Sam Adams Rebel Raw Double IPA

IMO, they hit a couple of solid doubles at least with Alpine Spring and Noble Pils, and those beers just disappeared. Rebel is a garbage IPA, but I actually kind of like Rebel Rouser. And it's weird to view Rebel Raw as competing with Heady (as goes the marketing apparently) since the Rebel line has been referred to as west coast the entire time. The hottest IPA style in the market is the VT/New England style, and Sam, the most New England brewery there is, is trying to market a west coast style IPA. They hire fresh MBAs to help with branding, but still have no clue what they're doing most of the time. I'm sure I'm not the only one on here that gets their marketing surveys. They're almost laughably out of touch. Sam could/should be great but the people in charge now just don't get the current beer scene.

 

IMO they're line is way to expansive, they try and hit all styles to be all things to all people. They really need to dumb it down to 5-6 and be done with it. They have the facilities, the network, the Capitol to hire the best head brewer money can buy. Then they can turn our a few really great beers instead of 20 average at best stuff.

 

An interesting update/twist to this new offering:

http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2015/10/03/double-ipa-sam-rebel-raw-beer/

"This 'very hoppy, really big IPA' has a 35-day shelf life and will be pulled from the market after its time is up."

Even ballsier than Enjoy By.

 

That's actually the exact same thing Stone said/did with the first few runs of Enjoy By.

 

Ah, so I wonder if BBC will actually make good on their word. You would think they don't have any say in the matter since the shop has already bought the beer and is therefore their property to do with what they desire.

 

How is that ballsier? Between that and the Stone-ish bottle copy, I'd say it's more just "second-to-the-party" stuff.

 

Not a fan of Rebel or Rebel Rouser at all. If Jimmy Boy thinks he's going to compete with the Hill Farmsteads, Trilliums, Alchemists and Treehouses if the word, he's delusional.

 

Well I know I did see a Stone rep at a store actually take Enjoy By that was past the date off the shelf and tell the beer guy that he couldn't sell and the store would get credit for the bottles. I have to assume that BBC would be doing the same thing.

 

A 10% beer will require a ton of malt. To make that beer super hoppy and in the New England style it would require a ton of late hops and dry hopping which is expensive. Sam sells their beer at an affordable price and I can't see how they could make that type of expensive beer to brew fit their price point. I'm guessing a big fail.

 

Say what you will about Sam but any time a brewer actually does something to combat the scourge that is dusty IPA, I have to commend them for that.

 

Not everyone has easy access to such beers.

 

I'd like to see them brew Hallertau Imperial Pilsner again. Never got to try that one, but it scores very high on BA and is supposed to be intensely hoppy. Plus Noble Pils, too. Proof that BBC can make really good hoppy beers. Just in the Pilsner category. I've had Rebel IPA on tap (good) and bottled (fair). Never tried the Rider or Rouser. I think the best IPA I've had from BBC is Latitude 48 Deconstructed - Simcoe.

 

seems like you've already made up your mind on this one eh? When did they say they're looking to compete with HF, Trillium etc? Are they going to make it a brewery only release complete with a lengthy line or are they going to send a few cases out to a few stores and let everyone fight over those? I'm guessing not... I am interested in seeing how they work the 35 plan myself.

 

I'd rather wait in a line and drink a world class beer than go to the store and pay for swill. Keep telling yourself Sam make great IPAs. Ignorance is bliss.

 

If this is the only I can I try an "east coast" style IPA I will at least give it a try.

 

The elitism is strong with this thread.

 

I'll give it a shot. A tick, if nothing more.

 

I didn't realize that Stone will technically do the same thing if they catch wind of enjoy by or probably any of their beer still sitting on shelves past the best by date. If anything, publicly announcing that in an Internet article makes it that much ballsier.

 

I'll give it a try no doubt, but are they seriously implying that this is a groundbreaking move?

 

Do you want a gold star sticker for telling everyone how cool you are for waiting in line for beer? Your comment about Sam's IPA is completely irrelevant as no one is claiming they make world class IPAs, just that this could be an opportunity for those who don't have easy access to fresh VT beer to try something similar. If Rebel Raw sucks, oh well, but if it doesn't, we the customer win.