Retiring Long Trail IPA?

Already out of production as of last week.

 

Not a beer I ever bought on its own, but always enjoyed in LT mixed packs and the random tap find.

 

Sad state of "craft" beer - has to be aggressively American hopped to sell.

 

"Ten year run" ? I remember Long Trail IPA being available back in the mid-90s, when the brewery's name was still "Mountain Brewers".

 

What a shame. It was a very good product.

 

Used to buy it often when it first came out. It was great back then but the last time I had it, I wasn't impressed. I don't bemoan the rise of citrus IPAs because I find the traditional IPA style to be bland at times. Evolving tastes. It's kind of why I don't like pine-forward IPAs anymore.

Fun note: A 12 pack of Long Trail, mixed and regular cases, used to retail for $9.99 about 10 years ago. This was before Vermont passed the f&*#ing beer tax that currently makes 12 packs awfully expensive.

 

The change to unfiltered was probably about 10 years ago. I think at first there was a limited run of the unfiltered version, and it proved so popular it replaced the regular. Long Trail was doing an unfiltered series back then.

 

I certainly agree with that sentiment

 

I don't understand how it's "sad". I imagine that's what their audience wants and it's just as legit. The new IPA is 60 IBUs...hardly aggressive and fairly tame/standard for today's IPA drinkers. That's the same as DFH 60 minute.

 

Losing an English style IPA (one of few, if any, available off the shelf) to an American style IPA (one of dozens, if not more, available off the shelf).

 

They are going more upscale meaning 12$ six packs of beers like Limbo and Unearthed. More to come I guess. 16$ 4 packs of Space Juice perhaps. Ale and Double Bag are the only "year round" 8-9$ sixers they have left. They want to change their rep and be more upscale and shed their old image. Thats just a guess but thats what it seems like.

 

Hope they change the yeast w the new recipe. The Ringwood must go -- not possible to brew a decent NE style IPA w that god forsaken flavor. Sorry -- but count me in as a dude not sad to see that beer go to the big beer garden in the sky....

 

Apparently it didn't.

 

Their distribution only goes from Maine to Virginia. I have no idea if they plan to expand to the midwest and beyond.

 

Long Trail is trying to stay alive in a state that boasts Hill Farmstead & Heady. And they've upped their game in my opinion. Had some excellent brew at the brewery last fall. The IPA was just okay for my taste - now they are making IPAs I will buy.

 

I have to believe that Limbo pretty much killed off this beer. I thought it was ok in the same way Harpoon IPA is ok. But I won't miss it. Long Trail Ale is better really.