Don't buy Hdr from Total Wine

you didnt drink that did you?

 

From what I have heard this is partly NoDa's fault. Anyone outside of Charlotte that wants to buy NoDa cans has to buy a freakishly large quantity. It's something like 40 cases of HDR, 20 cases of Jam Session, and 20 cases of Cavu. NoDa doesn't distribute outside of Charlotte so the stores have to pick up the beer themselves. Not sure if TW received an exception to this rule but I would imagine the beer stuck around in some stores because of the huge quantity that had to be ordered. Lastly, I will buy older IPA if it is refrigerated like it is at Brawleys, but if it is sitting at room temp and is 3 months old I'm going to pass. I love HDR but can't justify a $13 4 pack if the hops are faded.

 

I know the TW here in Charlotte "usually" have the majority of Hop Drop in the cooler. They may keep some on the floor but the majority is in the cooler (at least at the Ballantyne TW). Not sure why some TW keep it in the cooler but others do not. Sometimes I even forget about Hop Drop there (I typically never buy it there) but stumble upon it when I browse the kegs.

 

I recently had an 8 week old can of HDR, and I agree, it was pretty underwhelming. There were hints of buttery diacetyl, and it just wasn't very good by any standards. I probably shouldn't have rated it. I'll go ahead and assume that the can I had was either mistreated, or HDR fades very quickly. There's just no way this beer is THAT overhyped by the masses.

 

Take any of your favorite IPAs and leave at room temp for 8 weeks. I guarantee you will be less impressed. Fresh HDR is very very damn good though.

 

Oh I agree 100%, and I'm sure it's a fantastic beer. I very much look forward to trying it fresh. My post was really in response to the posters saying 8 and 9 week old HDR's are still perfectly fine and delicious. 8 weeks makes a huge difference and I'm fairly certain the beer was a shell of it's former self. All it took was one sip and I knew it was old before looking at the bottom of the can.

 

I prefer HDR 3-4 weeks old. I find it way too young when it's super fresh. I get very dry, "chalky" texture on the back end that I don't like, but it fades away after 3-4 weeks. There are very few IPA's I really like super fresh. I find most of them get much better with 3-4 weeks on them.

 

I haven't forgotten your BA Big Sound, Dave! It will be on your doorstep..... eventually.

 

It's always fresh at the one I go to. Hell I even got it wet and cold right out of the truck. Not a fan though as it seems to have lost everything I liked about it about a month after it took gold.

 

Report that here. http://www.stonebrewing.com/freshbeer/
I've used this a couple of times. I even got an e-mail from the regional Stone rep thanking me once. They definitely pulled old product within a few days.

 

I bought a case of HDR that was less than a week old and I'm drinking the last of it now. From it's 8/5/14 canning date to now, it has fallen off a good bit. The haze has greatly increased and the hop flavor has diminished to almost only grapefruit rind. The caramel sweetness seems more prevalent as the bitterness fades. But honestly, it is still a damn good beer at 3 months of age. Fresh is better, but a bit of age doesn't kill it. I've had fresh IPAs that aren't as good as what's in my glass right now at 3 months age. Fresh, I rated it 4.59, now I would give it close to 4.

 

I had a couple bust on me. Not just Jam Session. The cans are thinner than most I guess? We Are just shitting all over this brewery lately! But, if you are going to get the hype you need to be worthy of it in all respects!

 

Ditto. Drinking that right now, excellent beer. I'd love to do a blind taste test with some people here....

 

Living in Baltimore, I only get HDR on a limited basis, only when my son comes home from college at South Carolina, or when we go visit. When he arrived home tonight with my fresh shipment(canned 12/2), I am now doing a taste test with my last can from our last visit parents weekend(9/23). While the older beer is more hazy and has lost some hoppiness with more malt flavors, it still is an excellent beer. Might not of noticed the difference if I did not have the fresher beer side by side. HDR is an excellent beer which I am glad to get, drink, and store five times a year. While it would be nice to get a fresh four pack or two every week if I lived in Charlotte, I am happy to get a case every other month or so and add to the beers in the regular stocking of my beer fridge.

 

My understanding with TW and NoDa is that while all other bottleshops in the state have to pick up their allotment of fresh NoDa beers, TW has it delivered all over the state by NoDa. "Self distribute" is a misnomer for the rest of the state, each store places an order and goes to NoDa to pick it up. It's being distributed by the local bottleshops, not NoDa, except for TW stores, they get NoDa to deliver it. Kind of a fucked up practice if you ask me.