What's your least favorite micro brewery?

[olllllo]

Shipyard uses Ringwood yeast, so if you detest diacetyl then you won't like Shipyard.

 

[ChshreCat]

Does BJ's count?

Not if you're President.

 

[Duckfoot]

Most of the bad beers I've had have been ones that I could only find that particular brewery offering, so I can't say that their other beers are not good.
Shipyard Brewing Pumpkinhead is crap
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence is crap (but I've heard great things about the rest of their stuff)

+100000000 on both of these...

Shipyard Pumpkin - Big Red gum
Ommegang Chocolate - There is chocolate in this?

As far as not living up to the hype:
Fat Tire... I thought this stuff cured cancer and caused world peace? Meh...
DFH World Wide Stout - Hot as HELL... At least the time I tried it...
Magic Hat (anything) - It is technically beer... Hence I will drink it before I would drink soda...
There are a whole lot of others I have tried w/ less than stellar results IMHO... Too druck at the moment to think of all of them...

 

[olllllo]

+100000000 on both of these...

Shipyard Pumpkin - Big Red gum
Ommegang Chocolate - There is chocolate in this?

As far as not living up to the hype:
Fat Tire... I thought this stuff cured cancer and caused world peace? Meh...
DFH World Wide Stout - Hot as HELL... At least the time I tried it...
Magic Hat (anything) - It is technically beer... Hence I will drink it before I would drink soda...
There are a whole lot of others I have tried w/ less than stellar results IMHO... Too druck at the moment to think of all of them...

So what you're saying is you want me to bring a case of Fat Tire this weekend.

 

[z987k]

Shiner sucks, magic hat is horrid. Except for roxy rolles.

There's a local brewpub near me that I've been to once and their beer was horrid. I'm willing to give one more try before they're on that list.

 

[Rick500]

I'm fortunate to have four microbreweries local to me ... three of them are really good, and one of them has a really nice porter but everything else I've had from them has the same funky unpleasant flavor, like they need to toss out their yeast and start over or something. (Well, that's probably enough to identify the one I'm talking about to the locals.)

 

[airmek]

Now, I was actually disappointed in the Bar Harbor Brewing Company in Acadia, Maine. I didn't care for their beers...but that's just me

+1


I was up there a few years ago and hated everything I tried of theirs.

 

[fredGSX]

I would have to add a vote for Red Hook also.

I had my pick locally it would be Troegs. I have tried so many different beers form them and there is none that I would buy a 12 or 24 pack of. Sam Adams Boston Lager is not a favorite of mine either for a well known and highly advertised beer. I try to put them down, but it almost requires a chaser.

Being from York, PA, I am surprise that the initial post was about Lancaster Brewing Company. They have some really bad beers, but there Hop Hog, Milk Stout, and Strawberry I think are good. If you come back out this way I have found my favorite brewery in Lancaster and that is Iron Hill. If you are into wheat beers, the summer time is heaven in there. They have a great Raspberry Wheat and about 6 or 8 other wonderful wheat beers. I tried there whole selection of about 20 beers and only 2 did I not like.

Magic Hat has good and bad beers. I just got a sampler from them and they were decent. I like there #9, but there Lucky Kat, I can not even get down. I drank 2 and gave the other 4 away to a friend. I also like there Wacho, Notion, and Circus Boy.

 

[carbon111]

Maybe Redhook is better here, because it's fresher? Love their beer. It's on my "cheap" beer list.

Totally agree. Maybe it just doesn't travel well.

I've been drinking their brews since '85 and talked with the brewers many a time...still a great brewery despite their stock-for-distribution agreement with A-B. They still have their own completely independent breweries and brewmasters.

A great place to visit if you're ever in Woodinville, WA!

 

[BrothersBrewing]

we have the redhook sister brewery in NH..its identical construction to the one in the NW... it about 40 min away from were i live...there are to main stream now or not so micro...i think alot of there product are riding the coat tales of AB, but i do find the IPA agreeable

 

[brewt00l]

Lancaster, Atwater, PBC, Flying Dog & Magic Hat are all pretty much off my radar

 

[Richard]

I would have to add a vote for Red Hook also.

I had my pick locally it would be Troegs. I have tried so many different beers form them and there is none that I would buy a 12 or 24 pack of. Sam Adams Boston Lager is not a favorite of mine either for a well known and highly advertised beer. I try to put them down, but it almost requires a chaser.

Being from York, PA, I am surprise that the initial post was about Lancaster Brewing Company. They have some really bad beers, but there Hop Hog, Milk Stout, and Strawberry I think are good. If you come back out this way I have found my favorite brewery in Lancaster and that is Iron Hill. If you are into wheat beers, the summer time is heaven in there. They have a great Raspberry Wheat and about 6 or 8 other wonderful wheat beers. I tried there whole selection of about 20 beers and only 2 did I not like.

My experience has been the opposite. I've liked everything I've had from Troegs - especially the Nugget Nectar. Only had it in bottles though...maybe it's different at the pub.

 

[Richard]

That's a difficult one. Sam Adams hardly qualifies as a Microbrewery, otherwise it would take the top (or bottom?) spot for me. I like their Oktoberfest and the Cranberry Wit from the Longshot pack, but their other beers have generally disappointed me.

I don't think I've ever had a Sam Adams beer I didn't like. Even the ones that are so-so seems to be of good quality. Each to his own I guess.

 

[elkdog]

Gotta defend Red Hook. For a good while, their ESB was my favorite everyday beer, and was a couple of ticks cheaper than other craft brews. I still think it's a great session beer.

I was also surprised to see Troegs listed, as I think their Hopback Amber alone keeps them off of this list.

I found the Bethlehem Brew Works in Bethlehem, PA, to be a disappointment. They seemed to have the same water issues I've had here, but the difference is that I've worked on and largely resolved mine. I also thought the Chelsea Brewing Company in NYC made some of the most unremarkable beers I've had.

To atone for my griping, let me give a shoutout to Highland Brewing in Asheville NC and Smuttynose- two of the best going, imo.

 

[Richard]

Have to say that the Lancaster Brewing Company actually in Lancaster, PA has some very nice brews on tap. I've sampled all 12 taps in an afternoon and didn't find a 'loser' among them. Most were fine and a couple....actually quite nice. I'm not sure you can say a place 'sucks' just from one visit.

True, I guess they don't "suck" - their food was good. None of the brews grabbed me though.

 

[Richard]

Heartland Brewpubs in New York. The beer can be OK (drinkable) but I have never loved any of it.

They can be hit and miss. Their Oatmeal Stout is usually good though.

 

[elkdog]

They can be hit and miss. Their Oatmeal Stout is usually good though.

Yep, that's my go-to. Though if I'm in midtown and want a beer, I'll walk over to the Ginger Man. The one at Union Square seemed pretty decent to me. Anyone that can provide a quiet spot and a cold beer when I'm hot and thirsty in the city is my friend.

 

[Richard]

Gotta defend Red Hook. For a good while, their ESB was my favorite everyday beer, and was a couple of ticks cheaper than other craft brews. I still think it's a great session beer.

I was also surprised to see Troegs listed, as I think their Hopback Amber alone keeps them off of this list.

I found the Bethlehem Brew Works in Bethlehem, PA, to be a disappointment. They seemed to have the same water issues I've had here, but the difference is that I've worked on and largely resolved mine. I also thought the Chelsea Brewing Company in NYC made some of the most unremarkable beers I've had.

To atone for my griping, let me give a shoutout to Highland Brewing in Asheville NC and Smuttynose- two of the best going, imo.

Agree with all that, except I can't speak for Bethlehem Brew Works - never tried 'em. I just recently got to try (on a trip to NC) Highland's Gaelic Ale and Oatmeal Porter - good quality stuff. I loved Smuttynose Portsmouth Lager, but they don't seem to make it any more.

 

[Richard]

Yep, that's my go-to. Though if I'm in midtown and want a beer, I'll walk over to the Ginger Man. The one at Union Square seemed pretty decent to me. Anyone that can provide a quiet spot and a cold beer when I'm hot and thirsty in the city is my friend.

Haven't been to the Ginger Man yet. I'll be going in a couple of weeks though. Their selection looks top-notch.

 

[McKBrew]

I can't see boycotting a beer just for their association with INBEV (it's not AB anymore). Unless there is a distinct drop in quality, then it's a non-issue. Think about it from the Red Hook angle. You have the opportunity to get your product marketed to a wide range increasing sales, tell me you wouldn't consider it. Maybe we really believe it's not about the money, it's about the beer line, but seriously, you don't open a business without planning on making some cash.

 

[Richard]

I'd also like to add that I haven't been very impressed with Long Trail's offerings either. Maybe I'm just too much of a hop head, but their beers just seem really bland to me.

 

[pjj2ba]

Yet another vote for Magic Hat. We enjoyed the tour of the brewery, hated the beers. Which then meant that we immediately had to go elsewhere for more beer the get the MH taste out of our mouths.

 

[humann_brewing]

we have the redhook sister brewery in NH..its identical construction to the one in the NW... it about 40 min away from were i live...there are to main stream now or not so micro...i think alot of there product are riding the coat tales of AB, but i do find the IPA agreeable

If the main stream factor is part of your equation to determine what makes a good microbrewery, I think you are going to have to add quite a bit more to the list that sell a lot more than Redhook.

Spaten is also riding the coat tales of Inbev but I would enjoy a Opitmater on occation.

 

[zman]

I'm gonna go with Magic Hat, still haven't had a beer from them that I liked. Or Twisted Pine, same thing.

You do not like Twisted Pine??? What is wrong with you man??...lol I like their Brown and their Rasbperry. Granted I am not in love with it but I am in like with it. When I worked for a small IT company on Valmont we would go there and get growlers every friday @ Beer Thirty

 

[Ryan_PA]

Wow, how in the heck did someone say Troegs. I do not think they can make bad beer. Everything they offer is amazing, and that is not me being a homer, that is legit.

I think the two breweries I would have to say would be North Coast and Stone, and not for the product they put out, but for the operations as a whole.

North Coast welshed on the contest prize they owed me, without ever returning an email. It is a shame too, because I really enjoyed most of the beers that make it here to the east coast.

Stone were a bunch of arrogant butt pirates at the brew pub to my wife, daughter and I when we were there. I can excuse the attitude of the not-as-hot-as-she-thinks-she-is hostess, but the rest of the staff was the same. All but pushed my 2 year old out of the way and into the pond thing. I never was struck with amazement with any of the beers, but figured I should at least see the brewery in SoCal since they had a ton of other offerings. We left and found a nice mexican bodega, where I had ***** Madelos and enchiladas all afternoon, then BevMo.

 

[the_bird]

Stone were a bunch of arrogant butt pirates at the brew pub to my wife, daughter and I when we were there. I can excuse the attitude of the not-as-hot-as-she-thinks-she-is hostess, but the rest of the staff was the same. All but pushed my 2 year old out of the way and into the pond thing. I never was struck with amazement with any of the beers, but figured I should at least see the brewery in SoCal since they had a ton of other offerings. We left and found a nice mexican bodega, where I had ***** Madelos and enchiladas all afternoon, then BevMo.

Well, you know that's kind of their M.O.....

 

[Ryan_PA]

Yeah, good for them. My motto is my dollar vote does not go to them.

 

[zman]

I have to vote for Steam Engine Lager from Steam Works Brewing in Durango, CO. Supposedly this brew is world class and voted best Lager. I am thinking the judges were super baked when they judged it or bribed. It had a weird, skunked foot taste to it. I am sticking with Bavarian inspired lagers from now on

 

[mklawz]

You are insane. I recently had a bottle of Steam Engine lager and it was w/o question one of the best beers Ive ever had. I emailed them asking for a clone. Someone passed along my request to the brewmaster but he never responded to me.

 

[carbon111]

If nothing else, this thread beautifully illustrates the old adage: "One man's pleasure is another man's poison".