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

[RachmaelBenApplebaum]

Sam Adams "summer ale" I think? Seems like they were shooting for a shandy and got more of a "Mike's hard lemonade- boons farm" flavor without the added ethanol. Took one sip and then abandoned it at a party near where someone else had one, maybe they drank it, I dunno.

 

[Pilotpip]

Usually a fan of New Belgium but I can't stand Shift. I dumped 2 of the 4 cans I had. I've never brewed a lager but this stuff had a horrible sulfur smell and aftertaste. This time of year I drink a lot of lagers and wheats. BMC is usually in the cooler when I go fishing and I was hoping to make a change.

I've yet to try anything from Shipyard that I've enjoyed and I don't get the hype behind Bell's and DFH. Maybe 10 years ago they had something but today there are way too many good craft breweries out there to justify their price for an average beer.

This is a great example of how different people have different tastes. I've seen people mention New Belgium Rampant, Lagunitas WTF and a couple others that I really enjoy drinking. I'm sure people will say the same about my opinions.

 

[NormPeterson]

Usually a fan of New Belgium but I can't stand Shift. I dumped 2 of the 4 cans I had. I've never brewed a lager but this stuff had a horrible sulfur smell and aftertaste. This time of year I drink a lot of lagers and wheats. BMC is usually in the cooler when I go fishing and I was hoping to make a change.

I've yet to try anything from Shipyard that I've enjoyed and I don't get the hype behind Bell's and DFH. Maybe 10 years ago they had something but today there are way too many good craft breweries out there to justify their price for an average beer.

This is a great example of how different people have different tastes. I've seen people mention New Belgium Rampant, Lagunitas WTF and a couple others that I really enjoy drinking. I'm sure people will say the same about my opinions.

Not arguing tastes but Bell's has some good brews along with some mediocre and even some below par, but I feel that's true of most breweries. In fact there is not one brewery I can even say puts out more than 70% good beer (IMO).


Note: In no way am I attacking your opinion, I only think its hard to rate a brewery rather than rate each individual beer by a brewery.

 

[NormPeterson]

Back on topic, Victory's Summer Love Ale was horrible to me. It was immediately traded to a friend for some Oberon. The other I was sadly disappointed with was SN Summerfest...however I do plan to try it again because it was after an imperial stout which needless to say can leave you needing stronger flavors than a light pilsner.

 

[bobmcstuff]

Hasn't changed much. Had a Stella the other day.

Stella as in Stella Artois? Or some other Stella I don't know about?

Stella Artois is hardly "craft".

Edit: it's made by AB Inbev

 

[bleme]

Stella Artois is hardly "craft".

Edit: it's made by AB Inbev

Goose Island is also owned by AB InBev but most people would classify it as "craft".

You are free to believe whatever you want.
That doesn't mean everybody else has to.
I've never tried Stella so I have no personal opinion on whether it is craft or not, but if someone else considers it craft, I won't begrudge them their opinion.

 

[paliessmann]

Had New Belgium's Rampant tonight. I don't know if my palate has been ruined by the hop bombs that I typically enjoy, but I was pretty underwhelmed. Not the worst I've had, but I wouldn't buy it again.

On the other hand, Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale...holy cow! A damn good pale ale. Why have I not had this before?

+1 on the rampant

 

[bobmcstuff]

Goose Island is also owned by AB InBev but most people would classify it as "craft".

You are free to believe whatever you want.
That doesn't mean everybody else has to.
I've never tried Stella so I have no personal opinion on whether it is craft or not, but if someone else considers it craft, I won't begrudge them their opinion.

Oh I agree with you generally, I'm sure there's plenty of beers like that. But the idea that Stella is some sort of craft beer is laughable - it's one of the biggest selling beers in the UK so it's not really much different from suggesting any BMC product is a craft beer. Which I'm sure would go down badly in these parts

It's also nicknamed "wifebeater" which is deeply un-classy.

 

[CliffMongoloid]

Goose Island is also owned by AB InBev but most people would classify it as "craft".

You are free to believe whatever you want.
That doesn't mean everybody else has to.
I've never tried Stella so I have no personal opinion on whether it is craft or not, but if someone else considers it craft, I won't begrudge them their opinion.

I work in collections... Just had to call a certain brewery cause they didn't Pay their bill..... Awesome

 

[andysim]

Had New Belgium's Rampant tonight. I don't know if my palate has been ruined by the hop bombs that I typically enjoy, but I was pretty underwhelmed. Not the worst I've had, but I wouldn't buy it again.

On the other hand, Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale...holy cow! A damn good pale ale. Why have I not had this before?

I disagree with you on Dogtown. Had some Tuesday night at a Durham Bull's game. I gave it a two out of five on UNTAPPD.

 

[NateLTB]

Goose Island is also owned by AB InBev but most people would classify it as "craft".

You are free to believe whatever you want.
That doesn't mean everybody else has to.
I've never tried Stella so I have no personal opinion on whether it is craft or not, but if someone else considers it craft, I won't begrudge them their opinion.

It is definitely not a "craft" brewery by definition of the Brewers Association.

"An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional.

Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.

Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.

Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor."

 

[Dave1096]

In fact there is not one brewery I can even say puts out more than 70% good beer (IMO).

You don't think Firestone Walker or Alesmith put out more than 70% good beers? I don't think either of these breweries make a bad beer. There's alot of great breweries that almost exclusively put out really good beer...Alpine, Kern River, Russian River, Bear Republic, Avery, Hill Farmstead (the 2 of their beers that I've had, anyway), Lagunitas. There's also alot of breweries with one or two good beers and the rest of their lineup sucks, but I can't agree that there aren't any breweries that hit on more than 70% of their beers.

 

[bleme]

I'd add Lost Abbey to that 70% or better list too.

Mmmmmmmmmm.......

 

[McBrewskie]

Stella as in Stella Artois? Or some other Stella I don't know about?

Stella Artois is hardly "craft".

Edit: it's made by AB Inbev

Artois. Was Responding to a post on Stella.

 

[m3n00b]

You don't think Firestone Walker or Alesmith put out more than 70% good beers? I don't think either of these breweries make a bad beer. There's alot of great breweries that almost exclusively put out really good beer...Alpine, Kern River, Russian River, Bear Republic, Avery, Hill Farmstead (the 2 of their beers that I've had, anyway), Lagunitas. There's also alot of breweries with one or two good beers and the rest of their lineup sucks, but I can't agree that there aren't any breweries that hit on more than 70% of their beers.

I haven't had a beer from stone, ballast point or lagunitas I didn't like. Also pretty much all of the belgian breweries put out nothing but epic beers.

 

[McBrewskie]

Oh I agree with you generally, I'm sure there's plenty of beers like that. But the idea that Stella is some sort of craft beer is laughable - it's one of the biggest selling beers in the UK so it's not really much different from suggesting any BMC product is a craft beer. Which I'm sure would go down badly in these parts

It's also nicknamed "wifebeater" which is deeply un-classy.

I agree its not craft.

 

[McBrewskie]

I haven't had a beer from stone, ballast point or lagunitas I didn't like. Also pretty much all of the belgian breweries put out nothing but epic beers.

Stone Old Guardian. Drank a third of a bomber and then poured the rest out.

 

[rlodermeier]

Shift Pale Lager is by far the worst I have ever had. That will be the first beer I ever give anyone that I do not want to start drinking beer. I had to throw it away, I could not even give it to someone else since I would feel responsible for the look on their face when that prior of a liquid reached their tounges.

 

[tugbucket]

Recently, and it's been mentioned already so, Rampant. I just don't get the flavors they describe it to have and, maybe I'm just not a fan of IPAs that I can smell the alcohol in.

They also compare it to an '85 Camaro (http://www.newbelgium.com/community/Blog/13-03-21/Rampant-IPA.aspx) and I've always been a '76 man

 

[NormPeterson]

Unfortunately I haven't been able to get my hands on Firestone or Alesmith being in Georgia. I would gladly give them the benefit of the doubt until I do try them.

 

[dannypo]

You don't think Firestone Walker or Alesmith put out more than 70% good beers? I don't think either of these breweries make a bad beer. There's alot of great breweries that almost exclusively put out really good beer...Alpine, Kern River, Russian River, Bear Republic, Avery, Hill Farmstead (the 2 of their beers that I've had, anyway), Lagunitas. There's also alot of breweries with one or two good beers and the rest of their lineup sucks, but I can't agree that there aren't any breweries that hit on more than 70% of their beers.

I have yet to have a good beer from Alesmith. Everything they make is way too sweet. Now I have only had a couple beers from Firestone Walker but both were fantastic.

 

[BoBoBenton]

Don't know if it counts as "craft" but I'm currently choking back an Asahi (Japanese) that smells of, bad, over cooked cabbage. Tastes fine, but that smell... Can't get over it!

 

[bobmcstuff]

Man, asahi is awful, craft or not. Hate that stuff.

 

[BoBoBenton]

Got served this the other day, Andwell Gold Muddler, and it was funky, was quickly replaced when I pointed out the split, but that was the worsted pint I've ever had!
When I got a 'clean' pint it was very good though!

 

[NormPeterson]

Quilmes was the worst beer I've ever drank, had I not needed a Q to round out my alphabet of beers I would never have gotten it. Would give to someone if I was trying to troll them(like someone who says bud light lime is amazing).

 

[BoBoBenton]

Man, asahi is awful, craft or not. Hate that stuff.

I know right(?) going to Japan in a couple of weeks on holiday so though I'd try and get into it but at this rate I'm on cola for the whole time! (Still got the food to look forward to though!)

 

[bleme]

I know right(?) going to Japan in a couple of weeks on holiday so though I'd try and get into it but at this rate I'm on cola for the whole time! (Still got the food to look forward to though!)

We were at a Japanese place a couple months ago and when I left to wash my hands, my wife decided to surprise me with a Kirin Ichiban. I appreciate the thought but the beer was awful. They didn't even have the courtesy to serve it in a frosted mug....

 

[McBrewskie]

I know right(?) going to Japan in a couple of weeks on holiday so though I'd try and get into it but at this rate I'm on cola for the whole time! (Still got the food to look forward to though!)

Going to cola the whole time is a mistake. Check out this article. I can vouch that Hitachino is great, I'd also like to try a lot of these other beers.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-11-26/lifestyle/35511191_1_craft-beer-craft-brewers-american-india-pale-ale

 

[LouHale80]

The worst beer I have had in recent history was the founder saison, I think they confused slightly fermented lawn clippings with hop pellets. It was the first beer in a while I almost did finish.

 

[bottlebomber]

The worst beer I have had in recent history was the founder saison, I think they confused slightly fermented lawn clippings with hop pellets. It was the first beer in a while I almost did finish.

So all the rest of your beers you don't finish? What do you do, swish and spit?