Three Floyds Brewery

[bdnoona]

I think it's interesting that people go out of their way to express their negative opinions about Dark Lord and to claim that it is overrated because of rarity. This thread (and others I have read as well) was not about DL, but somebody needed to throw their negative opinion out there anyway. It's a great beer, and like most completely rare beers, opinions boost it's rating because its so hard to get. It's still an amazing RIS, and while not my favorite RIS, I have never had one even close to it (in the terms of what it does).

Westveleteren 12 is an amazing beer, but not the best quad I've ever had. But I don't go proclaiming that in every thread about Trappist beers. I mean c'mon. It is your opinion. You are not letting out a well kept secret.

 

[Lynux]

I was there on Saturday too, that's funny. I've done the brewery tour before so I skipped it this time. There is definitely one a$$ that works there and he treated several customers like crap.

I love the food there and the beer is stellar. Like someone mentioned earlier, the 2008 Dark Lord day served a vanilla aged Dark Lord that was absolutely out of this world. My wife hates beer and she LOVED this beer. I have tried most of the hyped up RIS out there and this one smokes them all.

I bought myself a bomber of PopSkull, Alpha Klaus (love this stuff), and a sixer of Alpha King to bring home. I drank a Gumballhead and a the Dunkel they had on tap and both are great beers. Wish I would have tried the Admiral Lord Nelson though, that was the only one on the menu I haven't tried.

 

[KUbrew]

I couldn't find any info on their website about their tours. Do they have a set day and time?

 

[carnevoodoo]

Yeah, I've never experienced those flavors from Dark Lord, and I've had 3 bottles over the years. Always think it's overcarbed for the style, though - that's my main gripe.

It isn't just me! Look at the very first review on there (jeffthechef) for a 2009 bottle. I had to look up reviews for this because I know I'm not crazy.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26/7520

 

[Cascadian]

Yea, the lord admiral nelson was pretty much the exact beer I've been looking for... or maybe I'm just missing ESB's from my time in london. Up until now, I've sworn by Mac and Jack's, but damn I liked the admiral...

 

[Cascadian]

I couldn't find any info on their website about their tours. Do they have a set day and time?

3 pm saturdays it seems. I mean, it's not a tour for brewers really -- you know the standard "what are the four ingredients for beer" type of deal. But, I enjoyed the POV about the brewery's niche in the greater beer community.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Oh, and I'd take a bottle of 2008 Abyss, Kate the Great, Old Rasputin (preferably an anniversary barrel aged one), Speedway Stout (even better barrel aged!), HaandBryggeriet Dark Force Stout, and a couple from Pizza Port Carlsbad (Tovarish and Night Rider come to mind) over another shot at Dark Lord any day.

Maybe the '09 vintage just sucks, though. Every brewery has their missteps.

 

[carnevoodoo]

I think it's interesting that people go out of their way to express their negative opinions about Dark Lord and to claim that it is overrated because of rarity. This thread (and others I have read as well) was not about DL, but somebody needed to throw their negative opinion out there anyway. It's a great beer, and like most completely rare beers, opinions boost it's rating because its so hard to get. It's still an amazing RIS, and while not my favorite RIS, I have never had one even close to it (in the terms of what it does).

Westveleteren 12 is an amazing beer, but not the best quad I've ever had. But I don't go proclaiming that in every thread about Trappist beers. I mean c'mon. It is your opinion. You are not letting out a well kept secret.

Calling Dark Lord overrated has nothing to do with its rarity. It has to do with its hype in relation to the quality of the product. It might be a good beer for some, but I found it to be less than impressive, and I'm not the only person who thinks so. I don't put down beer because it is popular or because everyone loves it. I called it overrated because that's what I think of it. Selling tickets to get in line for a bottle of beer you then have to pay for makes this one of the most hyped releases in the country. It is nowhere near as good as the hype or most of the reviews. That's pretty much what overrated means, isn't it?

Also, this is a thread about Three Floyds. It is pretty much pertinent to the conversation. Randomly calling out Westy 12 in a quad conversation is not a very good comparison to talking about a beer from a brewery in a thread about that brewery. I'm not being a dick here, I just have a varying opinion, and if nobody had one of those, we'd all be carbon copies and boring.

Sorry it doesn't follow your line of thought, but my opinion, and those who disagree with you are just as valid to share what they think. You say "amazing", I say "middling at best". Opinions. Rad.

 

[Pecan]

I grew up in Indiana and unfortunately never visited TF, but am already planning a trip home to see family (read: attend Dark Lord Day 2010). I'm not sure why I never visited seeing as Robert the Bruce is by far my favorite beer and has been wearing that crown for years. The only craft brewery I managed to visit was Backroad Brewery, and while that was an excellent facility with good brew and a fantastic owner, I feel like I robbed myself of approximately 5 years of delicious RtB and other experience.

On a side note, Lord Admiral Nelson is on the radar and I will hopefully possess an ample amount via mail soon....

 

[remilard]

I would love to know what RIS is better than Dark Lord.

I guess it depends on what you want. I thought there wasn't enough hop bitterness to balance (cloying) and wasn't enough roasted flavor. I prefer Yeti, Old Rasputin, and Rogue RIS.

We can certainly both agree that Dark Lord is bigger than almost every other stout. Beyond that it is going to be subjective.

 

[KYB]

Old Rasputin didn't do much for me. I mean it's a good beer, but not good enough for me to want to buy it often. I guess DL just had so many different good flavors to it. More complex than most. I guess that's why I like it so much. I haven't had Rogue's. I don't want to pay $16, because I doubt it would be worth it.

 

[bdnoona]

Calling Dark Lord overrated has nothing to do with its rarity. It has to do with its hype in relation to the quality of the product. It might be a good beer for some, but I found it to be less than impressive, and I'm not the only person who thinks so. I don't put down beer because it is popular or because everyone loves it. I called it overrated because that's what I think of it. Selling tickets to get in line for a bottle of beer you then have to pay for makes this one of the most hyped releases in the country. It is nowhere near as good as the hype or most of the reviews. That's pretty much what overrated means, isn't it?

Also, this is a thread about Three Floyds. It is pretty much pertinent to the conversation. Randomly calling out Westy 12 in a quad conversation is not a very good comparison to talking about a beer from a brewery in a thread about that brewery. I'm not being a dick here, I just have a varying opinion, and if nobody had one of those, we'd all be carbon copies and boring.

Sorry it doesn't follow your line of thought, but my opinion, and those who disagree with you are just as valid to share what they think. You say "amazing", I say "middling at best". Opinions. Rad.

Actually, I think rarity plays in directly to the rating of the beer. Rarity increases the hype, which leads to something potentially being overrated. And also the fewer dissenting opinions like your own allow this to over-hype a product.

I was in a crappy mood yesterday so this irritated me more than it probably should have. And while yes this is a 3F thread, the OP started it to share his good experience at the brewery. It took all of two more posts before someone (you) came in pissing on DL, which seemed to me completely out place. And as I mentioned before I have seen people do this a bunch of other times as well. I'm glad you have your opinion, but posts like those seem (to me at least), to be raining on the parade of the people that like the brewery or beer. Not just innocently reviewing a beer.

I could be completely off the mark in this case, but that was the impression that I have gotten in the past, which prompted me to comment on it. It is THE ONLY beer I've seen that people go out of their way to put down, which may be because of the otherwise glowing reviews, or not. Whatever the reason, someone is always waiting to step out and say they don't like it and it's overhyped. Even if they weren't asked. And especially if someone else says they like it first.

 

[carnevoodoo]

I think you're far too sensitive. I'm a fair critic to any beer, overhyped or not. I mean I'm the first to say I love the bottle of Utopias I bought, and that is a pretty damn hyped beer. I just think that we're all allowed to share our opinions, and when a brewery is more or less known for a flagship product, it is very relevant to the conversation.

 

[rico567]

I guess it depends on what you want. I thought there wasn't enough hop bitterness to balance (cloying) and wasn't enough roasted flavor. I prefer Yeti, Old Rasputin, and Rogue RIS.

We can certainly both agree that Dark Lord is bigger than almost every other stout. Beyond that it is going to be subjective.

This is a post I can appreciate. The poster gives specific reasons why he doesn't like Dark Lord, and gives examples of a few he prefers. Then he admits it's a personal matter. Res ipse loquitur.

I am violating one of my rules by inserting a post at this point anyhow, so I might as well just keep digging. (Draws deep breath) The latter portion of this thread has deteriorated into a kind of ****ing contest, without much point other than to pick at the other guy's opinions....and, by inference, that one poster is a much better judge of beer than another. Get a clue. You're not. Particularly at the level of beers as big and complex as the ones discussed herein, it's all just a matter of how your nose and 'buds are reacting compared to someone else.

Also, time for another sig, from a real philosophical heavy:

"Opinions are like ***holes, everybody's got one."

- Dirty Harry, Magnum Force

 

[bdnoona]

You are right Rico. I just wanted to make my comment about the trend I noticed, so I did.

Carnevoodoo, it was not motivated by you alone as I said. No hard feelings I hope. I'm sure you are a fair reviewer.

 

[carnevoodoo]

This is a post I can appreciate. The poster gives specific reasons why he doesn't like Dark Lord, and gives examples of a few he prefers. Then he admits it's a personal matter. Res ipse loquitur.

I am violating one of my rules by inserting a post at this point anyhow, so I might as well just keep digging. (Draws deep breath) The latter portion of this thread has deteriorated into a kind of ****ing contest, without much point other than to pick at the other guy's opinions....and, by inference, that one poster is a much better judge of beer than another. Get a clue. You're not. Particularly at the level of beers as big and complex as the ones discussed herein, it's all just a matter of how your nose and 'buds are reacting compared to someone else.

Also, time for another sig, from a real philosophical heavy:

"Opinions are like ***holes, everybody's got one."

- Dirty Harry, Magnum Force

So my initial post where I gave specific tastes that came across to me in a sentence that started with the words, "I thought" were clearly your kind of post. My opinion, followed by what I didn't like. Of course it is opinion. I wasn't trying to sway anyone away from anything, I wasn't trying to bring people down. I was furthering a conversation about a brewery. I even said I liked their other offerings, and then I got attacked by people who didn't like my OPINION. I'm not saying I know everything. That's just retarded. I was simply stating my views on the brewery that was being talked about.