Random Beer Thoughts

[evilc]

All of the Alpine beers have gone to hell. The only one I haven't tried recently is Nelson. Has it survived?

No.

 

[JonathanAmes]

All of the Alpine beers have gone to hell. The only one I haven't tried recently is Nelson. Has it survived?

Anything making it out to you is a shadow of its former self sadly. Alpine (not gf) is still putting out great beers. They just aren't distributing it to you.

 

[drgarage1]

No.

Hop Boxed is good. But that's California only.

 

[evilc]

Hop Boxed is good. But that's California only.

I loved it in the first batch off growler. I bought 1 bottle and it was fool me once. The key is to never consume any recipe brewed at Alpine and follow it up with a GF bottle.

Wonder how Bad Boy bottles will be this weekend. No one can confirm who made it. I have that beer imprinted on my brain so it'll be obvious if it's right.

 

[masterovkhaos]

At an event last night there were a bunch of random bottles around. One beer called "Dark Lord" from a small brewery in NZ. There was a guy there that was enraged that they dared use the name of "one of the best beers, probably the best stout, on the planet". He was even more enraged when I pointed out the NZ brewery had probably never heard of it. Like, I think he started foaming at the mouth a little.

Guessing the NZ Dark Lord tasted better than the Three Floyds garbage?

 

[SeaWatchman]

Is Alpine still brewing at the little facility in CA? Was seriously one of my favorite stops when I was in SD a few years ago (and one of the best grilled cheeses I've ever had).

 

[evilc]

Is Alpine still brewing at the little facility in CA? Was seriously one of my favorite stops when I was in SD a few years ago (and one of the best grilled cheeses I've ever had).

Yes. Brewery is same. Brewpub was converted to a tasting room. Restaurant built a mile away. Brewery makes a lot of stuff, most great. New things most havent heard of yet. The old Alpine main line...Duet PH Nelson etc....no longer. It's all made by GF. Occasionally the Alpine brewery will make some of the old hoppy beers but not often.

 

[regularjohn]

no alpine doesn't make **** anymore don't worry about it, don't pay attention to anything they do. just keep trading for turbid **** chunk ipa's in cans. don't ask for growlers of HFS either, they never made it. nothing to see here.

 

[Barroomhero]

I think it's everywhere. Everyone is trying to get wider distro. The beer aisles are growing but they can only grow so much.

Seems that way. Seems that most markets are getting a lot more worthwhile locals as decent new breweries pop up, and yeah, a lot of breweries seeking expanded distro. And really, the beer aisles CAN'T grow; you can only cram stuff in more awkward spots, lose facings, etc. Haven't had time to read everything, but I think stupac2 said as much in an earlier post- the mid-size, moderate distro breweries are likely going to suffer. Established national brands (how does DFH continue to be a strong player???) and locals.

Fair points, though I would counter with my personal experience living in Maine. Allagash and Oxbow make world-class wilds, saisons, sours etc...
[but]
Selling 4-packs of 16oz hoppy beer is basically like printing money at the moment.

Well said. I don't disagree, guess I just had to note the niche markets. And Jacks Abby being my local heroes...

The worst part about your strong point regarding IPAs in 4packs being printed money... so much mediocre crap out there, but you put it in a tallboy can 4pack? Like you say, printed money almost regardless of quality.

[edit]
Allagash sours sit on shelves and 4packs of crap sell.

I hate beer.

 

[stupac2]

(how does DFH continue to be a strong player???)

I wonder this SO OFTEN. People like their beer and it's weird.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I wonder this SO OFTEN. People like their beer and it's weird.

Sorry for partying.

 

[FTowne1]

Sorry for partying.

Gimme all the aged WWS and 120. All of it.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Gimme all the aged WWS and 120. All of it.

I do WWS, Olde School, Raison D'Extra (fave), and Midas Touch... oh and Festina Peche on tap sometimes.

 

[masterovkhaos]

120 Minute is awful, but I like Olde School

 

[evilc]

Midas is an interesting beer. The IPAs are all terrible. I recall liking Palo Santo but it's been years.

 

[PepeSylvia1]

I kinda dig, Miles Davis ******* Brew.

 

[drgarage1]

Burton Baton is pretty good. Or was the last time I had it four years ago.

 

[rjose]

Yeah...






But...

 

[arren]

Burton Baton is pretty good. Or was the last time I had it four years ago.

Same. You could also insert every other decent DFH in that sentence too.

 

[harrymel1]

Fair points, though I would counter with my personal experience living in Maine. Allagash and Oxbow make world-class wilds, saisons, sours etc and over the past couple years the demand and interest for these beers has waned in this area. Bottle releases from these two breweries sit around with high/no limits for weeks, and sometimes literally months on end.

A place like Bissell Brothers makes a fine, but overall slightly above average IPA and line of other very similar IPAs and they have 50, 75, 100+ people regularly waiting in line for hours and selling out within 1-2 days. Add Foundation to this conversation as well. Both are now expanding significantly after just a couple short years.

The majority of breweries around here (including Banded Horn) are now rushing to put out cans of IPA and hoppy beer as fast as possible. Selling 4-packs of 16oz hoppy beer is basically like printing money at the moment.

Can you open up a brewery that specializes in a diverse range of styles? Sure, but you're going to struggle in Maine doing that in 2016.



But yes, most of all: this.

I miss Allagash

 

[MooseLang]

I live about an hour from the DFH Brewpub, and I am often impressed with some of their one-offs they put on tap. I've had some straightforward English milds, Hoppy Saisons, stouts, etc. that have been very good. Unfortunately, they focus on releasing the overly sweet "historical" beers (that all kind of taste the same), which I have no interest in.

The only DFH beer I will buy from time to time is Palo Santo Marron. I love that beer.

 

[liquiddegenerate]

I miss Allagash

^This.

Allagash pulled out of Florida, because Florida, about 5 years ago and I miss being able to grab their shelf regulars. Never saw any of the sours here, just gimmie dubble and white.

 

[LukeAleTime]

Guessing the NZ Dark Lord tasted better than the Three Floyds garbage?

hmm... I love the brewery that makes it. They are tiny and built a coolship out of an old shower. Their main business is an oldtimey bookbinder shop in a small town. Their saisons are really good but... they have a strain of brett which ***** up their **** hardcore. And that beer was full of it and very unpleasant.

 

[lb304854]

So glad that hop puns are still a thing.

Arbitrator

 

[nathanmiller]

So glad that hop puns are still a thing.

Arbitrator

Though I will give this one credit for making me chuckle. The vast majority of hop puns are played out to death.

 

[masterovkhaos]

A brewery opened right by my house, but they don't have a license to sell their own beer yet, and all they had to sample of theirs was an imperial stout. Weird way to start things. Guess I'll be back in a couple months.

 

[BadJustin]

I miss Allagash

All you have to do is ask.

 

[ggfunk]

Burton Baton is pretty good. Or was the last time I had it four years ago.

Burton Baton is the tits.

 

[trickytunadicky]

All you have to do is ask.

You should ask for some Hierphant. Except for Fir Rustina. That one was kinda gross.

 

[Dcv]

Broke a CBS snifter.
****** end to a ****** day.