Breweries that have lost their way/identity

Pretty new to this and don't know what went on with Highland in the past, but I am a huge fan of their brews. In fact, Oatmeal Porter is my second highest rated beer i've had in 40 years of drinking

 

It would be great if they brought back the bock as well

 

Drinking an Arrogant Bastard Ale from a tall can right now. 10 years ago I would have shit a brick to have this can in my hand. Nowadays its just all over the place...but still really good. After trying beer after beer after beer after ipa after double ipa after stout and blah blah blah. All in all there are so many damn great beers out there it is hard to be stunned or surprised anymore. At least that is what I think. Currently I am just enjoying what I have available and hoping that every once in a while I come across that special brew. The fun part is the search and the sampling! Cheers!

 

The first beer I've had from Anchor in years was their Christmas Ale this year. I thought it was pretty good. I may buy their 2019 version as well.

 

Happy to hear things are improving. I do still visit Windsor and was thrilled with the Catamount Porter variant from last fall.
Cheers

 

Technically, no longer a Stone brand beer.
https://www.arrogantconsortia.com/
http://beerstreetjournal.com/arrogant-bastard-brewings-bastards-are-back/

 

I would argue that beer drinkers have lost their way. Not Anchor. Steam is still incredible.

 

Always enjoyed the mixed 12s. Haven’t seen them forever. They still release them? I assume they discontinued some of the beers ala Sam Adams Black Lager.

 

Long Trail

 

I’d say Ballast Point assuming they even had a way. Overpriced, overly malty ipas that are super slow movers here. It’s even mediocre on tap, ugh. I’d drink AALs before I’d buy their beers.

 

I agree. It’s a tough crowd. For me though, chasing trends is one thing. I get that Sierra Nevada, Stone, Sam Adams... have to do that. It’s when they ditch previous beers or alter them that bothers me. Stone’s existing ipas are not what they were. And if Victory is “tweaking” their pils, which is arguably the most popular/loved American version, I think that’s what the point is. Swish comes to mind. Bissell Brothers had a killer, highly coveted beer that they (fucked up in my opinion) changed the recipe with and released an entirely different beer. Which they could have just done separately.

 

Alpine and Ballast Point.

 

You stated this really well - it really feels like Stone is chasing hops because that's what the cool kids are doing.

I wish they'd go back to being one of the cool kids.

 

Slow movers here too... I see them and check the dates only to confirm that they are, in fact, well out of date and so they continue to sit

 

If you polled long time craft aficionados from the So Cal market my bet would be that 100% would answer Alpine Beer Co. An absolute travesty.

Cheers,

 

Yessiree!!!!

A regional player staying relevant in the most competitive market in the old North State.

I buy some staples like Clawhammer in the fall, a Gaelic here and there, an AVL to support them. Good people making solid beer.

 

I agree Victory has had some misses lately, but I wouldn’t say they’re a lost cause. The new Hop Wallop was a nice change of pace from most IPAs now and I was a big fan of the Hip Czech pounders. I think Cloud Walker is decent to. Twisted Monkey on the other hand, not so much.

 

A standard for me when I in Asheville is Barleys Pizza and a Highland IPA. When it really fresh it's really an amazing beer. All out of proportion to whatever hype, this beer is really that good. Solid is really an understatement, but in cans here a month old or so it usually loses its sting.

 

In 11/18 the beer store with the widest selection had two 6 packs of their 2017 ale, no 2018 or any other Anchor beers. No beer store sells it, one grocery sells Steam and another sells Steam, Liberty, and porter. That's all the distributor carries, won't even do special orders.

 

I grew up with them and I used to be able to find Saranac and the mixed 12's in CT but I haven't seen them in a few years so I am not sure.
They had a really nice German Roots fall pack.