New to Ohio (2015)

Saw Dinner in Kent, Connecticut last year. I'll be there in a few weeks. Allagash, Maine, bunch of others in a great little bottle shop. Also a new one, Kent Falls Brewing specializing in farmhouse and doing sours using Connecticut malts and hops but all their fruits.

 

Yeah, it gets great reviews and no one buys it. My rep said we will have 2 cases Thursday.

 

Made my evening!! Thank you sir!

 

Saw Lunch, Dinner and King Titus in Kent Wine & Spirits last fall. (Connecticut) I'll be there in a few weeks and will grab a few more!

 

So today I picked up three various Octoberfest options... Sierra Nevada, Brew Kettle and Great Lakes.

Had them all today, one after another with my dad to compare.

The Sierra Nevada took the top spot for sure, followed by Brew Kettle (was very good as well, I liked the malt presence in it) and in very last place, Great Lakes.

What is going on with Great Lakes recently? I mean, last year's Christmas Ale was atrocious, I hear Lake Erie Monster is a bust and the Octoberfest was quite bad... For the Octoberfest, the aroma was a little sulfuric and perhaps a tiny bit of sour in there was well (perhaps aldahydes? I didn't taste any tartness or green apple, but the aroma only). The taste was fine up front, but then a quick weird stale type flavor hit the palate before fading out OK I suppose. Oxidized perhaps? My girlfriend also said it smelled funky and didn't like the taste at all (she was fine with the SN and BK ones).

Another disappointing brew from GL... I keep trying them, but they continue to just fall flat.

 

IIRC, Dinner has never been distributed. It's brewery-only - people line up for hours for a case and Maine sells all of it. If this store had it, it's likely grey market. Let us know if this store has it next time you're there, if so you are very, very lucky!

 

That is interesting! As far as I know, Connecticut does not allow grey market or non-distributed products legally to be sold in stores where some states just don't care, I have heard. I can't imagine this store jeopardizing that but I'll take your word that it has never been distributed. I'll be there in three weeks and will be grabbing a stash of northeastern beers.

 

I thought the GL Oktoberfest tasted really odd when I opened the first one, but figured it was me and the stuff I have been drinking lately. However, after having finished the 6 pack over the last week, I still think something is wrong. I actually found it hard to drink a couple of them. This has always been a great representation of a Marzen and one of my favorites, but it is almost a drain pour compared to the Sierra Nevada.

 

GL Oktoberfest has always been my favorite seasonal of theirs. Grabbed a single the other day to round out my sixer. Now I'm afraid to open it.

 

Glad it was not just me!

 

I, too, had a bad experience with GL Oktoberfest. I thought it was just my changing palate, because I love this beer. But the first one I had out of my sixer was not up to snuff. Hope they get this fixed, as GL is one of my all-time favorites.

 

I wouldn't think much of it if the other lagers just weren't hitting the spot, but that isn't the case. Let us know what you think. I am no expert by any means, but GL Oktoberfest is easily one of the top 3 beers that I have had the most of the last 5 years

 

I had the same opinion on the GL octoberfest - not the same caramel maltiness that made it one of my fav of the style - some subtle funky skunky/tinny-Ness to it as well

 

I only drink Ayinger and Weasel Boy's. Nothing against anyone else, but those are my two favorites, and ones I drink far more of than I should.

@WesMantooth Winerak got a new shipment of White and Black Rajah, the Stone Thunderstruck, as well as more Grapefruit and Habanero Sculpin.

 

More out of state IPAs!!! I can't wait!!!!!! At least I'll be able to appropriately pair my lunch with a beer.

 

Kinda bummed to hear about GLBC Oktoberfest. That's always been one of my favorite lagers. Has anyone tried it on tap?

 

Drinking another GL Oktoberfest and there's definitely something weird. It's not bad per se, but it's got a slight buttery/green pepper note. Just does not taste at all like last year. Officially bummed.

 

Felt same way about Lake Erie monster this year. Buttery flavor.

 

Great Lakes got me into craft beer when I turned 21. It's too bad they've fallen off so badly.

 

Anyone else going Roller Blabing today?