Highly acclaimed brews that underwhelmed you?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by tectactoe, Nov 9, 2012.

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  1. tectactoe

    tectactoe Pooh-Bah (2,386) Mar 20, 2012 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Maybe the hype gets to you early and gets your hopes up way too high. Maybe the beer's just not your style or taste. But I think we've all been underwhelmed by a beer that was supposed to be "amazing" by critics and BA's alike.... So what were some of your underwhelming moments?

    I think for me, one of the biggest was Stone's Imperial Russian Stout. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great beer. But many people were putting this in their top 3 RIS's (and even top 3 stouts in general) and so possibly my expectations were a bit too high. It was almost a touch too sweet for me, with the raisin-fig taste being a bit too overpowering. As I said, still a great brew, but there are many RIS's I take over this one.
     
    #1 tectactoe, Nov 9, 2012
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  2. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,967) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    Stone IRS
     
    #2 keithmurray, Nov 9, 2012
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  3. 5thOhio

    5thOhio Pooh-Bah (1,571) May 13, 2007 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    A lot of the vaunted West Coast IPAs like Green Flash, Stone etc don't impress me because I prefer a citrusy IPA with a little balance, like Two Hearted and White Rajah. But I can understand why a lot of people like the aforementioned beers.
     
    #3 5thOhio, Nov 9, 2012
  4. danieelol

    danieelol Initiate (0) Jun 15, 2010 Australia

    Yer I'll go Stone IRS too- had two bottles, one was mediocre the other was hideous.
     
    #4 danieelol, Nov 9, 2012
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  5. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,123) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Pretty much every Stone beer
     
    #5 mychalg9, Nov 9, 2012
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  6. detroiter

    detroiter Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2009 Michigan

    BCBVS.... So wish I would've traded that one instead.
     
    #6 detroiter, Nov 9, 2012
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  7. Apuzarne

    Apuzarne Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2011 Connecticut

    Dark Lord. Good, but not great.
     
    #7 Apuzarne, Nov 9, 2012
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  8. pushkinwow

    pushkinwow Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 Canada (ON)

    Rare. It was good but not as mind blowing as I had been hoping.
     
    #8 pushkinwow, Nov 9, 2012
    PORTerCITY, shutyourface, pschul4 and 3 others like this.
  9. LMT

    LMT Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2009 Virginia

    Ten Fidy.

    It was pricey and gets excellent reviews here, but I was underwhelmed. For about the same price (actually, a bit less per oz.), I much preferred Bell's Expedition Stout. I enjoyed that bitter chocolate/licorice taste in the expo stout.

    I prefer Old Rasputin, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, and Victory Storm King over Ten Fidy...and all of these cost significantly less.

    I think with all of these that I liked, I could actually identify some "taste" (or combo. of tastes)...chocolate, coffee, etc. I really couldn't figure out what Ten Fidy was trying to go for...except $15 a 4-pack.
     
    #9 LMT, Nov 9, 2012
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  10. Brew33

    Brew33 Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2007 Ohio

    Blabaer

    Don't get me wrong, it's very good but there are at least 5 other Cantillon beers I'd rather drink.
     
    #10 Brew33, Nov 9, 2012
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  11. YaKnowBrady

    YaKnowBrady Pundit (809) Jul 23, 2010 New Jersey

    Hunahpu. It was pretty good, but not any different from Marshall Zukhov, which is much easier to find. I had a 2012 fresh, got no flavor from the chilies, and wasn't nearly as mind-blowing as expected.
     
    #11 YaKnowBrady, Nov 9, 2012
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  12. Boilerfood

    Boilerfood Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2012 Indiana

    Founder's Hop Harvest & Backwoods Bastard. I don't get the hype behind either.
     
    #12 Boilerfood, Nov 9, 2012
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  13. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    Most recently, I'll have to go with Bells Expedition Stout. I honestly never thought I would drainpour a beer from Bells, but there I was. I am told with some years on it that it transforms into a different animal, can't wait to see.
     
    #13 Hanzo, Nov 9, 2012
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  14. gpawned

    gpawned Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2012 Illinois

    Too bad, try Abraxas from Perennial. It was fantastic.
     
    #14 gpawned, Nov 9, 2012
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  15. BigCheese

    BigCheese Initiate (0) Jul 4, 2009 Massachusetts

    Yea I thought ten fidy was below average RIS, its still good but almost all other american examples I've had are better.

    Ipswich oatmeal stout 6pck for 8$ or Ten Fidy 4pack for 15$ hmmmmm.
     
    #15 BigCheese, Nov 9, 2012
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  16. YaKnowBrady

    YaKnowBrady Pundit (809) Jul 23, 2010 New Jersey

    :grimacing:

    Your opinion is bad, and you should feel bad.

    I kid, but really, that beer is amazing.
     
    #16 YaKnowBrady, Nov 9, 2012
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  17. thebigredone

    thebigredone Pooh-Bah (1,654) Dec 19, 2011 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    KBS, Pliny, BCBS. All solid brews, but I just can't understand the crazy cult following of these beers.
     
    #17 thebigredone, Nov 9, 2012
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  18. HomeBrewed

    HomeBrewed Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2006 Minnesota

    Supplication...rubbing alcohol passed off as beer
     
    #18 HomeBrewed, Nov 9, 2012
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  19. Kadonny

    Kadonny Pooh-Bah (2,616) Sep 5, 2007 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wow, I can't believe I'm reading this. Someone that actually agrees with me. I've been saying this for years now, Ten Fidy is overrated and overpriced. I also agree that all of the stouts you listed are heads and shoulders better than TF and I'd drink any/all of them any day before TF.
     
    #19 Kadonny, Nov 9, 2012
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  20. JimDH

    JimDH Crusader (428) Feb 7, 2011 Kentucky

    I share your preference for citrus flavor but White Rajah underwhelmed me, considering its BA score, because I didn't find it balanced at all. To be fair, Brew Kettle promotes it as a West Coast-style IPA and includes on the label description "malt, take a back seat please." So they aren't promising balance.

    Not criticizing your post--just sharing a much different take on the beer.
     
    #20 JimDH, Nov 9, 2012
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