Random Beer Thoughts

[FTowne1]

Did y’all know that Founders discontinued their Imperial Stout?

WTF?

Son of a bitch. Awful decision.

 

[andrewdrinks]

Also if FIS is discontinued then what will empty KBBS bottles get refilled with before rewaxing and retrading?

 

[Der Fuchs]

Apparently I'm in the minority for thinking the 2017 black note was just fine.

 

[Josh2]

Apparently I'm in the minority for thinking the 2017 black note was just fine.

I thought it was fine as well. It's not as stellar as it was the last time I had it a few years back, but it was definitely drinkable and enjoyable.

 

[ilovestouts]

Did y’all know that Founders discontinued their Imperial Stout?

WTF?

 

[JCastle1]

First I'm hearing of all this Black Note suckiness.... don't worry, send it all to me please. I miss that beer

 

[trickytunadicky]

Didn’t mean to mislead anyone into thinking I was referring to a particular batch. It’s one of my least favorite Bell’s beers. I generally consider myself a Bell’s homer but that beer ranks near the bottom for me and I wish they would stop putting good expo into it.

 

[jivex5k1]

Speaking of Bells, I just had a two hearted for the first time in probably 2 years. ****** solid. That's a beer you can set your watch to.

 

[JulianB1]

Speaking of Bells, I just had a two hearted for the first time in probably 2 years. ****** solid. That's a beer you can set your watch to.

Two-Hearted is a beer I'd purchase a lot more often if:

1. It showed up at retail around here more fresh
2. The dumb local stores didn't keep it on their unrefrigerated shelves, and rotated the stock more often

I've found bottles around here in the 6 month - 1 year range. I don't mind a few months and I know it holds up well, but half a year or more on a room temperature shelf is going to be a pass from me.

On that note, someone opened a Founders Mosaic Promise can last night with an August canning date. It was stale, malty, oxidized, and all-around really bad. Again, no doubt purchased from one of the stores here that keeps all the hoppy beers on the shelf since they need the fridge space for macro lagers and Smirnoff Ice.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

I have a hard time believing that those Barrel Culture beers are any good if seemingly every one of their members keeps trading away full sets of each release. Nothing says “mmm good beer” like “here you take this”

 

[wuntrikpony]

I have a hard time believing that those Barrel Culture beers are any good if seemingly every one of their members keeps trading away full sets of each release. Nothing says “mmm good beer” like “here you take this”

Spoiler

They're not.

 

[jivex5k1]

I have a hard time believing that those Barrel Culture beers are any good if seemingly every one of their members keeps trading away full sets of each release. Nothing says “mmm good beer” like “here you take this”

Dude you are missing the point. They have "barrel", "culture", and "blending" in their name. That's some tier 1 ****. All they have to do is throw in some words with an e added to the end like "methode" to get to tier 0.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

I just don’t get the point of buying a membership to a brewery just to trade the beers away. I mean I get the point, flood the market and create a demand out of recognition, but it seems entirely artificial and tasteless. And again, if their members don’t even want to drink the beers how good can they be?

Am I old? I feel old. Please speak louder.

 

[wuntrikpony]

I just don’t get the point of buying a membership to a brewery just to trade the beers away. I mean I get the point, flood the market and create a demand out of recognition, but it seems entirely artificial and tasteless. And again, if their members don’t even want to drink the beers how good can they be?

lemme 'splain you

It all makes sense when you understand the beer scene here(in the Triangle...I'm not talking about all of NC). We don't have **** for local breweries. It sucks. Not just to trade, but even to drink. I can't even get a ******* pale ale or pilsner worth a damn locally. We can get some decent AWAs on the shelf, but nothing as fruit forward as Barrel Culture.

As a person who trades and needs some ammo once in a while, I have to drive up to Richmond and grab beer(no one trades for Wicked Weed any more). So when I had the opportunity to take over my friend's membership, I jumped at it. Drive 20 minutes to get some bottles that trade for beer I want to drink? Absolutely. On top of that, every release includes a bottle share for the members which is always good times.

Also you have to keep in mind that most people who got memberships had little to no opportunities to try the BC beer before they bought in...it was all based on homebrew/marketing hype. The BC beers are insanely fruited, super sour, and instagram well...the most important aspects of a good AWA, right?

I don't plan on drinking a single bottle I buy...they will all be traded or gifted. I enjoy hanging with friends at the release, getting an occasional draft pour, and that's about it.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

lemme 'splain you

It all makes sense when you understand the beer scene here(in the Triangle...I'm not talking about all of NC). We don't have **** for local breweries. It sucks. Not just to trade, but even to drink. I can't even get a ******* pale ale or pilsner worth a damn locally. We can get some decent AWAs on the shelf, but nothing as fruit forward as Barrel Culture.

As a person who trades and needs some ammo once in a while, I have to drive up to Richmond and grab beer(no one trades for Wicked Weed any more). So when I had the opportunity to take over my friend's membership, I jumped at it. Drive 20 minutes to get some bottles that trade for beer I want to drink? Absolutely. On top of that, every release includes a bottle share for the members which is always good times.

Also you have to keep in mind that most people who got memberships had little to no opportunities to try the BC beer before they bought in...it was all based on homebrew/marketing hype. The BC beers are insanely fruited, super sour, and instagram well...the most important aspects of a good AWA, right?

I don't plan on drinking a single bottle I buy...they will all be traded or gifted. I enjoy hanging with friends at the release, getting an occasional draft pour, and that's about it.

That’s unfortunate to read about your scene. Thank you for educating me a bit about it. I still stand by my statements.

 

[RyanG1]

lemme 'splain you

It all makes sense when you understand the beer scene here(in the Triangle...I'm not talking about all of NC). We don't have **** for local breweries. It sucks. Not just to trade, but even to drink. I can't even get a ******* pale ale or pilsner worth a damn locally. We can get some decent AWAs on the shelf, but nothing as fruit forward as Barrel Culture.

As a person who trades and needs some ammo once in a while, I have to drive up to Richmond and grab beer(no one trades for Wicked Weed any more). So when I had the opportunity to take over my friend's membership, I jumped at it. Drive 20 minutes to get some bottles that trade for beer I want to drink? Absolutely. On top of that, every release includes a bottle share for the members which is always good times.

Also you have to keep in mind that most people who got memberships had little to no opportunities to try the BC beer before they bought in...it was all based on homebrew/marketing hype. The BC beers are insanely fruited, super sour, and instagram well...the most important aspects of a good AWA, right?

I don't plan on drinking a single bottle I buy...they will all be traded or gifted. I enjoy hanging with friends at the release, getting an occasional draft pour, and that's about it.

ISO: FONTA FLORA BAE

 

[iong516]

I have a hard time believing that those Barrel Culture beers are any good if seemingly every one of their members keeps trading away full sets of each release. Nothing says “mmm good beer” like “here you take this”

Similar sentiment to all the ISO HF FT Fonta Flora posts I see... but their stuff is actually pretty good by what I tried at Shelton a few years ago?

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Similar sentiment to all the ISO HF FT Fonta Flora posts I see... but their stuff is actually pretty good by what I tried at Shelton a few years ago?

I have enjoyed all the FF stuff I’ve tried. I do see more of it for trade than expected though. Same feelings really, can it be that good if many members don’t even want it?

 

[wuntrikpony]

That’s unfortunate to read about your scene. Thank you for educating me a bit about it. I still stand by my statements.

Oh it's not like I live in ******* Montana or anything, but we just have SO MANY mediocre breweries and SO MANY ****** bottle shops that find a way to stay in business. For a fairly progressive/decent sized city, we are seriously lacking in the good beer dept.

ISO: FONTA FLORA BAE

Bro I don't live in the mountains, nor do I have fancy enough facial hair to roll with the FF folks, but I will keep you in mind next time I'm out that way.

I have enjoyed all the FF stuff I’ve tried. I do see more of it for trade than expected though. Same feelings really, can it be that good if many members don’t even want it?

Most FF members I know drink their bottles. But part of the membership is getting access to buying much more than you'd ever drink. Thus the trading.

Back when I lived on the other coast and Wicked Weed was pre-InBev, you could kill 2 birds with one stone by tossing up an ISO for both FF and WW...but times have changed.

Similar sentiment to all the ISO HF FT Fonta Flora posts I see... but their stuff is actually pretty good by what I tried at Shelton a few years ago?

How many mags of Appalachian Wild Ale does a man need?

 

[Josh2]

's not like I live in ******* Montana or anything

 

[wuntrikpony]

That was a SeaWatchman jab...sorry...

 

[Josh2]

That was a SeaWatchman jab...sorry...

My bad.

Jab away.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Oh it's not like I live in ******* Montana or anything, but we just have SO MANY mediocre breweries and SO MANY ****** bottle shops that find a way to stay in business. For a fairly progressive/decent sized city, we are seriously lacking in the good beer dept.


Bro I don't live in the mountains, nor do I have fancy enough facial hair to roll with the FF folks, but I will keep you in mind next time I'm out that way.

Most FF members I know drink their bottles. But part of the membership is getting access to buying much more than you'd ever drink. Thus the trading.

Back when I lived on the other coast and Wicked Weed was pre-InBev, you could kill 2 birds with one stone by tossing up an ISO for both FF and WW...but times have changed.


How many mags of Appalachian Wild Ale does a man need?

I see your points. Your access is split between non-existent and too much of a good thing, and you have a thirst to trade to make up for your local scene’s shortcomings. I get it. I just can’t get behind the practice of propping up a seemingly just-ok brewery for the sake of pushing their product onto other people. (This is in reference to barrel culture, not FF).

Side note: you guys have crazy access to Tilquin in NC. At least compared to what I see here in the Bay Area. If you need trade ammo look no further, and find your way into my DM’s

 

[beerindex]

I just can’t get behind the practice of propping up a seemingly just-ok brewery for the sake of pushing their product onto other people. (This is in reference to barrel culture, not FF).

Is it pushing it on people, or simply giving them what they want? For example, I think Short's is terrible. But at least a few years back, people sometimes wanted the weird **** they make, so I obliged. Should I have refused to send it to them because it is terrible, despite their requests?

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Is it pushing it on people, or simply giving them what they want? For example, I think Short's is terrible. But at least a few years back, people sometimes wanted the weird **** they make. Should I refuse to send it to them because it is terrible?

I see far more FT than I do ISO. I said in my original post it seems that people are flooding the market to drive up demand based on recognition and curiosity alone. To me that seems like pushing onto others. One persons opinion though, and you’re welcome to disagree.

 

[iong516]

One persons opinion though, and you’re welcome to disagree.

Nah nah nah, we're looking for a really jabby, immature internet fight here... play ball

 

[JulianB1]

Regarding Barrel Culture, one thing to consider is that a lot of members are friends/drinking buddies with at least a few other members. So for instance someone might have got to try all the beers between them being on draft and other people opening their bottles, and therefore have no problem trading bottles away. Also worth keeping in mind most/all of these bottles have been available to the general public, none of these are the ones that were included in the membership purchase. This doesn't apply to me as I'm not local, but people who are could have easily gone a few days after the member nights and purchased a bunch more. I feel like this happens at a lot of Carolina beer releases actually: stuff is readily available to drink on tap, so people who are loading up on bottles are doing it mostly for trade bait. BA Mexican Cake is definitely like that. Wicked Weed releases used to be, back when people actually cared about them.

I'm not as down on the beers as wuntrikpony, but there has definitely been inconsistency in quality (perhaps not surprising given how long they've been open and the styles they are doing). Last weekend a friend opened 3 of them. One was heavy on the nail polish remover (passionfruit guava I think) while the other two were really quite good. Of those one of them wasn't even fruited, just a dry-hopped sour. And some of the fruited stuff has been really nice, as long as you want super-fruited sour beers. At least they aren't kettle souring anything.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Regarding Barrel Culture, one thing to consider is that a lot of members are friends/drinking buddies with at least a few other members. So for instance someone might have got to try all the beers between them being on draft and other people opening their bottles, and therefore have no problem trading bottles away. Also worth keeping in mind most/all of these bottles have been available to the general public, none of these are the ones that were included in the membership purchase. This doesn't apply to me as I'm not local, but people who are could have easily gone a few days after the member nights and purchased a bunch more. I feel like this happens at a lot of Carolina beer releases actually: stuff is readily available to drink on tap, so people who are loading up on bottles are doing it mostly for trade bait. BA Mexican Cake is definitely like that. Wicked Weed releases used to be, back when people actually cared about them.

I'm not as down on the beers as wuntrikpony, but there has definitely been inconsistency in quality (perhaps not surprising given how long they've been open and the styles they are doing). Last weekend a friend opened 3 of them. One was heavy on the nail polish remover (passionfruit guava I think) while the other two were really quite good. Of those one of them wasn't even fruited, just a dry-hopped sour. And some of the fruited stuff has been really nice, as long as you want super-fruited sour beers. At least they aren't kettle souring anything.

That’s fair. I haven’t tried any of the beers so my opinion is only worth so much here. My points of view are based solely on the sheer amount of FT posts I’ve seen for their beers. To me that signals “I don’t want to actually drink this stuff”, especially when I’m not seeing an equal or greater amount of ISO postings.

And to satisfy iong516 , eat **** and die.

 

[wuntrikpony]

I get it. I just can’t get behind the practice of propping up a seemingly just-ok brewery for the sake of pushing their product onto other people. (This is in reference to barrel culture, not FF).

Everyone is propping them up from what I can see on social. That includes most of the locals here who just go there to drink draft.

Side note: you guys have crazy access to Tilquin in NC. At least compared to what I see here in the Bay Area. If you need trade ammo look no further, and find your way into my DM’s

I didn't realize that...but I've never been a huge Tilquin guy. Would rather drink Cuvee Rene.

At least they aren't kettle souring anything.

How is their process any better than a fruited kettle sour?

 

[Gaseous Clay]

I didn't realize that...but I've never been a huge Tilquin guy. Would rather drink Cuvee Rene.

We should chat