Why no Love for Stone?

That's the thing that I don't get. Why are people so fickle? I can understand the novelty and hype associated with new breweries. But why does it mean that we then need to abandon and put down the older and more established breweries? Can't we enjoy the best of both worlds?

 

I haven't been a fan since they shit canned the OG pale ale. The updates were an attempt to become more contemporary, however they taste like everyone else now. At least their old line up, while antiquated, stood out. I can't even revisit those beers for nostalgia.

 

That's exactly how I feel about Ruination 2. The original was distinctive, a real desert island beer. The new version is just another face in the crowd.

 

The stone enjoy by cans are fantastic. Anyone who has one and knows good beer will agree.

 

The only one I buy with any regularity is the Arrogant Bastard cans, when I find them fresh. Xocoveza is the only new product they've made that has been worth re-buying, I'd love to see that in cans. The smoked Saison they did years ago with Stillwater+Evil Twin was really great as was Burning Rosids. IRS I used to buy but needs to be in 12oz bottles at lower price point to compete with Expedition/FIS, it's way too expensive, plus they didn't even make it this year anyways.

Other than that:
The BA'd beers are laughably priced, and often not good, and they don't appear to sell well at all. Enjoy By price is a big turnoff, it's a good beer usually. Pretty much all their IPAs taste the same to me, and are more expensive than other comparable stuff. They are a huge brewery with tons of capacity, yet their prices, frankly, suck. In theory I like Stone, but they are headed in the wrong direction if you ask me.

::edit:: Tbh they started to lose me when they got rid of Levitation. How did it last so long, then get discontinued, RIGHT before it would have been perfect to ride the session wave. Maybe the "session" trend stole Levitation's sales? I hate to say negative stuff and then hope Stone Greg comes in to comment. It sounds like I'm just not the fish they are hoping to catch these days.

 

I have bad news brother, you're not going to be seeing either of those in 2017. Both IRS and OG got nixed.

 

I used to enjoy some Stone beers especially their RIS, but have vowed not to spend another dime on their products after they brought a keg of infected beer to this years Northern Lights Rare Beer Fest and tried to pass it off as a beer that was "soured in bourbon barrels".

 

That is a pretty good characterization of today's craft beer scene.

One of the craft beer styles that is very sensitive to bottle/can age is IPA. Now that Stone's portfolio of beers are predominantly hoppy beers, how will they be able to sell all of these brands such that they are in fresh condition?

Cheers!

 

Seems in Maryland, Stone likes to only distribute heavily along the I-95 corridor when you look at their beer distribuion maps. Frederick County despite being heavily populated doesn't get too much of the variety of Stone products but only a few main ones.

Haven't seen lately/yet in local stores:
Enjoy By Cans
Enire Arrogant Bastard Line isn't distributed
Pale Ale 2.0 (old ones still around but nothing fresh in quite a while)
Ripper Pale Ale (says some stores have it but maybe they came in last week as I haven't been out in over a week)
Ghost Hammer
Tangerine Express

 

It's called Arrogant Bastard.. I think thats the point. it's sarcastic and upfront about it. I think the quirkiness adds to the character personally. I think it's a great beer, not my favorite by far, but still good and everytime I read the label I still laugh a little inside.

 

I don't post a lot of negative stuff about Stone, but my experience with Stone beers starts off rocky at best. I tried their Red X IPA, among others and just recall loathing them. Granted, they were some of my first IPAs, but they embodied everything folks always complain about IPAs (too bitter). We got off on a bad foot there. Since then, I've had some good beers from Stone, but they are far and few between for me (good meaning, beers I'll sip for enjoyment). And now they cancelled Old Guardian and Russian Imperial Stout, which severed my interest in what they are doing.

I have religiously picked up Enjoy By since I started finding it around here the last several drops, but after the chocolate one this past February, I may just stray away and buy a local IPA that I know will be good. It's cheaper, and it's a more reasonable ABV for summer enjoyment. Although Enjoy By is tastier. At this point though, I don't buy a 6 pack to sip for nuances. I save that for new beers, or a handful of revisits every year.

 

I think that Stone has become big beer for quite some time now. You don't need to be an AB-InBev/MillerCoors to be big beer imo, and big beer is just a little boring in contrast with the fast-paced and intriguing landscape of beer in America right now.

Big beer imo includes breweries like Stone, Lagunitas, Dogfish, Oskar Blues, New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, Boston Beer, Bells, Founders, etc.

When small, local breweries are popping up every day doing really interesting things and making outstanding, often world-class beer, it is hard for these big breweries to stay relevant in this community.

 

I buy the new ones fresh and drink them fresh. The year-rounds usually sit on the shelf for several months at least before they are on to a fresher batch. The problem is the consumer usually doesn't know when the new fresher batch is out.

 

I think Stone gets a lot of love here, I know for sure they get a ton of pics from people and what they are drinking. Stone is always going to be a key player I feel, they may take some different paths on things at times but they are a core outfit I feel, and I love their beer.

 

I have nothing but warm feelings for Stone as a brewery going all the way back to the 90s when I lived out west, but these days I generally only buy national/regional brands that can translate their economies of scale into low prices.

If a brewery can offer a 12 pack for around $15 or a 6 pack under $10 (Sierra Nevada and Lagunitas most notably) then I'm on board. Otherwise, I tend to stay local. It may not be entirely logical, but paying premium prices for a product that is made in a huge plant and is available all over the country just doesn't feel as justifiable as splurging for something that's more of a specialty item that you can't get everywhere and is made with some sort of connection to the community I live in.

If I lived somewhere with a much less vibrant local/regional scene than we have here in Boston/New England I would likely view things differently I'm sure.

 

Ya, pretty much me too. Actually, with their arrival in the RVA, I've been trying to get by there more. Loved them from the start and won't waiver on it no matter how big and uncraft unchic uncool they become. Just wish they'd bring SSR and Levitation back.

 

We are spoiled, that's why.

Stone, Sam Adams, and other old guards paved the way for the explosion in options we have now. They may not be the most sexy option on anymore, but they consistently put out quality beers that you can get damn near anywhere. They also emphasize the fuck outta freshness and that's something pretty rare among mainstream breweries. I love them, their beer, and what they stand for as a cornerstone of craft beer.

 

I love Stone, but I'm pissed at them for discontinuing their Russian Imperial Stout and Old Guardian. However, Arrogant Bastard, Ripper, and Enjoy By are great beers, IMO.

 

100%. No, 1000%.

Definitely don't love Ruination 2.0 more than Ruination. Definitely don't love Ripper / Pale 2.0 over original Pale/Levitation. Even Stone IPA V1.1, while similar, isn't better than, and I'd argue isn't as good as, the original.

Those OG beers were distinctive, even groundbreaking. Stone used to stand out. Now, not so much.