except someone's desire to always chase the next new thing?

 

[Rowingbrewer1]

Didn't know they were brewing SOS at Lawson's before, I thought it was always meant to be a modified version of Double Sunshine for contract brewing.

Off-topic but Lawson's new brewhouse is one of the most beautiful I've seen, hope they can do well with it.

I’m probably confusing it with double sunshine. Either way I have had multiple Lawson ipas that were better than sip

 

[stupac2]

This, of course, is one of the absolute most annoying things that can occur in a craft beer discussion these days. It's the same thing with Alchemist and complaints about how their IPAs look, although in that case I think there's also an argument that the flavor profile has changed with the scaling up/new location.

On the other hand, and you mention this, the ease of availability of so many good IPA options definitely cuts against caring about some sporadic Lawson's release, or even traveling to Vermont for IPAs in general, so it makes sense that their hype has taken a hit when you can drive to Trillium or Tree House basically any day of the week and leave with a lot of great IPAs. I haven't even gone to Alchemist on my last 3 Vermont trips, whereas running around looking for Heady was a major part of several previous ones.

Man, I really hope with RR's new brewery this happens with Pliny/Blind Pig. I just want to be able to waltz into a store and get it whenever I want...

 

[JCastle1]

I feel like Lawson's has really slipped off the radar lately, what's their current situation? Do they actually have anything resembling a tasting room, do they do regular/semi-regular releases of beers besides the contract-brewed cans, etc?

Right on cue, FB post today says they're opening in the fall.

 

[JulianB1]

Right on cue, FB post today says they're opening in the fall.

Very cool looking cans, and I like that they are canning Chinooker'd. As with beers such as Sap from Tree House, it's great to see hops/hop combinations showcased in IPAs besides ones using citra/mosaic/galaxy/nelson and whatever the new hot hops are (and on that note, I can't say that I really like vic secret or Idaho 7 much).

 

[JCastle1]

vic secret or Idaho 7

Absolutely love both of those. Tried using them for one of my beers but $$$.

 

[JulianB1]

Absolutely love both of those. Tried using them for one of my beers but $$$.

I probably just haven't had the right beers using them.

 

[Jnorton00]

Absolutely love both of those. Tried using them for one of my beers but $$$.

Nightshift uses those a lot...

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Very cool looking cans, and I like that they are canning Chinooker'd. As with beers such as Sap from Tree House, it's great to see hops/hop combinations showcased in IPAs besides ones using citra/mosaic/galaxy/nelson and whatever the new hot hops are (and on that note, I can't say that I really like vic secret or Idaho 7 much).

Agree with you on Vic Secret, my local recently made their rotating hopped IPA with it and I was most definitely not a fan of the profile. El Dorado and Vic Secret are two of the newer varietals that don't do much for me at all.

 

[JCastle1]

Nightshift uses those a lot...

Means nothing if the base isn't good

 

[Jnorton00]

Means nothing if the base isn't good

 

[matedog]

Man, I really hope with RR's new brewery this happens with Pliny/Blind Pig. I just want to be able to waltz into a store and get it whenever I want...

I'm seeing at least Pliny a lot more these days. With greater production, it will only get more plentiful (though hopefully not old).

 

[Der Fuchs]

Absolutely love both of those. Tried using them for one of my beers but $$$.

comments on idaho 7? I picked up a bunch blindly and am brewing with them this weekend. Not sure what to expect. it's a golden promise only hoppy session beer fyi. Advice?

 

[FoudreGuy]

Maybe one day Russian River will return to Washing-- hahahah sorry I said something stupid.

 

[JCastle1]

comments on idaho 7? I picked up a bunch blindly and am brewing with them this weekend. Not sure what to expect. it's a golden promise only hoppy session beer fyi. Advice?

I love it. Great mix of modern tropical hops with piney/citrusy classic hops. I ended up substituting with a mix of Magnum, Crystal, Citra, and Cascade and got a similar profile.

 

[beerindex]

This, of course, is one of the absolute most annoying things that can occur in a craft beer discussion these days. It's the same thing with Alchemist and complaints about how their IPAs look, although in that case I think there's also an argument that the flavor profile has changed with the scaling up/new location.

On the other hand, and you mention this, the ease of availability of so many good IPA options definitely cuts against caring about some sporadic Lawson's release, or even traveling to Vermont for IPAs in general, so it makes sense that their hype has taken a hit when you can drive to Trillium or Tree House basically any day of the week and leave with a lot of great IPAs. I haven't even gone to Alchemist on my last 3 Vermont trips, whereas running around looking for Heady was a major part of several previous ones.

I know IPAs are where they do volume, but I was always under the impression that Lawsons earned their past hype primarily on the backs of their numerous maple beers: Fayston and its BA variants, Maple Nipple, and Maple Tripple. But maybe that's my mind rewriting history based on the belief that trading for IPAs is rarely worthwhile?

 

[jmgrub]

I know IPAs are where they do volume, but I was always under the impression that Lawsons earned their past hype primarily on the backs of their numerous maple beers: Fayston and its BA variants, Maple Nipple, and Maple Tripple. But maybe that's my mind rewriting history based on the belief that trading for IPAs is rarely worthwhile?

I tried a few of the maple ones as well, and don't remember finding those particularly worthwhile. The IPAs were really good back in the day, but it's been a while.

 

[FoudreGuy]

I had Double Sunshine in 2013. I remember it being really good, but not significantly better than other beers I had locally at the time.

 

[wuntrikpony]

Maple Nipple

 

[JulianB1]

I know IPAs are where they do volume, but I was always under the impression that Lawsons earned their past hype primarily on the backs of their numerous maple beers: Fayston and its BA variants, Maple Nipple, and Maple Tripple. But maybe that's my mind rewriting history based on the belief that trading for IPAs is rarely worthwhile?

That definitely contributed to their hype, especially given that at the time maple/maple syrup wasn't a pastry stout cliche yet, and there was the hook of "VT beer with VT maple syrup". But just from personal experience it was the IPAs (Double Sunshine specifically) that really made me aware of them.

I tried a few of the maple ones as well, and don't remember finding those particularly worthwhile. The IPAs were really good back in the day, but it's been a while.

Same here for me. The first time I had one of the Maple Faystons my reaction was "that's it?".

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Very cool looking cans, and I like that they are canning Chinooker'd. As with beers such as Sap from Tree House, it's great to see hops/hop combinations showcased in IPAs besides ones using citra/mosaic/galaxy/nelson and whatever the new hot hops are (and on that note, I can't say that I really like vic secret or Idaho 7 much).

Agree with you on Vic Secret, my local recently made their rotating hopped IPA with it and I was most definitely not a fan of the profile. El Dorado and Vic Secret are two of the newer varietals that don't do much for me at all.

Had an Amarillo, Vic Secret, Idaho 7 IPA at Noon Whistle Brewing (Lombard, IL) this evening.

Was not a fan, got a garlic / onion mixed with a grassy vegetal character and the standard citrus of Amarillo.

Would love to have someone make me try another Vic Secret / Idaho 7 IPA blind so I don't have any confirmation bias, but wasn't the only person who didn't like it tonight before I had said a word.