Breweries that might need to step it up?

Kind of reading into it way too much when its a town of 10,000 and they distribute to all 50 states. Just saying.

 

New Belgium, especially with their Lips of Faith series.

 

Gordon Biersch, San Jose, CA. They sponsor the 49ers, but I've disco'd more of their skews than I can count because they continue to go out of date. Trying to keep up with all of the amazing new stuff in the beer world is tough, but they have't even made the effort to try anything new in 6+ years. Their best offering is their Maibock on tap, everything else is a waste of money. I know their owner is one of the only Americans to ever graduate from German beer school, but that doesn't mean he can just sit on his laurels. Sorry GB, I love you as a sponsor for the Niners, and can't support your product.

 

Okay let me preface this with the fact I live in the worst state for beer. Imo atleast (anyone know of any other state where ONLY brew pubs can fill growlers?) its been what? 6-8 months since drifter and I have yet to see alchemy hour anywhere. Only widmer I see (and its cuz its o draft where I work) is hefe. We went thru kegs of drifter a week and now maybe 1 keg every 2 for the hefe.

 

Troegs. Some killer beers, but a pretty damn dull regular lineup.
Sierra Nevada. Narwhal aside, they're following the money and not the adventure

On the flipside, Otter Creek is picking up steam, as is Victory

 

Stone's staples are fine but, IMHO, they haven't bottled anything new that I liked since Sublimely Self-Righteous... and I've tried them all. I take that back, Dayman was pretty good.

 

I live in a state where only breweries can fill growlers. Yes, the most-populated state in the USA.

 

Okay I was legit wondering If any other states had that dumb law

 

Sierra Nevada made a fine bunch of Anniversary beers, Life & Limb, the Ovila Abbey beers, any of the estate releases... heck, even Torpedo seems new-ish to me.

 

That's insane. When you make perfection, you keep making perfection. No need to mess with it.

 

The way the wife goes through beer, thank God for Sierra!! They are a staple 12 pack beer in our fridge.
I can't remember the last time I picked up something from Rogue or Goose Island (minus the obvious here).

 

In Texas only brewpubs and bars that do not sell liquor can fill growlers. No production breweries can fill growlers.

 

Keep your eyes peeled then because Rivertowne released their christmas beer last week called Rudolf Red Ale. Then also coming soon in cans and draft will be an imperial oatmeal coffee stout (not named yet as far as i know)

 

I agree with the OP on North Coast and I'm always happy to tag along in Rogue hate. Ommegang is great but their Game of Thrones beers really disappointed me

 

Rogue, their bombers collect dust at my local store, I tried a chocolate stout and it was awful, seemed old but no bottling date!

 

New Holland. Dragons Milk and Pilgrims Dole are good, but everything else is very average.

 

Sierra Nevada is a terrible example. They continue to brew their so-called "dull" regular lineup because people buy it. Expecting one of the oldest and largest (by sales) North American craft breweries to abandon successful beers that don't fit your idea of "adventure" (latest brewing fads?) is ridiculous. Besides, many of us think that they do a good job of maintaining continuity while mixing in new (Narwhal and other seasonals, Ovila series, Beer Camp, collabs like Brux, Life and Limb, etc.

As long as Old Stock and Old Rasputin are still plentiful, I don't much care what else North Coast does with their lineup.

 

I agree with everything you're saying. I have to say though, Old Stock/Rasputin with different kinds of barrel treatments would be incredible and would light this website up, for sure.

If they can just keep reg rasputin under $10 I'll still think they're awesome though.

 

cheaper than that in new jersey 8.99 on the shelves

 

How much money have you got?