Thoughts on Mystic?

I used to live 15 minutes away and loved it. I was there nearly every Friday. Quite honestly, I'd take a steady supply of Renaud over Julius. Entropy (at least the first iteration) is mind-blowing. Old Powderhouse is fantastic. I haven't been since before the beer hall opened, but when it was just a tap room with tastings and grower fills, the staff was top-notch and super friendly. Just an all-around quality operation, and their yeast-centric approach stands out.

 

Love their seasonal saisons. Mary of the Gael being my favorite, followed closely by Hazy Jane

 

I like Mystic a lot. Who else is putting out good quads and quality saisons at a fairly low price? Their ongoing collaboration with CBC is probably the beer related thing I am most excited about.

They made a hoppy saison called 366 that was excellent. I had it on tap at Vee Vee once and it blew me away and I actually preferred it to a couple Trillium beers that were also on tap there that day(and I'm a big Trillium fan).

 

Mystic is hands down one of my favorites.

 

Do we want to start the hype train? They got Hill Farmstead's old brewhouse, so magic brewing transitive property and all that.

 

it moved

 

I really love what Mystic does in theory (ie bottle conditioned saisons), but there's something about their yeast I find off putting. Almost something of a wine-like character. In some of their more hoppy beers it doesn't come through as much and I've really enjoyed those (366, Hazy Jane), and I'm definitely excited about the sour/wild stuff that's coming.

 

I really enjoy more of what they do - though like others, I almost forget about them sometimes with all the other world-class breweries out there.
Actually, on seeing this thread last night, I dug out a bottle of Descendant I had in the cellar - this batch had been aged in Cabernet Sauv barrels. I've probably had it 3 years or so now, and it was amazing. Just enough oak and wine character, the slight roast of the beer is still there, but aged beautifully.
I don't think I've had a bad beer from them - the only one I haven't liked is the Auerbach's Rauchbier, and that's cause I don't like rauchbiers in general (though this was very well done for the style.)

 

Mystic is one of the most underrated breweries in the US. I love their gear.