Most Improved Breweries & Those Losing Their Shine

Voodoo is amazing and Good Vibes is every bit as good as the top tier IPA's and probably better than most out there. Cannot wait until that beer is in cans

 

No doubt, No-Li has been doing great things as of late. Their Born and Raised IPA is fantastic; easily one of my favorite IPA's. They also seem to be mixing it up with a lot more limited release stuff and different styles. I like going to the brewpub and doing flights! The only thing I don't like about No-Li are those dreaded 4-packs and bombers... way spendy for me. Any way, I like where they're going, and I love seeing a local brewer succeed.

Sadly, I'd have to also say New Belgium is losing their shine (at least to me). When I first got into craft, just about everything they produced was a go-to. Now, they are all but forsaken. I'm not saying they don't make some good beer, but I feel like their core lineup is mighty weak (ahem, Ranger) compared to say... SN, Deschutes, or Lagunitas. I don't go for any spendy, hit or miss LoF bombers, either. I hate to say it, but NB is practically becoming the new Sam Adams to me: decent beer, but eclipsed by stronger, similarly priced offerings all around.

 

Improved: Otter Creek, Saranac, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, and Left Hand Brewing

Declining: Bells, Troegs, and Weyerbacher

 

Improved: Sixpoint. I'm very impressed with 90% of their beers, and I love that they can everything. I can still drink it out of a glass if I like, or I can easily throw a bunch in a cooler for the day. I'm turning into a big fanboy.

Declining: New Belgium. I honestly don't even like them anymore... would not spend money on a 6-pack.

 

^ Once the conversation turned to DFH this is what I was going to say- I'm with everyone that they clearly need to start cranking out some quality new beers. But Piercing Pils was a pretty quality beer- except they decided they needed to release it in the dead of winter? When no one wants a pilsner? Cause you're "off-centered"? They're just hurting themselves with decisions like that.

 

I think Hop Valley really stepped up the past 365 days or so. Can't wait to see them expand their footprint. Probably the most exciting brewery in Oregon right now, imo.

Someone that needs to step it up is Sierra Nevada. They've crossed the event horizon with IPAs and it's simply boring to see their seasonal lineup on the shelves. Oh, another IPA? pass.

 

Improved: August Schell. Improved not really being an accurate descriptor as their quality has always been top notch for over 150 years. But the shift from pale lagers to pay the bills to a craft beer portfolio is simply amazing. They brew extinct or endangered styles that simply kill it without the need to brew beers with weird ingredients or 100 IBUs. A Burton Ale, fresh hop, single hop pilsners (who does that!), Berliner Weissbiers, etc. and a well done German lineup. Please never brew an IPA.

Fallen off: Central Waters. From a mediocre year round lineup of shelf turds to a barrel-aging program that has turned into a damn disaster. The really good seasonals have gone from 4-packs to expensive bombers. If Illumination goes to a bomber format the brewery will be dead to me.

 

The same thing is true about Stone's Grapefurit Slam IPA

 

Unfortunately that would be a case of 'we have met the enemy, and he is us'. SN is only responding to market pressure and feedback with those decisions. Since these are seasonals, and they need to be out of the warehouse by the time the next one rolls around, they have to make beers that sell. Which are IPA variations these days.

If we all don't want Summerfest to be replaced we all know what to do . Plus, it's in cans, now- so that's a bit of a bonus.

 

Agreed 110%.

It's time we start branching out more as a craft community. Sure IPAs are great but so are brown ales, lagers, and hefes. Let's not stagnate with IPAs this century as we did with the AAL last century.

 

Summerfest flys out of store near me. Ruthless Seems to sit well into the summer. Sierra Nevada brews excellent lagers just not a Lot of them.

 

Bruery had a bunch of stuff last year that was infected and they issued credits for the bottles. It was 3 or 4 different batches. They're taking steps to avoid the issue again, but people will think twice of spending !20-30 for a 750ml if there are infection rumors.

 

That's good to hear (about Summerfest, that is)- it's long been one of my favorites as well. 12-packs don't seem to last long, either.

I heard rumors about the return of Pale Bock, so hopefully that becomes a reality.

 

Thanks for the tip on culmination,Limbo is my favorite go to IPA.

 

Fiddlehead Brewery in Shelburne,VT has really been great an getting better all the time. 2nd Fiddle IIPA in cans due out in a matter of weeks.

 

Otter Creek hit a Grand Slam with Double Dose.

 

FWIW- don't anybody get too excited about the Pale Bock. I just found what sierranevadabill said last fall:

Good news if you are in Chico, I guess

 

I'm not sure if anyone mention Heavy Seas yet. The last 3 imperial beers I had from them were outstanding. and I do love their ESB . For loosing their shine I am going to go with Weyerbacher. However my main problem with them is not anything new. IMO they make too many imperial strength beers. The session beers they do make are just OK. Verboten was the one exception but the last time I had it (3 weeks ago) it seem way off & too sweet. There was a lot of research & tweaking of recipes before finally rolling out Last Chance IPA which ,(again IMO) one of the weakest ones out there. and I am sure they have their reasons but retiring Slam Dunkel was a let down.

 

I think Smuttynose deserves an honorable mention for me too. They've really stepped up their game this year with Bouncy House, Durty (technically not new but much more approachable as a 6 pack vs a bomber at the same price), strawbarb shortweiss, and the smuttlabs series. I've always enjoyed their beers but they've really been trying some new things this past year or so and it's paid off.

 

Yes, bad according to me. I was the one who said it.

I like adventerous beers as much as I like traditional beers - but sometimes you try a beer and you think to yourself, well gosh, that was a good bit of awful. I'm not boycotting Long Trail, just being vocal about Ramble as one of the worst beers I have had in a good while. Lemon Pepper Kolsch.