Tired Hands (June 2016)

HH sucks right now anyways, you're not missing anything. If OG HH ever returns, that's a different story.

 

Ya'll see that Sean Hill is at Tired Hands working on a collaboration?

 

Or maybe it's the other way around.

 

Yup, Hop Hands Edward mash up i think today

 

Definitely Jean at hill farmstead, he was foraging in the great north kingdom yesterday! Also, i don't really get the whole hop hands sucks now.

 

I shouldn't say sucks, but to me the past few times I've had it, Hophands is far from what it used to be. It definitely has taken on a more diacetyl type taste.

That's not being a tired hands hater, its being a realist. That used to be my go to beer, as I'd probably get cans or a growler of it every other week. That being said, I have not had any for at least a month so maybe they've corrected the inconsistency by now.

Anyone who feels the same as me that's had it recently, have they corrected it? I know I'm not the only one who thinks this.

 

I posted previously: "I am drinking a HopHands that was canned on 05/25/16 and it has perceptible diacetyl (buttery flavor); disappointing."

As regards "maybe they've corrected the inconsistency" I have no fricken idea.

Cheers!

 

I had some from the canning run on 5/6. I didn't get diacetyl from it, but it wasn't nearly as good as it had always been previously.

It has been so consistently great up until now that I'd give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

Can you please provide some more details here? Was it not as hoppy? Was the hop profile different? Was the mouthfeel different?

Cheers!

 

It had a harsh, bitter flavor up front and much less of the juicy hoppiness that exemplifies the NE IPA style.

 

Hmm, that would indeed be a differing drinking experience.

I wonder what's up at the brewery?

Cheers!

 

Perhaps they tried to rush a few batches because of limited production capacity? Much like Hill Farmstead and the huge drop in quality for Abner and Everett, I'm very surprised they'd sell beer that was that off point, but I guess if people will buy it . . . .

 

Yup, entirely possible.

I would prefer to believe that Jean would never do this but...

Cheers!

 

Legitimate question, not snark:

If they are selling the beer the same day it is canned then how effective can quality control be? The beers typically seem to change noticeably over the first few days in the can and then stabilize in terms of flavor and appearance.

I feel mostly positive about Tired Hands canning but I guess I have dodged the diacetyl or maybe I'm someone that doesn't taste it. Blackberry and Peach Milkshakes turning into snow globes seemed like a flub to me but that's mostly an appearance thing so I'm not saying it's a big deal but I don't think they intended for the beers to end up that way when other milkshakes have maintained their normal level of haze/cloudiness/turbidity.

 

Have you ever perceived diacetyl (a butter/butterscotch flavor) in any beer? Pilsner Urquell for example? Or a beer from Shipyard Brewing?

Cheers!

 

I've never gotten diacetyl from any of their beers. I think some people may perceive diacetyl when it is really lipids from the large amounts of oats they use in the beer or with packing beer there will be some oxygen pickup which could cause diacetyl for a bit. Typically beer takes a few days to adjust every time it is moved from one container to the next. If it's a few weeks after it is canned then maybe mention it to them, I'm sure they would like to know if this is an ongoing issue. It's tough to tell since there is going to be variance, it isn't a pasteurized product. If it's brought to their attention by more than a few people I'm sure they would take a deeper look into it.

 

Even if you do let them know and it is a problem chances are they will never address it publicly. They seem notorious for letting their issues just go unaddressed (looking at you exploding growlers).

 

I'm not sure it's something that needs to be addressed publicly. Like I said it may not even be diacetyl people are getting. Large amounts of oats can give you the same slickness/butter that diacetyl can. Diacetyl is in pretty much every beer in trace amounts. Transferring beer from one container to the next can cause it to kick up. This happens with pretty much any unfiltered beer, there isn't a lot that can be done about it other than maybe telling people to hang onto their cans for a few days before drinking. If you issue a public statement about off flavors people may or may not pick up on that would just be asking for trouble. People may say they taste it on the power of suggestion alone and then you have a bunch of people bringing beer back that is perfectly fine. But if a lot of people are saying it and this is a week and a half two weeks after canning then telling them will obviously raise some red flags and they may take a look into it to see what they can do to fix it. I highly doubt it is their intention to serve beer that is flawed. They were refunding people with gift cards with the growler thing if I'm not mistaken and taking care of them very well and seem to have fixed the problem.

 

The HopHands I discussed had diacetyl; it was not lipids from oats. I brew with oats so i know the difference.

Cheers!

 

I brew with oats too. So do a lot of people. People often mistake beers with large amounts of oats or spelt have diacetyl. I wasn't saying you specifically but it does happen. People also taste off flavors that sometimes just aren't there every ones palate is different.