Forager to Start Distro Next Year

But, what about the "focus on presently hip styles"?

 

Definitely more diverse than on my last visit. There are several beers I would actually want to try. https://foragerbrewery.com/menu/#beer

 

Wait, are you suggesting that list somehow suggests that Forager doesn't concentrate on trendy styles? Of the hundreds of styles Forager could choose to brew, 9 of the 16 beers it has on tap right now fall into the three most stereotypically trendy categories. Have we descended to the point that if only 56% of a brewery's offerings pander to the absurdly limited tastes of the scenesters we give it credit for variety? Note that all of those "IPAs" surely are of the sugarmurk sort (and a measly 30-50 IBUs). Note also that the fruited kettle sours are extra-ridiculous conceptually and, in at least 2 of the 3 cases, full of added sugar beyond fructose (if we even count something that's "blurring the lines between beer and slushie" as a beer at all). I realize that stuff sells, but so does Bud Light Lime-A-Rita, and to people with very similar taste preferences.

Based on my experience with Forager, I bet that mixed culture saison is pretty darn good. I think that* is where Forager, much like Wild Mind (at least back in the Mat Waddell era), shines, and if it didn't face so much consumer pressure to concentrate on the sweet stuff, it probably could do a lot more interesting work in that space.** I've never been impressed by a Forager lager or non-saison Belgian ale among the several I've tried, but I appreciate the effort, and I'd gladly give those beers a chance if I stopped by the brewpub while they were on tap.

* Unfruited, unsugared, farmhouse ales made with wild yeast and/or bacteria
** Contrast to the plans of the upcoming Minneapolis brewpub ONE: "Louder, meanwhile, is poised to do some inventive shit for folks who are already into craft beer. 'We had the really awesome opportunity to go to the U of M and spend an hour and a half in their pre-modern food library, and they had these recipes from the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries on people brewing wine, beer, ciders... all these beverages with unique ingredients, and it totally piqued my interest in doing modern spins on these things.' Partnering with local breweries—not to mention Tattersall, which will have four cocktails plus their Fernet on tap—removes any pressure Louder once felt to keep up with beer trends. 'If my time was spent having to keep up with the hazy IPA production, or whatever else was popular, stout production, I wouldn’t have time to entertain any of that, y’know?'"

 

You know how hip belgian ales and barrel fermented scotch ales are with the kids drinking beer these days. My toddler won't shut up about the fruity tones he gets out of a nice belgian golden ale. Fucking baby palates, man.

 

If Forager doesn't have a double decoction Czech pilsner on tap they are fucking amateurs dude.

 

See the meme, dude!!!

 

Where is it? I'm not much of a meme guy.

 

Islay, IMO...LTS has upped their game recently. Initially, I thought they brewed good beer, but they were similar to many other brewpubs in that they mainly brewed boring styles that every other craft brewer does (Pils, Blonde Ale, Brown Ale, IPA, etc.). I don't get out much these days, but when I was there the last time, they had a very interesting and tasty Tequilla barreled strong belgian, a good imperial stout, and a couple of other outside the box creations. May be worth a visit if you're ever in the area. Give me a shout if you're ever down in Rochester.

Also, I love Forager for the food over the beer. I think they occasionally brew a 'hit' beer, but normally there's nothing on the menu that wows me. I should add that I don't normally bite on their limited beers, there is a lot of hype around them and I'm sure they're excellent, but price and time prohibitive.

 

Just returned from my Rochester trip. I stopped at Forager (my 4th time) and Little Thistle (1st time). The beer was fine, but not extraordinary.The barrel-aged Scotch Ale from Forager was by far the most disappointing beer I had today. I loved Forager's saison on my last visit, this edition today, not so much. It has been a couple of years since I have been to LTS, but I liked their beer back then.

Funny unrelated note. I stopped at a liquor store on my way out of town and the manager asked if he could help me. I said that I was just looking for beer that we do not have available in the Cities. He said there was only one local brewery that bottled and distributed, and he was not about to carry their beer. I told him I was aware of their beer, and I thanked him for not trying to sell that crap. I wonder why crowlers in liquor stores have not caught on in Rochester as we have crowler walls here in the Cities now.

 

Holy fucking shit. Do they pay you by the letter comrade?

 

If this isn’t beer advocacy then I don’t know what is.

 

Updated Forager tap list just because I saw it and felt like being a contrarian today:

3 IPAs
1 fruited sour
1 mixed culture saison
3 stouts
1 scotch ale
2 Belgian ales
3 "light" beers including 2 lagers
3 guest tap lagers

 

Bump of thread. Any more news on cans/kegs at retail In MN?