After the Craft Beer Gold Rush

Discussion in 'Beer News' started by brewme, Apr 5, 2026.

  1. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    As I discussed above (post #10):

    "I have not noticed a decrease in the number of hazy beers available in my area (Philly area)."

    Cheers!
     
  2. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    You are channeling The Simpsons there :slight_smile:

     
  3. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    ??? Yes, I read that. That isn't what I asked. When you're in a taproom, does it seem like people are ordering them as often as they were 5 years ago?

    You read my previous post... are you seeing anything similar, or does it seem like customers are ordering them just as frequently as ever?

    5 years ago, ordering a hazy ipa was almost a default option for many customers (who wouldn't normally order a beer). Instead of asking for something light (which is what I often see today), I'd hear these customers asking if the bar had any hazies. Today I almost never hear this.
     
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  4. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    John, I do not keep track of what other people order. I get my beers either delivered to me (a waiter/waitress) or I go the designated area at the bar and take those beers back to the table.

    I just take note of what is available on tap and there are plenty of hazy beers to choose from.

    It would seem that you spend your time differently at taprooms? Observing the ordering habits of other patrons?

    Cheers!
     
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  5. LesDewitt4beer

    LesDewitt4beer Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,315) Jan 25, 2021 Minnesota
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I read into that and think it has dual meaning the first being your point re trendy bev's, and the second meaning is a polite way to call "certain people" cattle.
     
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  6. zotzot

    zotzot Grand Pooh-Bah (5,352) Feb 22, 2015 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Agreed that things are much better overall than 20 years ago
     
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  7. zotzot

    zotzot Grand Pooh-Bah (5,352) Feb 22, 2015 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’ve not really seen a decrease in hazy IPAs
    I do think I’ve seen a drop in sour beers - which I find more objectionable
     
  8. zotzot

    zotzot Grand Pooh-Bah (5,352) Feb 22, 2015 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Barley Wines are NOT a recent trend!!
    I’ve like them for quite a long time
     
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  9. zotzot

    zotzot Grand Pooh-Bah (5,352) Feb 22, 2015 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think hazy IPAs are every
    Maybe they’ve become normalized
     
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  10. 2beerdogs

    2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I agree with the sentiment that there is a lot of good beer out there now.
     
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  11. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    In my view, there's still a lot of murkbombs, and still a lot of interest in them. But, what I'm not seeing from Murk Factories (Hi Structures!) is a diminishing of the 'Murk of the Week'. There's not a 'new' beer every week. They still play around with whatever new hop, or new combinations of hops, but they focus on a couple beers, and each batch seems to stick around longer.

    So, they're still being made and consumed, just at a lower rate than the peak of the Linebros phase of things. Structures still puts out their high priced barrel-aged stuff, and are doing great job with Lagers (due in large part to Bryan Cardwell, formerly of Chuckanut, joning the ownership a few years ago), but it seems like their bread and butter is still the Murk. But, that's just one example from one small city in Southwest Canadia.
     
  12. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Some folks call that paying attention to their surroundings. Maybe it's just a Me Thing, but I'm hardwired to observe what's going on around me, and not stay inside my private bubble.
     
  13. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think there's a difference between the presence of hazy ipa and the "haze bro" culture.

    Yes, hazy IPA has successfully transitioned to an established style and a very popular one. But the "hype" around them and the culture of fanatical pursuit of the latest hot brewery or newest weekly release seems to be waaaaay down.

    Instead of being the purview of super aware beer trend consumers, hazy ipa now seems to be among the most mundane american beer styles.
     
  14. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Of course. I pay attention to my surroundings and I'm naturally curious. On Saturday I was at a beer bar where a complete stranger sat down next to me and we started conversing about beer. That happens periodically.

    I'm on Beer Advocate Jack, so I'm interested and curious about beer. I typically sit at the bar by myself (my wife doesn't like beer), and spend a lot of time on my phone. But I also like to converse with bartenders, and I'm always interested in what "everyone else is drinking." I often will ask a bartender what's currently popular, and/or what they're drinking (what they like).

    Sounds like our taproom habits are pretty different, but I thought you might have noticed if there was a drop off in people asking for hazies. There was a time when it seemed Iike every other person who walked in, that was the first thing they'd ask: "what hazies do you have on tap right now?"

    I'm not trying to be disagreeable; you may well be right, that customers in the PNW (or pdx area) have a different attitude about hazy IPA's. That's why I asked my original question. I was generally curious as to whether or not there had been any sort of diminishment in hazy consumption where you live (as the article author seems to suggest). You seemed like a logical person for me to ask about that.
    :wink:
     
  15. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Good article. I have been on the micro/craft journey since the late 80s and there is no better time today to drink craft beer. While I do miss the excitement from 15 years ago with new breweries popping up and attending "beer" festivals, I can get quality beer pretty much anywhere. I live a fortunate life and every year I'm spending time in the SF Bay Area, Seattle, Denver, LA, San Diego, and Hawaii (mostly Oahu, but usually one other island).

    A great example was I just drove down from Seattle with my son as his family is moving in with us. We stopped at Belmont Corner in Portland where I picked up a bunch of Oregon beer and a few from Washington. We had lunch where I had a pint of cask ale (best bitter) from Machine House from Seattle. I was transported back to London in 1986 when I had my first cask ale.

    Life is good. Have a beer!
     
  16. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    agree I think Hazy IPAs are the #1 beer in the new mature beer culture in most places in the US for those not quite as die-hard into craft beer as a hobby but just settled into that beer style as their go-to / default choice. Craft lagers (not including Mexican and AALs made at craft breweries) are slowly coming around but I think they still are mostly enjoyed by the craft beer hobbiest more than the casual beer drinker. But it’s improving.
     
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  17. beershrine

    beershrine Pundit (819) May 29, 2004 Idaho

    Hazy is a flawed beer ha... How can you really like a concoction of protein levels so high you can't see thru your beer some are so murky there are floating bits about' sacrilege in quality beverages.
     
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  18. StoutElk_92

    StoutElk_92 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,045) Oct 30, 2015 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    it's the same thing in historical Belgian ales or German wheat beers
     
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  19. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    And I am typically sitting at a table with a bunch of buddies. Enjoying beer while socializing.

    A very different drinking experience than yours.

    Cheers!
     
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  20. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Do you not notice what they're drinking?

    Are they ordering more, the same amount, or fewer Murkbombs?