Breweries that you used to like but avoid now?

Yeah, it is a bit of a mess. Here's a direct link to the post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBJJib1py8S/?igshid=vdunjdun4r5n


Not too much coverage on this as of now but maybe a third party writes something up this week with more information.

 

Thanks. That's pretty bad.

I wonder why it is not getting general media play?

 

No problem. But yeah, pretty horrific allegations.

Looks like the original post was shared two days ago but it was re-blogged this afternoon by Worst Beer Blog, which actually gets a decent number of eyes on it. Hopefully the additional exposure can lead to this all being sorted out with honest and fair process.

 

Founders, probably everyone here knows why. I picked up some Unraveled and CBS from our local distributor back when the lockdown started. But that was pretty much out of necessity more than lust. I do miss them, though. Wish they'd get their shit together.

 

Keweenaw brewing - I'd still buy their Scottish Ale if I could find it, but I can't and their other beers are kind of mediocre.

Short's brewing - I drank their beer for a little while and then realized I didn't like it

Hofbrau - I wouldn't say avoid here, as I'd try their Maibock in a heartbeat if I could find it but when it comes to German imports I seem to prefer the other brands

Sam Adams - I used to love Sam Adams and I still think they make good beer it's just I've found other brewers I think are better now so I no longer drink Sam Adams

Goose Island - Used to love their Honker's ale but they discontinued it.

 

Stone is really the only one I won't buy or drink anymore.

 

I would argue that buying fire-sold BCBS isn't really helping GI...the distributor and retailer have already felt the sting of the markdown, which will/should negatively impact future orders. Bargain hunt with a clean conscience!

 

So, so many, for various reasons.

Breweries whose quality simply hasn't kept up with evolving palates/the introduction of more options. Southern Tier, Duclaw, Flying Dog, etc.

Anything AB/MC owned

Breweries where I had a poor taproom experience. Aslin comes immediately to mind, went to the Herndon location years ago, told the bartender (they weren't slammed FYI) "Heard great things about you guys, excited to try them, can you tell me about your beers?" Just pointed at the chalkboard and walked off. Entire visit it felt like I was a bother since I didn't throw a sack of cash at them and yell "Give me the full limit for everything and I'll be on my way."

 

I find myself mostly just buying local stuff most of the time.
I used to buy a lot more beers from other parts of the country, but I find that most beers from outside my region are old. They're still drinkable, but would I rather have a pale ale that's 6 weeks old or 6 months old?
That's impacted my purchases from a lot of breweries that are still producing good beers, too.
It's one of the knocks of having so many choices. Stores aren't going through stuff like they used to and they're letting it sit longer.

 

I really don't "avoid" anything unless it means not tripping on a flat near the door. Too many good things to look for.

Perhaps one of the biggest things was crossing of Wicked Weed after the acquisition by AB.

 

Nowadays, it's iffy with so many breweries not producing as much as they used to. BUT, there are some hyper-local (Silver Spring, Maryland) breweries to me that I used to frequent and purchase from that I no longer do for the following reasons:
Astro-lab: heard from a few sources that the head brewer is a sexual harasser
Denizens: one of the owners is a mean drunk and cussed out one of my employees for no reason except that she was drunk and didn't know who she was supposed to be talking to to get what she wanted. I've shared the story with a lot of people, and everyone that sorta knows her (current and former employees, brewery, kitchen, and front of house, some customers) says that it is her wheelhouse.

 

I sort of feel like way about Victory. I get why they changed, but they went from masterful to mediocre in a hot minute

 

To clarify, it was the brewery owner that was drunk at that mini-festival (Brewers on the Block 2016/17?), not my employee at the time. Sorry for murky language.

 

Same reason I avoid Firestone Walker.

I avoid Rogue because I haven't seen them do any new beers that sounded interesting in forever. Same with Sam Adams.

I avoid all the ex-independents that have been bought up by AB-Inbev.

 

Well Duvel is hardly the same as AB InBev, but yes, if you want to specifically support Indies then more power to you.

 

Stone, Lost Abbey, and Ballas Point. Deschutes for a bit, until they started distro into NJ. I'd still buy Lost Abbey if I could find the non-sour stuff, but that's mostly what I'm seeing these days (Red Poppy I make exception for sometimes).

 

I think the Moderators should take out this thread. Times are bad enough without "Beer Advocates" bashing nearly every beer/brewery in existence. Sad!

 

Alaska comes to mind...though I don't avoid them so much as I just rarely see them anymore. It was one of my "starter" craft breweries, others being Sierra Nevada, Kona, Pyramid, and Widmer. Around 2010 when I was a poor student and just getting into craft beer but was EXTREMELY price conscious, I could easily find 6-packs at a chain grocer for $6.99-7.99 (or even $5.99 if on sale!) I rationed each 6-pack out to last me a month. I was so price conscious that I considered Lagunitas IPA 6-packs too expensive at $9.99 (Though if I wanted to splurge, their Cappuccino Stout for $3.99/bomber at Trader Joe's was a nice treat. Despite being more expensive per oz than a 6-pack, I rationalized by having coffee and a more reasonable price/ABV ratio.)

Some Alaska packs interesting styles such as Winter Ale w/ spruce tips, and Pumpkin Porter, and just the thought if getting beer from Alaska was kind of exotic. I recently came across a 6 pack of Alaska Smash Galaxy Double IPA, though it was 11.99. I picked it up for old time's sake.

 

Mikerphone. I use to be a big fan, even before the brewery and taproom were established. But some quality issues, some questionable decisions by the brewery and all-in, head first beer offerings in the 'gimmicky' styles basically demotivated me from frequenting their establishment or acquiring their beer.