Jack's Abby (2018)

I've been twice now, after countless growler fills at the original location, and I love the place. The food has been excellent both times, and the variety and quality on tap excellent. Service as well!

 

Had a couple pints of Calyptra last night for the first time. In my opinion it tops All Day IPA and Left of the Dial. Best "Session" IPA/L I've had.

 

Agreed. The absence of finger food is pretty glaring. Between that and the refusal to serve sandwiches outside of weekday lunch hours, there seems to be a strong effort to promote higher food bills and faster table turn. Probably a good business move, but it doesn't seem to fit the ethos of "casual beer hall."*

* I've only ever been to beer halls in Düsseldorf, where of course they use ale yeast.

 

I can't really get too upset about it when the mainstay of the menu is pizza, the perfect food at literally any hour of the day.

 

Hey, @JacksAbbyBrewing, I read Mass Rising has been discontinued. Please tell me this sad, sad news isn't true!

 

Mass Rising is no longer a year round beer, being replaces by Exccess IPL. It will come back time to time as a specialty.

 

I'd rather Mass Rising be a seasonal brew that moves rather than a year-round one that gathers dust, which is kind of what it's become.

 

Awwwww

That's crazy to me given how stupid good of a hoppy beer it is.

 

Mass Rising is nice, but if we get a steady supply of 4 pk 16 oz cans of Excess IPL I will be ecstatic.

 

True. It's not like Excess is a lesser beer in my eyes. Both that and MR are great...Mass Rising was just a sentimental beer for me so I have an attachment to it. BUT, it will still exist so no biggie.

 

Bummer about Mass Rising, but agreed I cannot find this fresh anywhere. Crazy though, MR is such a nice beer I'll just never figure out why it does not move. At this point it may be self-perpetuating in that most MR purchased is older product and does not win new fans...

 

I'll miss Mass Rising, but pint cans of Excess is quite the consolation prize!

 

Lots of strong competitors in the DIPA/DIPL category though, and while it is good, there's nothing really sexy about Mass Rising. It's not rare or a limited release, it's not sold in a particularly attractive format, it doesn't get crazy ratings anywhere, the packaging isn't eye-catching, etc. And of course, once it starts to sit on shelves, even the people who like it won't buy it.

Put it in some new packaging and make it an occasional release though, and it'll probably do just fine. It's like Celebration or Nugget Nectar; beers that would probably be totally neglected on the shelves if they were available year-round, but make them a once a year thing and everyone makes a point to buy them when they're released.

 

@JacksAbbyBrewing
Is Jabby Brau in the same boat as Mass Rising now that House Lager is year-round?

 

Jabby Brau is being replaced by a combination of Calyptra and House Lager.

 

Agree - I find the food decent, but overpriced for the portions served - including the pretzels.

By contrast the beer prices are good , but I'd love to have some finger food/apps options than a $15 kids menu-size pizza.

Like the space & love the beer. Obvious by the crowds that most love what JA has going there.

 

Damn....was looking forward to Jabby Brau cans!

 

It is sad as fuck that any of this is even in the running to deem a beer as good or not. Beer geeks screaming from the rafters that the beer is what matters, nothing else. Bullshit.

 

Oh whatever. Marketing matters and we're all susceptible to it in one way or another. No need to get cranky about it.