One Trick Pony

If anything they're a one trick pony for their stouts, those are their highest rated beers

 

Right, still for many folks RR means IPA, or just Pliny.

 

But what a trick!

 

Putting aside the "One Trick Pony" thread title, this post is spot on. If your tastes align with funky, sour, and very carbonated beers that may have random ingredients you would never expect, then JK is your place. But a versatile brewery with a wide range of styles and flavors, no.

 

I have tried to type my thoughts out several times without being successful. I'll just say it then, I don't think anyone here has a real understanding of what a "one trick pony" means. Is it inconsistent breweries, ones that only specialize in a few styles, ones that make one good beer and a bunch of others that suck? I really don't know...

 

Stevens Point for me.

I really love their Whole Hog Pumpkin. I tried a few other offering and thought they were sub-par.

 

Okie is 'okie' with me.... Coffee Okie though - that is a fantastic beer.

 

Lagunitas?
They try some other things and a couple with success (High Westified), but overall they pretty much taste like the same IPA to me.

 

You forgot maybe their best style, wild ales. Beatification, consecration, supplication and sanctification.

I think STS and shadow of doubt are better than meh or ok.

 

I'd agree. IPAs put OH on the map, and although they push put these pastry stouts consistently, the only thing consistent about them seems to be a cloying sweetness. However, their hoppy offerings all tend to be in the 4+ range.
I don't know whether naming their line of pilsners, 'Crickets', is a subtle tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment of where their true revenue stream comes from.

Anyhow, another brewery in the same vein as OH that pretty much relies on haze is Foam Brewing from Burlington.

 

Yeah totally agree. To me the phrase “one trick pony” has negative connotations. The one trick itself should still be something tired/fairly mediocre/etc. So saying that [insert brewery that is highly respected for excelling in a particular subset of styles] is a one trick pony doesn’t quite make sense.

And on that basis I’m actually struggling to think of a good candidate. Maybe Erdinger? Focused on wheat beers. I actually have fond memories of drinking the stuff back in the day - it’s been a long time since I had anything from them. But looking at how they appear to be received on here compared to other breweries making the same styles - maybe they fit the bill?

 

I agree with the negative connotation of the idiom. However, most of these 'one trick ponies' mentioned are talented in their 'one trick' that the 'pony' has really become a 'cash cow'.

 

Correct . . . it is an inherently derisive term, and wouldn't be applied to a respected brewery.

 

I’m going to disagree with you here. In my opinion, Westbrook is the polar opposite of a one trick pony. I find them to be very versatile and excellent across a wide range of styles .

Their stouts, goses and Berliners I find to be world class . Most of their ipas are top notch as well.

 

I was only thinking of their Gose as a one trick pony as a single component. I agree with you as a brewery their lineup is excellent.

 

Well that makes more sense ! Cheers!

 

Still think One Claw is one of the best PAs brewed by anyone, the one I buy the most too. It’s case worthy and for me that’s high praise.

 

Lots of contenders in the thread, but @nc41 gets first prize for redefining one tricky pony. Sounds like Westbrook has a stable of ponies

 

Solera stouts are out of this world good.