What's the worst craft brew (commercial) you've had?

[BUCKNUTS]

OK. This source IS actually known for bad handling, now that you mention it (bastards), but this didn't seem like oxidation, and hops should fade if anything after some storage abuse.

Last time I had Stone's IPA was on tap a few years ago, though... and it wasn't as imbalanced as this. Maybe you've got me, maybe the hops flavors turned ugly instead of just going weak. It smelled like pineapple juice filtered through a pound of Northern Brewer.*

(*Actually I take it back, that sounds kind of good.)

I think Stones ipa is at like 60 ibus (i could be wrong here) which as you pointed out in this day and age of breweries trying to pack in as many hops as possible really isnt that high for an ipa. I see nothing wrong with saying a beer from a commercial brewery sucks we pay the exorbitant prices they are charging and should be able to expect the beer to live up to the level of those prices.

 

[coolharry]

I carted an arrogant bastard halfway across the country in my checked luggage not expecting much out of it but a souvenir bottle and it was delicious. If your bottles shop is handling beer worse than airline luggage personnel, I'd find a better bottle shop.

To stay on topic, I'd say Sam Adams cherry wheat is by far the worst I've tried.

 

[crookedibrews]

Sam Adams double bock cherry.... That **** was horrible .. I got one of those multi seasonal packs. I had to stomach down 2 of them. Man I know that Every man is different, but I have drank some bad beers that I have made that we're more drinkable than that.

 

[ZenFitness]

To stay on topic, I'd say Sam Adams cherry wheat is by far the worst I've tried.

The only time I've had that one is warm. Room temperature warm. **** was terrible.

 

[zardozap]

Going to agree that some of these "craft brewers" that have gotten success off of maybe one particular beer, in order to keep the hits coming have turned around and tossed out some odd, kitchy, often terrible and disgusting things that are mostly undrinkable crap. I know I brew better beers at home than some of the stuff I've bought. Like I read earlier, Bacon Smoked Red Ale? Disgusting.

 

[gwapogorilla]

No way.
Red horse is THE best makro lager available here in Thailand.

Sent from my GT-I8552B using Home Brew mobile app

Buddy, I'd move to a different country!

I had Stone IPA for the first time in a while last night, and it tasted like they ran every hop in their fridge through a lawnmower. Like a Sierra Nevada PA dry hopped with bathroom potpourri. I know some folks will defend it, but man, that might be the most amateurish IPA I've ever had, I feel like there wasn't even a recipe.

I agree...it's bitter, just plain bitter.

"f$%kin amateurs" - Walter Sobchek (Big Lebowski)

I love reading this thread. A bunch of self inclined homebrewers calling some of the most successful breweries in the country "amateurs" and the like. Homebrewers keep the hype at bay, and that can't be such a bad thing.

I think the only reason bastard became "famous" is because it is 7.2% ABV. Too many f$&ktards out there going for the alcohol instead of flavor. Yep, I'll call them out. I really do make better beer than that...and I really don't know what the hell I'm doing yet!

 

[jrfehon]

21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon, just not good IMO.

 

[jdhasse]

I like most everything I have tried by Pipeworks (in Chicago) but their marilime law ninja was awful. Smelled like lunch meat...

 

[bleme]

It smelled like pineapple juice filtered through a pound of Northern Brewer.*

(*Actually I take it back, that sounds kind of good.)

Add 2 pounds of sugar and some yeast and you might be onto something...

 

[crookedibrews]

Add 2 pounds of sugar and some yeast and you might be onto something...

+1 on that idea

 

[fearwig]

Too many f$&ktards out there going for the alcohol instead of flavor. Yep, I'll call them out. I really do make better beer than that...and I really don't know what the hell I'm doing yet!

It's not hard, and it sure as hell doesn't cost me $4.99 a bomber! Some hops are getting pricy (saaz is breaking my heart), but not the hops they're using, they're all $15/lb.

I guess my tastes are a little f'ed, because I think American craft beer is off its rocker in the hops department (NB has its place, but holy **** it's in everything now--I blame you, California). Not to mention yeast character... fermented beverages should taste like they came into contact with yeast at some point in their life span. I know, you can't just wish a whole country into changing its entire beer history. I'm a commie.

But futile rant over, I have to name a really ****ty beer to stay on topic... Young's Double Chocolate. That **** should be mentioned on every single page of this thread. That is the. Worst. Beer. It doesn't taste like any chocolate I've had, and it doesn't taste like beer, either. It is the ultimate leave-it-in-your-fridge-and-hope-your-alkie-friend-drinks-it beer. I've tried it and re-tried it because I always see high ratings (at least in what I call the "novelty stout" category) and it has never tasted like it wasn't sitting in someone's trunk for a year, so I really have to blame the brewer at this point.

 

[BBQB]

Anything from shipyard

 

[BUCKNUTS]

Anything from shipyard

+1 shipwreck's beers are terrible

 

[D_Nyholm]

It's not hard, and it sure as hell doesn't cost me $4.99 a bomber! Some hops are getting pricy (saaz is breaking my heart), but not the hops they're using, they're all $15/lb.

I guess my tastes are a little f'ed, because I think American craft beer is off its rocker in the hops department (NB has its place, but holy **** it's in everything now--I blame you, California). Not to mention yeast character... fermented beverages should taste like they came into contact with yeast at some point in their life span. I know, you can't just wish a whole country into changing its entire beer history. I'm a commie.

But futile rant over, I have to name a really ****ty beer to stay on topic... Young's Double Chocolate. That **** should be mentioned on every single page of this thread. That is the. Worst. Beer. It doesn't taste like any chocolate I've had, and it doesn't taste like beer, either. It is the ultimate leave-it-in-your-fridge-and-hope-your-alkie-friend-drinks-it beer. I've tried it and re-tried it because I always see high ratings (at least in what I call the "novelty stout" category) and it has never tasted like it wasn't sitting in someone's trunk for a year, so I really have to blame the brewer at this point.

I love Young's double chocolate. Though the taste surely has gotten worse in the 3 or 4 years that I have been drinking other beers. I bought some a few months ago and while it wasn't nearly as good as I remember, it was still a damn fine brew. Chocolate tastes real to me and it has as much flavor as a sweet milk stout typically does though a little lacking in the roast department.

 

[ZenFitness]

Too many f$&ktards out there going for the alcohol instead of flavor. Yep, I'll call them out. I really do make better beer than that...and I really don't know what the hell I'm doing yet!

In many higher ABV beers, the alcohol contributes to the flavor. I like both.

 

[FatDragon]

I think the only reason bastard became "famous" is because it is 7.2% ABV. Too many f$&ktards out there going for the alcohol instead of flavor. Yep, I'll call them out. I really do make better beer than that...and I really don't know what the hell I'm doing yet!

Arrogant Bastard is like the BMC of IPAs - it's a middle-ground taste that appeals to most IPA drinkers, though it's not necessarily an award-winner in the crowded IPA market these days. IMO, while you could do better, it's almost always a solid pick for an above-average IPA.

But futile rant over, I have to name a really ****ty beer to stay on topic... Young's Double Chocolate. That **** should be mentioned on every single page of this thread. That is the. Worst. Beer. It doesn't taste like any chocolate I've had, and it doesn't taste like beer, either. It is the ultimate leave-it-in-your-fridge-and-hope-your-alkie-friend-drinks-it beer. I've tried it and re-tried it because I always see high ratings (at least in what I call the "novelty stout" category) and it has never tasted like it wasn't sitting in someone's trunk for a year, so I really have to blame the brewer at this point.

Like Guinness, Young's Double Chocolate is delicious off a nitro tap and kind've disappointing bottled or canned (though I have little experience with nitro cans and bottles). The roasty, semisweet flavor is where I can see the chocolate name coming in, and while I don't particularly taste chocolate in it, I think it would be amazing paired with some quality 75% dark chocolate. Either way, if you haven't tried a nitro pour, you haven't tried Young's Double Chocolate Stout as it's meant to be enjoyed. Then again, your comment about 'the "novelty stout" category' makes me wonder if you might just be projecting a dislike of sweet stouts on the category's most widely-known example.

 

[gometz]

I used to love Arrogant Bastard (still like it), but had one last Thursday and I have to say, not nearly as good as I remember. Maybe it was an old bottle (it was on sale and I couldn't read the date on it), but it had a distinct garlic/onion undertone. On a related note, I quit smoking at the beginning of the year, so maybe my palate is getting a lot better too.

As for bad: Breckenridge Vanilla Porter. A coworker didn't finish hers at a work dinner so some of us thought we'd finish it after she left. I took one sip then switched to water.

 

[WesleyS]

Arrogant Bastard is like the BMC of IPAs - it's a middle-ground taste that appeals to most IPA drinkers, though it's not necessarily an award-winner in the crowded IPA market these days. IMO, while you could do better, it's almost always a solid pick for an above-average IPA.

Except its not an IPA...
It's not my favorite beer, but it's not bad and definitely isn't anywhere near the worst beer I've ever had.

Like Guinness, Young's Double Chocolate is delicious off a nitro tap and kind've disappointing bottled or canned (though I have little experience with nitro cans and bottles). The roasty, semisweet flavor is where I can see the chocolate name coming in, and while I don't particularly taste chocolate in it, I think it would be amazing paired with some quality 75% dark chocolate. Either way, if you haven't tried a nitro pour, you haven't tried Young's Double Chocolate Stout as it's meant to be enjoyed. Then again, your comment about 'the "novelty stout" category' makes me wonder if you might just be projecting a dislike of sweet stouts on the category's most widely-known example.

I taste chocolate in it. I wonder if some people are expecting it to taste like Hershey's syrup squirted in a stout when that's really not how a chocolate stout should taste. I can taste a distinct bitter baker's chocolate flavor in it.
I don't think I've ever had it on tap, but I've had it from the bottle and nitro can and I like it from both. It's a completely different beer from a nitro can.

 

[fearwig]

I taste chocolate in it. I wonder if some people are expecting it to taste like Hershey's syrup squirted in a stout when that's really not how a chocolate stout should taste. I can taste a distinct bitter baker's chocolate flavor in it.
I don't think I've ever had it on tap, but I've had it from the bottle and nitro can and I like it from both. It's a completely different beer from a nitro can.

My experience with Young's (and the "double") has me thinking this is definitely a chocolate stout named for the chocolate in it, not just the roasted malt. It is gross-sweet, not just sweet stout sweet but cloying. I've had it from multiple sources, so I can't assume it's always been mishandled, but it really seems like "oxidized" is the profile they're shooting for. Or "discount rack dark chocolate".

 

[bleme]

Third beer I brewed was a double chocolate stout. The guy I split batches with had Young's on a nitro tap and wanted to make his own. I am planning on opening another bottle here soon. It will be 2 years old in March.

Time flies...

 

[WesleyS]

My experience with Young's (and the "double") has me thinking this is definitely a chocolate stout named for the chocolate in it, not just the roasted malt. It is gross-sweet, not just sweet stout sweet but cloying. I've had it from multiple sources, so I can't assume it's always been mishandled, but it really seems like "oxidized" is the profile they're shooting for. Or "discount rack dark chocolate".

It does have real chocolate and chocolate "essence" in it. But I don't find it sweet at all and nowhere near cloying. If it's that sweet to you, never ever try a Southern Tier Creme Brûlée Stout. It might kill you.
It's interesting to see how tastes differ when reading through this thread. Some decent and good beers have been mentioned as some people's worst. Of course, I'm sure there are plenty of people that like the beer I consider to be the worst.
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/samuel-adams-triple-bock/164/
How this has a 28 and not a 0 is beyond me. It was the absolute worst thing I've ever had the displeasure of drinking.

 

[D_Nyholm]

It definitely has real chocolate in it. But I don't find it sweet at all and nowhere near cloying. If it's that sweet to you, never ever try a Southern Tier Creme Brûlée Stout. It might kill you.
It's interesting to see how tastes differ when reading through this thread. Some decent and good beers have been mentioned as some people's worst. Of course, I'm sure there are plenty of people that like the beer I consider to be the worst.
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/samuel-adams-triple-bock/164/
How this has a 28 and not a 0 is beyond me. It was the absolute worst thing I've ever had the displeasure of drinking.

Funny you should mention that beer. Had a bottle when I was 17 in 1994. Found another bottle a month ago and had it again. It sucked both times. Like soy sauce and worscheshire mixed. Tasted the same both times as it was bad enough to remember the taste after almost 20 years. Though the nostalgia gave it a few points

I also read that they used the triple bock as a base for utopia (I think this years)

 

[jeff62217]

I'm not usually one to dislike beer... I can even tolerate BMC beers on a very hot summer day if I'm looking for refreshment.

Picked up a bottle of blue moon's tongue thai'd at Costco. It was a 22oz, Belgian wheat with lemongrass and thai basil. Around 7% I believe.

I didn't dump it, but really did not enjoy it at all. The basil overpowered everything else, not good IMO.

 

[fearwig]

I'm not usually one to dislike beer... I can even tolerate BMC beers on a very hot summer day if I'm looking for refreshment.

Picked up a bottle of blue moon's tongue thai'd at Costco. It was a 22oz, Belgian wheat with lemongrass and thai basil. Around 7% I believe.

I didn't dump it, but really did not enjoy it at all. The basil overpowered everything else, not good IMO.

Watching MillerCoors try to make experimental craft beers is like watching an android learn emotion. What a mess.

 

[FatDragon]

Except its not an IPA...
It's not my favorite beer, but it's not bad and definitely isn't anywhere near the worst beer I've ever had.

I'm still fairly ignorant on beer classifications, as I've only been brewing for about four months and I've been living in beer hell (aka second-tier China) for the last seven years. Since it's a hoppy ale, and not too dark, I've always assumed it was an IPA. What makes it an "American Strong Ale" as I'm seeing it classified, as opposed to an IPA?

 

[fearwig]

I'm still fairly ignorant on beer classifications, as I've only been brewing for about four months and I've been living in beer hell (aka second-tier China) for the last seven years. Since it's a hoppy ale, and not too dark, I've always assumed it was an IPA. What makes it an "American Strong Ale" as I'm seeing it classified, as opposed to an IPA?

It's supposed to mean it's rich and malty, but not as hoppy as an IPA, and not as "pale" as an APA. http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style19.php

 

[fearwig]

I'm still fairly ignorant on beer classifications, as I've only been brewing for about four months and I've been living in beer hell (aka second-tier China) for the last seven years. Since it's a hoppy ale, and not too dark, I've always assumed it was an IPA. What makes it an "American Strong Ale" as I'm seeing it classified, as opposed to an IPA?

It's supposed to mean it's rich and malty, but not as hoppy as an IPA, and not as "pale" (or weak) as an APA. http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style19.php "Strong" ale includes barleywines, but stuff like Arrogant Bastard is well below that in gravity.

 

[captaincrunk]

New Belgium's spring blonde ale is pretty terrible in my opinion. Tasted like an overcarbed bud light that was sprayed with lemon pledge.

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[dyqik]

Cambridge Brewing Companies Sgt Pepper. Just tastes like a mouthful of black pepper.

 

[expatriate]

Any Pumpkin Ale, especially Saranac's.