SOLE Artisan Ales

Discussion in 'New England' started by crow121, Aug 15, 2016.

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  1. crow121

    crow121 Initiate (0) Sep 23, 2010 Maryland

    any thoughts/recommendations? might hit up their next can release but don't know much of them, other than being a gypsy brewery. couldn't find much info when searching the Mid-Atlantic forums. thanks!
     
  2. SammyJaxxxx

    SammyJaxxxx Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 New Jersey

    Kushy clouds was released last week.
    Their cans seem to be in demand on the ISO/FT Thread.
    Other than that I can't tell you much.
     
  3. hillind

    hillind Pundit (971) Apr 24, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Good stuff. I loved their Simcoe Nerd.
     
  4. Mbo108

    Mbo108 Initiate (0) Dec 3, 2013 Pennsylvania

    So far Juicebox, Kushy Clouds, and Giant Juicebox were all really really delicious. Oh and Turbo Nerd. Yeah, its a legit spot.
     
  5. inkman15

    inkman15 Zealot (590) Oct 28, 2013 New Jersey
    Trader

    I've had Simcoe Nerd, Kushy Clouds, and Juicebox. They are all tasty but I found them to be very one dimensional. Silky bodied hop juice with very little malt or bitterness for balance. Don't get me wrong, I love Tree House, Trillium, Other Half, etc and I drink them almost exclusively. To me, was an attempt to imitate the style but falling a bit flat. Sure, you need a lot of late addition hops to get those citrus notes, but you also need some balance in your malt bill and bittering.

    Good stuff but not worth waiting in line for IMO. Also, I wouldn't trade any of the aforementioned breweries' beers for these.
     
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  6. pinyin

    pinyin Savant (1,065) Sep 19, 2013 New York

    When he (Joe) first launched the brand in bottles, it was easily accessible all of my local grocery stores and distributors.

    Once they started doing limited canning, and setting up releases at Sabitini's and Susquehanna they hype train rolled around and you then had to wait in line.

    FWIW, Joe is the head brewer at Funk Brewing in Emmaus. Not sure which system they are brewing the Sole stuff on, but to me the recent canned efforts taste like variants of some of the Funk offerings, which are good, but not at all worth the hype.
     
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  7. crow121

    crow121 Initiate (0) Sep 23, 2010 Maryland

    Guessing there's no place to try a bunch of their stuff? Appears they're releasing "Citra Nerd" (single hop IPA).

    Was thinking about checking out Funk also. Citra was pretty good. Worth checking out? Interesting that it's the same brewer
     
  8. Ranbot

    Ranbot Pooh-Bah (2,389) Nov 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Agreed. I can add Clink, and Turbo Nerd to your list. They are all pretty much the same sort of one dimensional "juicy" IPA, with only subtle differences mostly due to varying ABVs. I also had Sole Member's Only cream ale, which I found very disappointing, but at least it was different.

    So far I think Sole is one-trick pony, albeit it's a popular trick at the moment.
     
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  9. CanConPhilly

    CanConPhilly Initiate (0) May 17, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I love Turbo Nerd and Juicebox, but haven't had the others. Gotta jump on any cans that reach here...they sell fast.
     
  10. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,245) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I had no idea Sole transformed into a hyped brewery and switched over to cans.

    when they released their first bottled beers last year, I tried all 3 varieties - Clink (pale ale), Green Life (IPA), and Artistry & Alchemy (maple stout). I thought Green Life was below average with a weird taste, and the other two were okay but not great.
     
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  11. magilldm

    magilldm Initiate (0) May 2, 2015 Pennsylvania

    I thought Joe *was* the head brewer at Funk before going out on his own with Sole? I went to his first release with the online tickets and stopped going after the first Kushy Clouds when people started lining up. Not knocking the beer but it blows my mind people are trading these for tree house, trillium, tired hands, etc,
     
  12. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,245) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Didn't he leave Funk to start Sole?

    http://theelvee.com/?p=8142
     
  13. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,245) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    beat me to it. Yeah, that's what I thought too. Although I can't find any announcement of who became the "new" head brewer at Funk.

    Funny - seems like all you need to do is brew an IPA, have "limited releases" and sell the beer in 16 oz 4-packs and you've got a hit!

    When Sole was sold in 12 oz bottle 6 packs at Wegmans it was ho-hum.
     
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  14. jojo2112

    jojo2112 Initiate (0) Sep 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    I thought Simcoe Nerd was right up there with Trillium/Tree House/Tired hands.
     
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  15. hillind

    hillind Pundit (971) Apr 24, 2010 Pennsylvania

    I too thought Simcoe nerd was great. Some of the others (juice box, turbo nerd) were tasty, but one dimensional like others have noted and I wouldn't wait in line for them. Simcoe was the exception IMO and I would have no issue lining up again for that beer.
     
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  16. Schnerds

    Schnerds Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Completely agree with this. Not to take anything away from turbo nerd and jukebox. But they lack the completeness that makes simco nerd an exceptional beer.
     
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  17. HopBomb515

    HopBomb515 Initiate (0) Jun 15, 2013 New Jersey

    I really enjoyed Turbo Nerd and Simcoe Nerd. Juicebox and Kushy Klouds didn't get it done for me. I felt Kushy was downright bad.

    The two I thoroughly enjoyed still felt a little, unfinished. Poor head and retention, little soft on the feel in a way that didn't seem intentional. Seems like they are on their way but still figuring it out. One mans opinion.
     
  18. crow121

    crow121 Initiate (0) Sep 23, 2010 Maryland

    What time would you suggest getting there for Noon release? And are there line shares?
     
  19. PA-Michigander

    PA-Michigander Grand Pooh-Bah (3,248) Nov 10, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes on line shares.
     
  20. hillind

    hillind Pundit (971) Apr 24, 2010 Pennsylvania

    I heard there is 250 cases if that helps. Used to be able to get there an hour early and be fine. Now, I'm not so sure.
     
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