Random Beer Thoughts

[lopejuice1]

I opened an Anchorage beer from 2015 today. I've never experienced a cork actually bust the cage. I unwound one twist of the cage and the bottle sort of vibrated, and the cork just bust free. Then the bottle kind of wobbled on the table and gushed like 2 ounces. Barely anything was lost.

had an older vintage of LPF once where I took the cap off, set it down, cork blew out of the top and left a dent in the ceiling, but it didn't gush at all and wasn't over carbonated. So bizarre.

 

[Lutter]

If the Bros can't kill of the NEIPA style themselves by writing a bad review who can?

LOL. He said that cloudy (or "milkshake," ugh) beers aren't a trend.

What a maroon. Open your eye holes. They're the biggest trend going around.

 

[litheum94]

LOL. He said that cloudy (or "milkshake," ugh) beers aren't a trend.

What a maroon. Open your eye holes. They're the biggest trend going around.

It was written over 2 years ago. He was probably accurate at the time.

 

[WhalezB4Rarez]

LOL. He said that cloudy (or "milkshake," ugh) beers aren't a trend.

What a maroon. Open your eye holes. They're the biggest trend going around.

And Jean from Tired Hands made the Milkshake series of beers as a direct result of that review. Cheers Jason, you helped keep the trend going!

 

[seedavid]

I don't think anybody on this website really gives a **** about Rogue, but I had a hearty chuckle at this story shared on Reddit by a former employee:

 

[Kasher]

First thought was I bet she has an illegal copy of Microsoft office on her personal laptop.

 

[Beer4B]

Hype and exclusivity continues to taint beer and sharing/trading. Thankfully for Huna I can save a few of you from having to post in MordorMongo 's biggest mistakes thread:

1. Wakefield Bake Kujira: was not very good. Sweet and not much depth at all, an ok to average BA stout. Best quality was hiding the 17% which was well done. Otherwise adjunct overhype. Can't believe the stupidity with this beer, wasn't top 20 for the day. Bells BA 30th >>> Bake.

2. Manbearpig: was unfortunately mediocre. This was kegs so maybe bottles are different but more smoke than most want to admit. Really thin. We had 4 pours in our group and 2 got straight dumped and the other two gave to others to finish.

3. 3 Sons was incredible so no help there but hope for the future when they have their brewery up and running.

4. CCB's "Xquic" was the best beer that wasn't 3 Sons. Easily Morning Delight/Good Morning good/better. I'd die if they barrel aged it and offered to El Cat. *It doesn't need to be barrel aged.

5. Watching the masses come into the park on the jog/run was probably my favorite part of the day.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Hype and exclusivity continues to taint beer and sharing/trading. Thankfully for Huna I can save a few of you from having to post in MordorMongo 's biggest mistakes thread:

1. Wakefield Bake Kujira: was not very good. Sweet and not much depth at all, an ok to average BA stout. Best quality was hiding the 17% which was well done. Otherwise adjunct overhype. Can't believe the stupidity with this beer, wasn't top 20 for the day. Bells BA 30th >>> Bake.

2. Manbearpig: was unfortunately mediocre. This was kegs so maybe bottles are different but more smoke than most want to admit. Really thin. We had 4 pours in our group and 2 got straight dumped and the other two gave to others to finish.

3. 3 Sons was incredible so no help there but hope for the future when they have their brewery up and running.

4. CCB's "Xquic" was the best beer that wasn't 3 Sons. Easily Morning Delight/Good Morning good/better. I'd die if they barrel aged it and offered to El Cat. *It doesn't need to be barrel aged.

5. Watching the masses come into the park on the jog/run was probably my favorite part of the day.

Listening to the other incredulous people near me going "wtf are those people doing?" was my favorite part of the day.... right until they announced the People's Choice. Really happy for wiltznucs.

 

[2plums4one]

Honestly, bigger issue was a massive expansion, new taproom and new canning line that increased their debt load and they eventually couldn't service the debt. Rent was not the main driver.

Hate to say it, but I assume they won't be the last. I've seen some pretty average breweries expand like crazy and dive head first into new markets lately. I just don't see them being able to compete anywhere that has even decent distro. I won't mention any specific breweries, but it really does sound like a few medium to large ones will either sell to AB or just go out of business.

 

[ant880]

I don't think anybody on this website really gives a **** about Rogue, but I had a hearty chuckle at this story shared on Reddit by a former employee:

If "king of the fat ********" is not yet an official title in the beer world, I would like to find out who I can lobby to make it so.

 

[stupac2]

Hate to say it, but I assume they won't be the last. I've seen some pretty average breweries expand like crazy and dive head first into new markets lately. I just don't see them being able to compete anywhere that has even decent distro. I won't mention any specific breweries, but it really does sound like a few medium to large ones will either sell to AB or just go out of business.

I've always wondered why the idea that breweries can go out business is so weird to some people (not you, but I saw it a ton on BA). Like, no ****, do you think every business is supposed to last forever? If anything there's far too little churn right now and we could use more. I expect we'll see it as growth slows and brewing turns into a more normal business.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I've always wondered why the idea that breweries can go out business is so weird to some people (not you, but I saw it a ton on BA). Like, no ****, do you think every business is supposed to last forever? If anything there's far too little churn right now and we could use more. I expect we'll see it as growth slows and brewing turns into a more normal business.

If Cademom can survive death anyone can.

 

[steimie]

If Cademom can survive death anyone can.

I don't think anything survives death, by definition.

 

[2plums4one]

I've always wondered why the idea that breweries can go out business is so weird to some people (not you, but I saw it a ton on BA). Like, no ****, do you think every business is supposed to last forever? If anything there's far too little churn right now and we could use more. I expect we'll see it as growth slows and brewing turns into a more normal business.

Yea agreed entirely. I was just thinking how crazy the seemingly overnight expansion of some of these breweries seemed a little rushed. Got a limited sour that everyone wants? That means the whole East coast wants your crappy black IPAs and brown ales right? What could go wrong? That said, easy ways to make money on beer=put "craft" beer where no craft is distro'd, put "craft" beer where the demand is higher than the supply. Basically you are just making sure your "craft" beer is the first "craft" beer a novice drinker comes across. A big reason why DFH was so damn sucessful is that they were the only malty high ABV craft beer as an option in so many cases. I guess the same could be said about BBC aka Sam Adams in the late 80s and early 90s? I dunno, I'm rambling now.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I don't think anything survives death, by definition.

A coma, then. They were out cold, no license, for months.

 

[WhalezB4Rarez]

Yea agreed entirely. I was just thinking how crazy the seemingly overnight expansion of some of these breweries seemed a little rushed. Got a limited sour that everyone wants? That means the whole East coast wants your crappy black IPAs and brown ales right? What could go wrong? That said, easy ways to make money on beer=put "craft" beer where no craft is distro'd, put "craft" beer where the demand is higher than the supply. Basically you are just making sure your "craft" beer is the first "craft" beer a novice drinker comes across. A big reason why DFH was so damn sucessful is that they were the only malty high ABV craft beer as an option in so many cases. I guess the same could be said about BBC aka Sam Adams in the late 80s and early 90s? I dunno, I'm rambling now.

Well, DFH had laws changed so they could open a Brewpub in DE....because such a thing didn't exist in DE at the time. Sure you can go "well, they just happened to be the only option" but they also helped others to just exist in DE. They also make a quality product. Someone had to be first, right? It's also not as if high ABV imports didn't exist.

 

[lb304854]

I don't think anything survives death, by definition.

Rulon Gardner.

"When Gardner was in elementary school, he was injured during a class show-and-tell, when he was punctured in his abdomen with an arrow.[6]

In 2002, Gardner went snowmobiling with some friends in the mountains surrounding Star Valley, Wyoming. At one point, he became separated from the group. During his efforts to regain his composure and regroup, he fell into the freezing Salt River with his snowmobile. Unable to move any farther, Gardner decided to build a shelter and wait for a rescue team. He remained stranded for the next 18 hours. After several hours in his makeshift shelter, he stopped shivering, which led him to believe that he was dying. When he was eventually rescued, he was experiencing hypothermia and severe frostbite. Due to the physical damage, a saw had to be used to remove his boots. The harrowing experience cost Gardner the middle toe on his right foot, which he keeps in formaldehyde in a jar in his refrigerator, to remind him of his mortality.[7][8]He told his story on a first season episode of I Survived....

In 2004, Gardner was involved in a serious accident when his motorcycle struck a car.

On February 24, 2007,[9] Gardner and two other men survived a crash when a light aircraft he was traveling in crashed into Lake Powell, Utah. The men swam an hour in 44 °F (7 °C) water to reach shore, and then spent the night without shelter. None of the three sustained life-threatening injuries"

Plus he beat Karelin.

 

[2plums4one]

Well, DFH had laws changed so they could open a Brewpub in DE....because such a thing didn't exist in DE at the time. Sure you can go "well, they just happened to be the only option" but they also helped others to just exist in DE. They also make a quality product. Someone had to be first, right? It's also not as if high ABV imports didn't exist.

Agreed 100%, and wasn't trying to knock them. Just saying fro a business perspective it is profitable, and there's nothing wrong with that. I know they were pioneers in many ways and the craft beer industry wouldn't be what it is today without them.

 

[Kasher]

Rulon Gardner.

"When Gardner was in elementary school, he was injured during a class show-and-tell, when he was punctured in his abdomen with an arrow.[6]

In 2002, Gardner went snowmobiling with some friends in the mountains surrounding Star Valley, Wyoming. At one point, he became separated from the group. During his efforts to regain his composure and regroup, he fell into the freezing Salt River with his snowmobile. Unable to move any farther, Gardner decided to build a shelter and wait for a rescue team. He remained stranded for the next 18 hours. After several hours in his makeshift shelter, he stopped shivering, which led him to believe that he was dying. When he was eventually rescued, he was experiencing hypothermia and severe frostbite. Due to the physical damage, a saw had to be used to remove his boots. The harrowing experience cost Gardner the middle toe on his right foot, which he keeps in formaldehyde in a jar in his refrigerator, to remind him of his mortality.[7][8]He told his story on a first season episode of I Survived....

In 2004, Gardner was involved in a serious accident when his motorcycle struck a car.

On February 24, 2007,[9] Gardner and two other men survived a crash when a light aircraft he was traveling in crashed into Lake Powell, Utah. The men swam an hour in 44 °F (7 °C) water to reach shore, and then spent the night without shelter. None of the three sustained life-threatening injuries"

Plus he beat Karelin.

A walking Final Destination

 

[jivex5k1]

I had a bud light the other night, wasn't half bad.

 

[JCastle1]

I had a bud light the other night, wasn't half bad.

I thought the same thing about Beck's recently. And only 2€ (bar price), tough to beat that.

 

[steimie]

I had a bud light the other night, wasn't half bad.

Yes, it was.

 

[arren]

I've always wondered why the idea that breweries can go out business is so weird to some people (not you, but I saw it a ton on BA). Like, no ****, do you think every business is supposed to last forever? If anything there's far too little churn right now and we could use more. I expect we'll see it as growth slows and brewing turns into a more normal business.

Nearly every brewery is a small business with a ****** business plan, underpaid employees, no scope of how to scale, and a bunch of questionable practices behind the scenes that keep them afloat. As huge as Green Flash is, it's ultimately just a family-owned business who got in way over their head. ****, they didn't even have a proper accountant until three or four years ago.

I'm honestly surprised more breweries aren't going out of business.

 

[Josh2]

I'm honestly surprised more breweries aren't going out of business.

Give it 3 more years and you'll see breweries dropping off left and right. The savings will be gone, the debts will be up to their eyeballs, and fanboys will have moved onto the next "big thing".
Another brewery will pop up and take its place and thus the cycle continue.

 

[jivex5k1]

Nearly every brewery is a small business with a ****** business plan, underpaid employees, no scope of how to scale, and a bunch of questionable practices behind the scenes that keep them afloat. As huge as Green Flash is, it's ultimately just a family-owned business who got in way over their head. ****, they didn't even have a proper accountant until three or four years ago.

I'm honestly surprised more breweries aren't going out of business.

I know the Funky Buddha Lounge was underpaying their brewers. They pretty much just focus on the big production brewery now in Oakland. Kevin, who created the maple bacon **** that generated all the initial hype for the brewery never went to Oakland when they went big, instead he went off to Barrel of Monks to focus on brewing **** that doesn't taste like a chocolate milkshake. I guess he didn't like their offer or was just sick of brewing peanut butter and jelly beer.

Morgan took over at the lounge after Kevin left, but he was fed up with it, saying he's going to work for a brewery that actually pays well. This happened again with the next brewer who was basically just a good homebrewer but to his credit he was doing pretty damn well. He got a better offer at another brewery too, so they threw another homebrewer in there. Well he went ******* AWOL for some reason, sucks cuz he was a cool dude and was doing alright, but now they have Mitch in there who only works at the place part time to begin with and doesn't want to be the head brewer.

 

[arren]

a brewery that actually pays well

the true white whale of craft beer

 

[drgarage1]

I know the Funky Buddha Lounge was underpaying their brewers. They pretty much just focus on the big production brewery now in Oakland. Kevin, who created the maple bacon **** that generated all the initial hype for the brewery never went to Oakland when they went big, instead he went off to Barrel of Monks to focus on brewing **** that doesn't taste like a chocolate milkshake. I guess he didn't like their offer or was just sick of brewing peanut butter and jelly beer.

Morgan took over at the lounge after Kevin left, but he was fed up with it, saying he's going to work for a brewery that actually pays well. This happened again with the next brewer who was basically just a good homebrewer but to his credit he was doing pretty damn well. He got a better offer at another brewery too, so they threw another homebrewer in there. Well he went ******* AWOL for some reason, sucks cuz he was a cool dude and was doing alright, but now they have Mitch in there who only works at the place part time to begin with and doesn't want to be the head brewer.

GIVE.
GOOD.
BREWERS.
EQUITY.

 

[steimie]

I know the Funky Buddha Lounge was underpaying their brewers. They pretty much just focus on the big production brewery now in Oakland. Kevin, who created the maple bacon **** that generated all the initial hype for the brewery never went to Oakland when they went big, instead he went off to Barrel of Monks to focus on brewing **** that doesn't taste like a chocolate milkshake. I guess he didn't like their offer or was just sick of brewing peanut butter and jelly beer.

Morgan took over at the lounge after Kevin left, but he was fed up with it, saying he's going to work for a brewery that actually pays well. This happened again with the next brewer who was basically just a good homebrewer but to his credit he was doing pretty damn well. He got a better offer at another brewery too, so they threw another homebrewer in there. Well he went ******* AWOL for some reason, sucks cuz he was a cool dude and was doing alright, but now they have Mitch in there who only works at the place part time to begin with and doesn't want to be the head brewer.

Yeah, once you've brewed a beer that tastes like bacon, you want to do whatever you need to do to keep your legit brewer bona fides.

 

[Rails]

How much does a head brewer get payed normally?

 

[nanobrew1]

How much does a head brewer get payed normally?

Not much for the responsibility and having a major roll in the product coming out of the business. From what I have heard $20/hr is avg for head brewer.