Where to next?

Well not all consumers, but I agree with your general point that breweries are businesses that prioritize making money. (And that a lot of the large regional breweries expanded around 2010 right before the explosion of smaller breweries sprang up to eat into their market share, so were then in a tight spot having to pay off capital improvement debts)

But I would also think at some point it's a chicken and egg problem. Are hazy IPAs the best selling style because that's what people truly want, or are the sales numbers simply because the majority of the beers on store shelves and bar tap handles are of that style? I try to "vote with my wallet" as much as I can, but I can't order a brown ale if there isn't one on the taplist.

 

I actually originally had "all breweries" and figured someone would jump on that and took it out. Not all breweries, not all consumers for sure. I think there are plenty of unserved niches in the market, but a lot of breweries seem reluctant to find them or to lean into them. The ones that do and are committed to a quality product (Allagash, Oxbow, Notch, Jack's Abby, Schilling, Threes, F&M to name a few in our area) have found success.

Your point about who is leading who is interesting. I used to do tastings for a brewery up here and I remember being at a tasting in Milton and the guy next to me was just pushing a product just based off of it being their best seller (it was an IPA). It was not a good IPA but people were trying it. I think about that a lot. I wonder how much efforts to get more people into craft beer has created an issue of misinformed or undereducated consumers. IPAs are just what people know, the familiarity of it all. A lot of people hate hops too, but haven't gotten proper exposure to other beers and are turned off from it as a result.

@mrmattosgood an exploration in the state of NEIPAs (at least the culture of) in 2022 could be an interesting piece. We are passed the boom of the mid-teens. NEIPAs are still thriving, as are many of the breweries that came up during the period...I know that it's your favorite style of beer.

 

I just gotta ask: when you have finished a pint of a 'good' NEIPA do you have a strong desire for another?

I enjoy drinking well made NEIPA (e.g., Tired Hands Alien Church) but after I finish that pint I am not really looking for a second.

In contrast when I finish a well brewed WCIPA (e.g., Fat Head's Head Hunter) I have a real hankering for a second.

Just curious about your palate here.

Cheers!

 

You should do a piece on these guys. No one is talking about them.

 

The question wasn’t directed at me, but…

Yes. Yes, I do. And I have the bathroom scale to attest to my dedication, fortitude and God-given capacity. An 8.5% NEDIPA, I may limit myself to three or four a day. But a 7% NEIPA is right in my sweet spot and I’ll session those bad boys all day long.

And every time I read an ‘oh, lawsy, I sure is tired of all them bad, bad NEIPA’s wasting all the malted barley’ posts, I go to the kitchen and pour two.

 

I appreciate you providing your input here.

We all have our own unique palates and preferences in given beer styles.

The following verbiage is not completely accurate because I lack the proper term (I will use the word "sweet" as a placeholder):

For me, a 'good' NEIPA comes off as "sweet" and while I thoroughly enjoy drinking that beer I simply do not want a second. Maybe I am atypical here?

Cheers!

 

I feel confident that with the Haze Bros crowd this most definitely does not count as "another one".

FWIW I have no issues drinking a 16 ounce can but as I previously discussed this is a 'one and done' drinking experience for me.

Cheers!

 

I dunno, there's like four locations or something.

 

What about chocolate covered pretzels? Or candied bacon?

 

One and done is always the healthiest option if the one is a pint.

 

Unless it’s Oktoberfest. Then it’s many beers because the only option is 1 liter.

 

"Monson was better"