Random Beer Thoughts

[litheum94]

Lagunitas has been doing the "not labeling as a specific style" for decades. This isn't really a new thing.

 

[drgarage1]

Lagunitas has been doing the "not labeling as a specific style" for decades. This isn't really a new thing.

Although with them, you know it’s going to taste like a west coast I.P.A., just with varying amounts of caramalt

 

[WhalezB4Rarez]

Not to mention that the vast majority of breweries who think their beers are too creative for stylistic descriptors are just remaking existing styles (see: Sixpoint).

Those that actually are doing super-weird stuff (see: Mad Fritz and Ale Apothecary) might actually confuse people by trying to apply existing styles. It’s most important to describe what it tastes like, is it sour, etc.

In conclusion, beer experimentation is a land of contrasts.

A certain brewery in Southeast PA puts out a "Double Strawberry Milkshake Imperial Stout IPA" and **** those guys.

 

[sacrelicio]

RE: not having styles. This thread is from some schmoe I've never heard of, but got responses from people like Garrett Oliver and Colin from Hen House:

(Link to media)


(Link to media)


I don't see any need to follow styles even remotely strictly, but they help people decide whether or not they'd like to buy a beer or at least give create an easy way for a brewery to give customers a ballpark idea of what to expect.

Customer: Hi, I don't see any IPAs on the board. Those are my favorite and really was hoping to drink one here today.
Bartender: Styles are for ******* noobs, but we have a beer you may like brewed with two row, caramel malt, Wyeast 1332, 69 (nice, I know) IBUs, and two varieties of New Zealand hops that you've definitely never heard of.
Customer: Hmm, OK I'll have that. Honestly, that sounds a lot like an IPA.
Bartender: WE WILL NOT CONFORM TO YOUR ANTIQUATED SYSTEMS WHICH ARE A FORM OF ARTISTIC OPPRESSION. Here you go. Enjoy.

Bartender: May I interest you in a history lesson/rant about the Reinheitsgebot? Because let me tell ya, we ain't into following that!

Although with them, you know it’s going to taste like a west coast I.P.A., just with varying amounts of caramalt

"I'll just have an altbier."
"IPA it is."

 

[Jacco Macacco]

Much as it works with music, the most exciting thing about a brewery's personality is their personal twist on an existing style, or how well they adhere to it...any number of things, really, that revolve around brewing an established style.

That old adage "you need to know the rules in order to break them" works best if you have rules in the first place.

I had like 3 lunch beers and am not in control of my sentences.

 

[MikeJones]

Much as it works with music, the most exciting thing about a brewery's personality is their personal twist on an existing style, or how well they adhere to it...any number of things, really, that revolve around brewing an established style.

That old adage "you need to know the rules in order to break them" works best if you have rules in the first place.

I had like 3 lunch beers and am not in control of my sentences.

Nah...sounds coherent to me.

 

[arren]

Stone's newest Enjoy By is a Brut IPA. Sorry guys, you were right - Brut IPA is totally ********.

It's a little sad that the company that got huge based on their "**** you, I'll do what I want" creed is now just another one of the ho-hum trend-followers that waste space on shelves.

 

[litheum94]

Stone's newest Enjoy By is a Brut IPA. Sorry guys, you were right - Brut IPA is totally ********.

It's a little sad that the company that got huge based on their "**** you, I'll do what I want" creed is now just another one of the ho-hum trend-followers that waste space on shelves.

Will that's a huge disappointment. Enjoy By is one of the few beers I'll still drink from Stone.

 

[Jnorton00]

Nah...sounds coherent to me.

How many lunch beers did you have?

 

[jivex5k1]

Old Rasputin still *****.

 

[ggfunk]

Old Rasputin still *****.

Yeah it does. And BA Rasputin does too...though its way too expensive.

 

[jmgrub]

Another one bites the dust. Liked some of the stuff I've had from them over the years. Craft beer fame is fleeting.

 

[drgarage1]

Another one bites the dust. Liked some of the stuff I've had from them over the years. Craft beer fame is fleeting.

Don’t expand!

 

[jmgrub]

Don’t expand!

Expand sustainably. In a market that doesn't already have at least 50% too many breweries.

 

[BeersMorgan]

Should have relied more on tips

 

[wuntrikpony]

Expand sustainably. In a market that doesn't already have at least 50% too many breweries.

They are/were distroing to here for some reason. Their sit just sat on shelves.

 

[jmgrub]

Their **** just sat on shelves.

Try to say that 5 times fast.

 

[NClambicguy]

They are/were distroing to here for some reason. Their sit just sat on shelves.

Exactly. They added themselves to the market without investing in any sort of marketing or brand recognition. Kinda hard to justify spending $15 on a saison from some relatively unknown brewery as opposed to a local brewery where you may know people.

I feel the same way about how Plan Bee has suddenly showed up with more and more $15-16 375s.

 

[litheum94]

Another one bites the dust. Liked some of the stuff I've had from them over the years. Craft beer fame is fleeting.

Am I reading this correctly that they knew 2018 would be a "make it or break it year" and then went ahead and opened a second location?

That.....doesn't seem smart.

 

[jmgrub]

Am I reading this correctly that they knew 2018 would be a "make it or break it year" and then went ahead and opened a second location?

That.....doesn't seem smart.

I'm pretty sure those plans were in motion for quite a while before 2018.

 

[arren]

I'm pretty sure those plans were in motion for quite a while before 2018.

I mean, either way, the demand for more of their beer was clearly in a sharp decline even 1.5, 2 years ago too.

I feel for Council closing, but at the same time, interest in craft beer as a whole has been undeniably at a downward trajectory for the past couple years. Even if they'd simply kept to their first location, they very likely would have struggled.

 

[jmgrub]

I mean, either way, the demand for more of their beer was clearly in a sharp decline even 1.5, 2 years ago too.

I feel for Council closing, but at the same time, interest in craft beer as a whole has been undeniably at a downward trajectory for the past couple years. Even if they'd simply kept to their first location, they very likely would have struggled.

By which time they had in all likelihood already signed their lease for their Santee space.

 

[stupac2]

Expand sustainably. In a market that doesn't already have at least 50% too many breweries.

There's no reason to believe that there are too many breweries currently. But there is definitely reason to believe that there's little-to-no room for growth in packaged sales. Places that take on debt to expand so that they can distribute are playing with fire. Meanwhile, demand for taprooms that don't distribute much beyond the occasional keg seems bottomless, at least around here..

 

[jmgrub]

There's no reason to believe that there are too many breweries currently. But there is definitely reason to believe that there's little-to-no room for growth in packaged sales. Places that take on debt to expand so that they can distribute are playing with fire. Meanwhile, demand for taprooms that don't distribute much beyond the occasional keg seems bottomless, at least around here..

Always bringing the nuance. And agreed.

 

[reverseapachemaster1]

By which time they had in all likelihood already signed their lease for their Santee space.

I don't know much about Santee but it seems like a weird business decision to bank your expansion on network repairmen and Chinese wives.

 

[Lutter]

There's no reason to believe that there are too many breweries currently. But there is definitely reason to believe that there's little-to-no room for growth in packaged sales. Places that take on debt to expand so that they can distribute are playing with fire. Meanwhile, demand for taprooms that don't distribute much beyond the occasional keg seems bottomless, at least around here..

Austin is like this... I feel like the number of "neighborhood" brewpubs could still expand quite a ways... packaged beer, not so much. That in particular seems to be the kiss of death for a new brewery around here.

 

[Arbitrator]

There's no reason to believe that there are too many breweries currently. But there is definitely reason to believe that there's little-to-no room for growth in packaged sales. Places that take on debt to expand so that they can distribute are playing with fire. Meanwhile, demand for taprooms that don't distribute much beyond the occasional keg seems bottomless, at least around here..

Have any sales figures indicated a broader craft beer slowdown? I feel like signs of slowing growth were apparent in 2015, with saturation and consolidation after that. Has 2018 actually reflected a pause or contraction?

Bummer for Council.

 

[quirk6]

http://www.trilliumbrewing.com/tril...jXYb9FXmSd1efCbJHKlWuvVMJ3Ug3nbGo1wA-dP_i3Urw

You, our customers, are an impassioned community and we are thankful for that. We are sorry that we let you down. We’ve always listened to what you have to say and this time is no different.

Our five years in the craft beer community have been a whirlwind with massive change and super-fast growth thanks to you. From day one, all that we’ve ever wanted to do is make great beer for our customers and build a family and culture at Trillium that values loyalty.

Our retail employees have been the face of Trillium, helping you discover beer you will love. You value their knowledge and their hospitality and so do we. In recognition, we are taking several actions to further invest in our team.

We want you to know the details, so here goes…

We are raising the hourly rate our retail employees are paid to between $15 and $18 an hour, based on tenure and knowledge of our craft. Those who currently work for us will move to a minimum of between $16.00 and $17.50 per hour, based on tenure. Our employees already felt well compensated under our tip-based model. By increasing their hourly wages we provide them with a more predictable paycheck. Our customers still have the option to add a tip to recognize exceptional service.

Our current professional development program is getting better as well. Our retail employees will now have the opportunity to increase their hourly rate as they complete educational programs.

We are also finalizing our plans to update all of Team Trillium’s bonus program for 2019. We are changing the annual bonus program from a purely tenure-based system to one that also has a merit-based component. This way, our entire team will still benefit from the strong performance of our business and will now also be rewarded for their individual contributions. We will continue to provide benefits to our full-time employees, including health and dental insurance, 401k with company match, annual matching for charitable donations of their choice and free beer.

We believe these changes reflect what we expect of ourselves and what you expect from us. You and our team hold us to a high standard and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Regarding the quality of our beer, we hold our products to the same high standard. As a practice we do not add spirits to our beer, we do not market beers as barrel-aged if they do not spend time in barrels, and the beer we fill our growlers with is no different than our packaged beer. All of our beer is constantly monitored by our retail team, quality assurance lab, and production team.

Trillium is a success because of our loyal customers and our dedicated team that comes to work every day excited to make and serve awesome beer. Our commitment to making exceptional beer and creating memorable experiences will never waiver.

Esther & JC

 

[rodosman]

So I need some clarification, if anybody could help I would much appreciate it. I was always under the impression that two vintages of SR-71 were made or at least bottled, 2015 and 2018. But on Untappd I see a “SR-71 Blackbird” dated 2013. Only has like 42 checkins. I recognize some of the people checking it in because they are Instagram famous and whatnot. Does anyone know the story behind this?
Thanks
Rodosman

jeevo

 

[wuntrikpony]

Thanks
Rodosman

Is this a first or last name?