Kuhnhenn or Founders?

Never had anything by Kuhnhenns here in Ohio. They're either not in NE Ohio or I've been blinded by Founders & the other strong MI brewers dist. here.

 

Kuhnhenns really doesn't distribute so don't go looking/expecting to ever see it on any shelves. The only way you're really guaranteed to find anything by them is going directly to them.

 

^ this.

Why distribute when you can sell it all yourself and make a lot more money? It sucks for people that don't live close but it is great for those of us that do.

 

I don't know who put that up there by Kuhnhenns hasn't released any official info yet. On the Mich Beer Guide they just say "limited bottle release" in the ad. We probably won't know until a few days before the event.

 

Wow this is a tough one for me. I live pretty close to kuhnhenn and am a huge fan. Their tap room is awesome and one thing I love is they always seem to have something different on tap that wasn't there the last time I went. Also DRIPA, creme brulee, both 4d's, bbbw and a few others are absolutely world class amazing beers that far exceed their founders counterparts of the same style.

I really love founders as well. My wife and I take trips to grand rapids fairly frequently with going to founders being one of our main reasons for doing so. That being said the last two times we've went they've kinda disappointed me. Both times they've ran out of their class 3 beers and not replaced them with anything. I know damn well they have something in the back I'm sure they could throw on there. Oh well though...still and awesome place and the devil dancer sandwich is alone worth the trip.

Distribution...no contest obviously. Only complaints there is the I live 2 hours away from founders and have a really hard time getting any of their special releases. I had to trade for most of their backstage releases and backwoods bastard this year for a few examples...pretty bad I have to trade for a in state brewery if I want to try one of their releases. But most of the time I send kuhnhenn for the trade so I guess it all works out. Lol

So overall I have to say I prefer kuhnhenn for the reasons listed above.

 

I'm thinking about making this a very BA christmas by hitting up Jackie O's on the 15th and then trekking back west a few days later for Kuhnhenn's Winter Solstice. Need more BA4D & BBBW!

If the wife approves of this shenanigans, does anyone have a couch/floor I can sleep on? Will definitely share some Jackie O's as a thank you.

 

FYI: BBBW is noticeably absent from the list of beers being released @ Solstice this year. Of course this is Kuhnhenn we're talking about, so they could've left it off the list inadvertently or even purposely.

They may also have a pallet of it sitting in the back from last year and just don't know it.

 

Gah - well, it's unlikely I'll be able to make it to both Jackie O's and Kuhnhenns, but that won't stop me from trying.

 

No BBBW this year. Spoke with Bret at a recent takeover in NYC. It apparently went into barrels later than they had anticipated. Might very well be slated for the Summer Solstice release.

 

They still haven't released an official list yet though either, you never know.

 

I'd certainly like to be wrong, but he was pretty confident that we wouldn't be seeing a new vintage this year. Now vintage bottles........you never know.

 

Like we both said, it's Kuhnhenns so you never know...

 

If Kuhnhenn is world-class, I need to move to another galaxy. They make some good beer, but they are an operational disaster with customer service from hell in most times I've gone there. In Kuhnhenn's defense as stated previously, they aren't a brewery really....they're a small brewpub.

 

Are they even a brewpub, technically speaking? Now, I've never been there personally, but all I hear is that their menu is basically limited to frozen pizzas and hot pockets (the latter spoken in jest)...and that they often encourage you to bring in food from the outside.

Do they have a kitchen?

 

No kitchen, just frozen pizzas and crackers/cheese.

It has been discussed many, many, many times here the pros and cons of Kuhnhenns. I have come to grip that as bad as the service is and how disorganized everything can be, I still have fun there at the Solstice parties. If you go in with that mindset, it is a solid time. They do produce some world class beers, they're just usually best drank fresh.

 

I've been a few times and agree that its hard to believe they are ranked so highly on many top brewery lists.
The beer is great, but it stops there. Bottles are available to buy at the bar/brewpub but they (the staff answering the phone) don't know whats coming next, only what they have on hand which is limited and sparse.
I guess its all about the taps on hand.

I was hoping to go to the Solstice party but some fellas gotta work. If I knew what they would have available I'd think about taking a day. We'll see.

 

There's already a preliminary list on the event page....final list to be posted on the 18th.

http://beeradvocate.com/events/info/57588

 

Like it has been stated before me, I love both for different reasons under one common theme - great beer!

 

That list is not official at all, not sure where it is from. They don't have any sort of list yet (including the Mich Beer Guide ad where they usual post it).

 

FWIW I've only been there once so you obviously know better, but just judging from this one solitary trip I thought the service was pretty decent. Good people, nice atmosphere. From some of the reviews I had read before my trip, I was half-expecting kind of a dingy, unclean place but it was totally opposite. From what I could see it was a really nice, great looking brewpub. Love that horseshoe bar!