What the hell happened to Sea Hag???

Discussion in 'New England' started by Robtobfest, Oct 31, 2014.

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  1. Drufus

    Drufus Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2007 Connecticut

    I had some on draft at Bricks and Barley in Shelton last week. It was flat. Then I got a different beer and that was flat too. I blame the bar. Something must have been going on with their draft system.
     
  2. Stum-pub

    Stum-pub Initiate (0) Sep 2, 2013 Connecticut

    Soooo good.
     
    Guzzle_McBrew likes this.
  3. Patbrown2

    Patbrown2 Zealot (603) Nov 27, 2013 Connecticut

    Just picked up Hag yesterday (dated 10/21) and noticed the lack of citrus as well.
     
  4. HeavyDandtheGirls

    HeavyDandtheGirls Pundit (773) Mar 7, 2014 Massachusetts

    CT BA's: I will be in Enfield this week, any packey suggestions for my best spot to score some NEBCO? Specifically Sea Hag. Last time I stumbled across some but a somewhat sure bet would make things easier.
     
  5. bfitzge2

    bfitzge2 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2010 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I'd hit up the Liquor Cabinet in Granby; Joe's in East Windsor used to have a lot, but lately all they've been had on hand is 668. Wish I had better news, but it's been hard to track down this far North.
     
  6. freshcarl

    freshcarl Initiate (0) Sep 7, 2013 Connecticut

    Picked up a 6-pack dated 10/30, and thought it tasted very different. I am fully aware of batch variations, but this batch wasn't even close. There was none of the big citrus that you love so much from Sea Hag, and it appeared to be filtered. I was concerned that they might have changed the recipe again, but plenty of people on this thread confirmed otherwise. It's like they completely skipped a step in the brewing process, missed a late hop addition or dry hopping.
     
  7. darkandhoppy

    darkandhoppy Pundit (955) Dec 26, 2008 Connecticut

    I bought 2 6 packs that had little white "11/20 14" stickers on them. They were AWESOME. not kidding. not filtered, JUICY
     
  8. pbrian

    pbrian Pooh-Bah (2,056) Feb 8, 2001 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Ditto- Mine were 11/12 though. Yeah, they differ every now and again, but I'll take my chance with NEBCO anytime.
     
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  9. toconn

    toconn Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2014 Connecticut

    I agree, something is up. I've been going to the brewery about once a week for something like 2 years-ish. In my opinion, Gbot & Hag both really started to drop off not long after the old head brewer moved away and left NEBco. I'm not really sure if that was the cause, just suggesting that the two events seemed to happen on a somewhat similar timeframe. It's weird because I still really like a lot of their less frequent beers that they've continued to brew since. FBD, locust reign, galaxy pale ale, Fat 10'er #2, 7, 11 have all been great beers in the last 3-4 months... but Hag and GBot have been pouring clear, and the normal floral / fruity bouquet I'm used to has become dull and muted now. All speculation on my part, but I can't help but wonder if they're trying to stretch the hop bill to make their flagship beers more profitable.
     
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  10. Berman1125

    Berman1125 Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2014 Connecticut

    My sea hags have been tasty as hell. Gandhi a slightstep down from past years
     
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  11. AJ_Barbieri

    AJ_Barbieri Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2014 Connecticut

    I don't get it... Hag is drinking better than ever. Maybe it's a taste thing.
     
  12. threephase

    threephase Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2013 Connecticut

    Um.... Matt hasn't left. James was the assistant brewer and tended to be the curator of the more malty beers.

    That might be your problem there...
     
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  13. Guzzle_McBrew

    Guzzle_McBrew Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2014 Connecticut

    +1
    I find this sentiment peculiar;
    Matt Westfall, current head brewer for NEBCO, made Gandhi Bot and has been a big hand in designing and creating the other major IPA's from Nebco. Many of my favorite delicious hoppy offerings like the whole Fat-Ten-Er Series, SuperNaut and Locust Reign have been created in the last two years. I don't think any leavings have had a catastrophic effect on hoppy stuff. (I didn't know of an ex-head brewer leaving two years ago, but I wasn't as interested then...)

    Also, there have been some really thorough Gandhi Bot batches in the last year. It has gone up and down, and a little over a month ago I noticed a couple Sea Hag/Gandhi batches I wasn't too keen on, but saying they have gone downhill for two years seems potential for throwing the champagne out with the cork.

    TL/DR- Matt kills it and has continued to bring the hoppy noise. Gandhi and Hag have seen ups and downs but are not gone, lost, or in any steady decline. And yes, I am a fanb0i here, but I speak from genuine observation.
     
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  14. pbrian

    pbrian Pooh-Bah (2,056) Feb 8, 2001 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Even an IPA should be fine after 5 weeks.
     
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  15. threephase

    threephase Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2013 Connecticut

    Yes... But if it has been sitting warm on a shelf and you expect the big fresh hop flavors and aromas of it being a few days old you are bound to be disappointed.
     
  16. pjs234

    pjs234 Maven (1,453) Jun 29, 2008 Connecticut

    True, it can affect taste, but I don't think it explains why some batches are coming out perfectly clear and others murky
     
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  17. Coche

    Coche Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2014 Connecticut

    I have always found variance in bot and hag depending on the batch. A gentleman at a higher end liquor store told me that nebco had changed their recipes. He stated that sea hag was now a double ipa and gbot was a triple. I was not about argue with the guy because he was selling a 4 pack of gbot, wich they hoard and only give to certain folks who ask.
     
  18. threephase

    threephase Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2013 Connecticut

    Good point. I have a feeling yeast generation might have something to do with this. I know that someone experimenting with The Alchemists yeast strain found some attenuation issues with much higher generations of their yeast. Supposedly, this prompted The Alchemist to limit the number of generations. Wonder if something similar is happening here. Also, from what I have seen online as well homebrewers using this strain cultured from dregs of cans have much different experience in the yeast dropping based on the generation.
     
  19. Pahn

    Pahn Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2009 New York

    yeah, matt is responsible for the hop goodness. whoever is thinking NEBCO hoppy beers are going down hill because they lost the "hoppy brewer" has been misinformed.

    also agree on ups and downs, particularly with gandhi. sea hag past few years has been unbelievable, tap and can for me.
     
  20. Seakyden

    Seakyden Initiate (0) Apr 25, 2010 Massachusetts

    Matt rules. Straight up.
     
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