NE IPAs in Michigan?

This is what happens when your brewing best in style in a whole state, or maybe even a whole region. A recent comparison, is to look at the ground 16 assassin lost already.

Batch difference is real, even amongst tiny recipe/process differences.

 

I see your point as M-43 seems to have become the benchmark for our state for NEIPA's. The region.....Hoof Hearted and Mikerphone to name just two.

I guess my point is that I don't want to pay $15 for 64oz of beer just to say, "not quite as good as last time" or "not as good as beer X". I'd rather kick back and enjoy it for what it is without judgement - sorry to get a bit philosophical but it truly is my $0.02.

 

That's a good perspective.

On another note, if Old Nation can keep up the quality that people enjoyed from prior batches, they are well ahead of at least Mikerphone (and I'm a pretty big Mikerphone fan). By that I'm referring to the potential regular distribution of a beer of this quality. Mikerphone periodically makes certain beers and you pretty much need to go to the brewery to get it. I'm not familiar with HH - had a couple beers from them that I wouldn't put anywhere near this quality, but that's a small sample size.

 

I agree with you. Hazy, juice bombs are incredibly scrutinized - against releases from other breweries, against the benchmark which is Tree House and of course across batches of the same beer. It's not just this thread or even this forum, it's across the country. No other style, even BA stouts which are wildly popular as well, are dissected to this degree. It's certainly interesting.

Hear, hear! Well said.

 

Not to be dense or argumentative, but, if you want to enjoy beer without judgement why not just buy a Bud Heavy?

 

Yep, same flavors I was missing as well. Try the tip that @Jmorey suggested and shake the can somewhat 15 minutes before enjoying, great tip! Definitely improved the flavor, but allows the very heavy chunks to settle out.

 

Understand your argument, but I truly couldn't enjoy it - my taste preferences (standards?) don't allow anything "Bud" into the equation.

I know what I like (generally speaking) and spend my extra money and leisure time enjoying it.

I guess I just fear the personal joy of drinking beer turning into an comparative analysis that ruins/dilutes the experience.

 

We call it "the Morey shake" around here...




And by "we", I mean my friends harassing me.

 

Understood on the "Bud" stuff.

I'll be honest, I apply the same ridiculous scrutiny to just about every beer I drink, whether it be a common wheat ale, a barrel aged stout or, yes, a vaunted "NE IPA".

I wonder sometimes if this is hindering my enjoyment of beer and inhibits socializing well in beer-related settings...I just can't turn it off.

I appreciate the thoughtful reply (which I often get in this thread!).

 

I'm really against the practice of shaking a beer to enjoy it, but I'll admit I gave this a bit of one today. I have no baseline, though, since I haven't had prior batches. Maybe the one I have tomorrow will be a "no shake" version.

 

I must confess I just "shook up" my second M-43 of the night (not violently) based on your suggestion as well as for the experience. It may be better - not for sure??? Either way I'm diggin' it!!...

 

GuyFawkes - not sure if your in the Chicago area but if so I'd be happy to enjoy some local beer with you next time I'm in town.....

 

You don't want to judge the beer itself, but instead judge the people who are judging the beer...?

 

We do all kinds of other things to make beer taste the best it can: Fancy glassware, drink it as fresh as possible, age it a long time, pour it correctly ... why not shake it?

Off the top of my head I had chunky pours from Albino Slug, OTWOA, trillium, m43, possibly a transient. I am sure I am forgetting some. More than ever with these hazy, juicy IPAs that sediment is part of the flavor. So why not reintroduce it?

Even after doing this when I rinse out a can of 43 it still looks like I am pouring out watered down orange juice. Which makes me think of products that recommend you do the exact same thing to get the best experience. OJ being one of them, But lots of other things.

It doesn't seem to hurt them, just improve them. No issue here with a good shake.

 

Hmmmm....can't argue with your point. I guess I did

 

Went to Clarkston Union today to have M43 and Boxer on tap today. M43 was definitely better from tap than the latest batch of cans. But, I thought Boxer was even better. I could've drank a lot of that.

 

Had to bust your balls a little bit after a couple of delicious m-43's haha

 

As someone who has had them side by side, I have to say anyone who discounts Stormy as unequal to the others is what I find wrong with craft now. And also answers my question to where all the MI Midwest posters have gone...they left with integrity. Shit, if anyone's opinion is unwanted around here it's mine lols, I don't Bandwagon.

 

Interesting, so the fact that I have a differing opinion to yours means that I have no integrity & I am what is wrong with craft now?
You have no clue who I am & that statement is laughable you arrogant prick