Beer Bar and Beer Shop Finds (2020)

Discussion in 'New England' started by AlcahueteJ, Jan 1, 2020.

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  1. Newport_beerguy

    Newport_beerguy Pooh-Bah (1,836) Feb 24, 2011 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Not sure what Novare's prices will be, but there was an OH drop here back at the start of the pandemic late March/early April at a shop in Providence associated with a Finback festival in RI that never happened. (Fortunately the cans still got shipped). Looking at my check-ins, I see DDH Oh...Forever, DDH Space Daydream, Green City, Triple Mylar. Maybe a couple others were offered. The highest price for the triple was $24/4-pack, DDHs were $20, and Green City and the lager were $16/13 respectively I think.
     
  2. mrmattosgood

    mrmattosgood Maven (1,301) Nov 6, 2010 Canada (BC)
    Deactivated

    Does anyone have a brewery that you just don't "get?" For me it's Other Half. I really don't get the appeal. Now, this isn't to say that don't make beers that people like. Apparently they do, but I've never had anything from them that I've thought better than any other run-of-the-mill IPA or 15% almond/coconut/acorn/discarded basketball rim stout. I don't like their aesthetic. I don't like their cool Wall Street bro appeal. Maybe I'm a hater. I just don't get it.

    To each their own, I was just curious if there were any others like me who see a brewery people love, but just don't understand why.
     
  3. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I've had two out of the four so far, probably not something I'd buy again for $17/4 pack.

    It's good, I like it. But it's not better than the pale lagers I get from Notch. And this isn't because I'm a Notch fan boy. I think when we get fresh Pilsner Urquell that's better too. When we'd get fresh Czechvar or Praga those were also incredible.

    I LOVE what B. United has done in premise, but I don't think the process has done these beers any favors. By process I'm speaking to having them sent over in tanks and then canned here in the US. I haven't had a single offering from this program that has been outstanding.

    The prime example is Schlenkerla's Helles. Both the bottled/draft pours I've had of their Helles were superior compared to the canned offerings from B. United.

    Again, the beers haven't been bad at all, just nothing outstanding, and in the case of beers I can compare to bottled/draft, they were inferior.

    I think you could apply this to any New England IPA factory, not just Other Half.

    That being said, I've started viewing this differently lately. New England IPAs are THE beer style in the US right now, and they're absolutely THE beer style in New England obviously (I realize Other Half is in NY).

    But I could see an IPA fan traveling to say, Munich, and saying, "Ugh, all the Helles taste the same, I don't get it. What's the difference between Paulaner, Augustiner, Hofbrau...etc.".

    There are differences, but they're subtle. But for an IPA guy who doesn't really dig lagers, I could see that person having the opinion that they "don't get it".

    This isn't a dig at you either, I used to feel the same way, but I've started to come around to a different opinion on this.
     
  4. mrmattosgood

    mrmattosgood Maven (1,301) Nov 6, 2010 Canada (BC)
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    And I actually didn't mean it as a dig. I meant it in the way the friends growing up in the 1990's were in love with Pamela Anderson. Busty, fake blonde. Like, I get that that's what some people are into. Just not my thing. I just didn't "get" the obsession.

    I'm sure people don't get what people love so much about Allagash White or get what's to love about Rihanna (actually those people are just plain dumb).
     
  5. Arenberg

    Arenberg Initiate (191) Jul 27, 2015 Massachusetts

    To clarify, I haven't had anything imported by them, I live in Prague basically half the time. I get the beer at the source or at a proper lager hole in the city. Still I'd love to get cans stateside just to show my friends in CZ. There is a craft vs traditional meme thing going on currently, it's quite funny. Pilsner is fine, it's like water for meals, it is what it is. There is a tradition to end the night with a traditional/house lager too. Did you get any of the Hostomice or just Unetice?
     
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  6. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    So do you mean you just don’t “get” New England IPAs in general, or just Other Half?

    Ah, sorry, I wasn’t implying you had had the cans, was just throwing my opinion out there on them.

    I just saw Unetice, but it’s possible we have the Hostomice too. I’ll have to look more carefully next time to see if we got that as well.
     
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  7. mrmattosgood

    mrmattosgood Maven (1,301) Nov 6, 2010 Canada (BC)
    Deactivated

    There are plenty of NEIPAs I like. Plenty of regular ol' IPAs I like, too.
     
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  8. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Speaking of regular ol' IPAs, Idle Hands Anniversary beer is damn good. It's a West Coast style, but actually reminds me a lot of Heady Topper.

    Highly recommend picking some up for those who don't fear the bitterness.
     
  9. mrmattosgood

    mrmattosgood Maven (1,301) Nov 6, 2010 Canada (BC)
    Deactivated

    I understand the spirit of this thread is to celebrate good finds in the local packies, but I can't help but shout from the roof tops that I grabbed Black Hog Granola Brown and Notch Zwickel last weekend and both made me happy.
     
    meefmoff, dental, Glider and 4 others like this.
  10. Arenberg

    Arenberg Initiate (191) Jul 27, 2015 Massachusetts

    I will have to try the Notch stuff, it sounds fantastic. Cheers.
     
  11. dental

    dental Savant (1,178) Apr 2, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Grabbed some of the Amherst Brittany. Jesus fucking crow...this beer is crucial in these times of poorly made NEIPAs dominating the shelves. Galaxy hops, oats out the ass, $14? YES.

    I was told that only 15 cases made it out this way. For the price and limited availability, I took a chance on warm cans. Dated 10-7. Outstanding.
     
    Arenberg, Trumpetguy, dele and 3 others like this.
  12. M-Fox24

    M-Fox24 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,617) Mar 17, 2013 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    For those in VT, Freak Folk is sending out their limited release today. Though, might be a little late for Beverage Warehouse

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. MattOC

    MattOC Pooh-Bah (2,100) Jan 13, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Also, went on sale at CBC Waterbury.
     
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  14. Trumpetguy

    Trumpetguy Devotee (351) Jul 16, 2005 Massachusetts

    Found Equilibrium Brewery's MC2 in my local store. What a fantastic fun beer!
     
  15. dental

    dental Savant (1,178) Apr 2, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    i saw some equilibrium at the store earlier. escape velocity, i think. it was like $26 for a 4pk. what's the MC2 going for?
     
  16. Trumpetguy

    Trumpetguy Devotee (351) Jul 16, 2005 Massachusetts

    Just under $22, I believe.
     
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  17. Manfrombelmonty

    Manfrombelmonty Savant (1,101) Sep 12, 2010 Massachusetts

    KBS Espresso and Maple Mackinac Fudge in The City Seabrook.

    A wee bottle of each for a nice autumnal weekend
     
  18. HopsDubosc

    HopsDubosc Pundit (791) Apr 24, 2015 Vermont

    Foam.
     
  19. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,710) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    One of the bigger letdowns in recent memory for me. I was excited to find an IPA from them on tap in VT while up there last winter. Never had their beer before but knew the hype. I couldn't drink more than half it. It tasted like all that's wrong with NEIPA.
     
  20. IGaveYouPower

    IGaveYouPower Savant (1,046) Dec 2, 2010 New York
    Trader

    Foam is good, but Burlington Beer Co makes unquestionably better IPAs at a much lower cost.
     
    gpd5, jlordi12, AirBob and 1 other person like this.
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