Tired Hands (2021)

Where it would disappoint me is an instance where the good stuff suffered because, say, the better staff was spread too thin or “reassigned” to run the seltzer business, etc. As long as I can get the same quality “top” beers as before, my opinion is they can make all the swill they want. (BTW, I hate seltzers, have given them a chance several times.)

 

I'm a little confused by your take here @Greyvtrayn, I guess I just don't know who you're referring to when you talk about "breweries that NEED to make seltzers to stay in business." Just like Marvel actors don't "NEED" to work on a Marvel movie to keep acting or keep making income (they just want a bigger payday than they would get elsewhere, generally speaking), I think these breweries delving into the seltzer game largely don't "NEED" to make seltzer to stay afloat or keep experimenting... it simply provides them with more comfortable margins to do so, and to keep their employees more comfortable.

It just strikes me as a weird purity test, a la "breweries should focus only on what I value."

There's certainly cases in which products a brewery sells will dilute their brand in my eyes (see: Answer glassware), but seltzer is pretty in line with the general ethos at places like Tired Hands and Tree House already...

 

You guys would absolutely hate how Imprint is handling their seltzers. I swear, every other week, they introduce a new seltzer brand name while the description of the product is the same as the other seltzers they've done.

But in all seriousness, I can understand a craft brewery who serves on prem drinks to have a couple of seltzer options for customers who aren't super into craft beer but want an alternative to drink. What I don't get is how a craft place like Hands, Other Half, Imprint, etc can really compete price wise when they're pricing a 4 pack of seltzer for a few dollars cheaper than a 12 pack of White Claw/Truly.

 

I absolutely hate how Imprint has handled most of their business decisions for the past like 2 years, to be honest. They seem like nice enough people and I have nothing against those that frequent it -- but sheesh, I've had zero desire to go back since they've gone down this uhh "general path" we'll call it.

Also: apparently there's a "hard seltzer bar" slated to go into Fishtown. Neighbors are up in arms about it, and apparently there's zoning at issue... but I thought it was hilarious. I'm not bothering to look into it too closely, as I assume it'll be out of business in 6 months anyway.

 

I'll agree there. I frequented Imprint up to and including their 2nd anni release last August, but I sort of stopped going for numerous reasons, most of which have to do with how they release 4 new puree' blends every week. I legit have no idea how someone can drink those schmoojees regularly and not be going to the bathroom 4-8x a day after. I had been excited for them to reopen their expanded taproom, but ever since they opened, everything is being served from cans, still. It makes no sense to me.

 

Breweries making seltzers to follow the money are no different than breweries making a million IPAs to follow the money. Some breweries wish they didnt need to brew IPAs, but need to in order to survive.

 

No one specific brewery but the justification given was if it allows breweries to experiment with their beers...the way i see it if you have to lean on a gimmick which is what i see hard seltzers as, to expand your brewery/business I find it disingenuous and disappointing. If there is a brewery out there that fits this description I suspect they are not likely good at brewing beer and should maybe focus more on their core business than trying to chase the seltzer market to mask a failing business. Nothing more. Nothing less. No purity test. I value breweries that can provide a good to excellent product(s) at reasonable prices.

 

Craft brewing has been filled with fads over the last 20-30 years, breweries have always followed fads. What people are drinking now is vastly different than what people drank 10 years ago. Popular high IBU IPAs have been retired due to low sales, Black IPAs are no longer a thing, Belgian beers and Barleywine have fallen out of style, it is hard to find a RIS without extra flavors added, it was hard to find sours 10 years ago. The list goes on.

Seltzer is the new fad, what people are drinking and the breweries that have survived have always followed the money.

 

I'm not so sure of that.

 

I'm also not sure why the American Diabetes Association hasn't picketed Imprint. I have a sweet tooth, but those schmoojee things make me gag.

 

Just like how craft beer is for alcoholics who want to disguise their disease as a hobby..

 

Anyone try the Amaro Spritzer yet? I picked up a 4 pack, but haven’t opened one yet. I just started enjoying Amaro a few years ago.

 

I realize I am an outlier of their traditional clientele but I haven't been to Imprint for pureed juice in awhile. I did however go to grab some IPAs and Pilsners and they didn't disappoint. Mosaic Wallpaper was fantastic.

 

Love the Saaz Pilsner, got some in the fridge, and their fest.

 

Glad to hear their pilsner/German beer game is improving. So far I've had their pilsner, kolsch and festbier. They were all shitty. Their hazy IPA game however was really strong. Reminded me a lot of Vitamin Sea.

Which one is the Saaz Pilsner? Austere Modular or do you mean the Trendler pils?

Lucky you got that fest. I can't believe it sold out so quick back then. I'll be quicker to pickup this year's version.

 

The Imprint pilsner tzeiser. Haven't been to TH since the pandemic began. Gave away my TH Trendlers, pilsner, alt and Schwarz, when I got out of the hospital two years ago and wasn't drinking, figured they wouldn't last.

 

I am excited about this development, generally. I wonder if they’re seeing some of the popularity locally of stuff like Human Robot and F&M? Or maybe that’s just my wishful thinking.

Either way, that pub ale looks delicious. Would love to pick it up if I was around, hopefully it’s available for a little.