Stillwater Artisanal Ales

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SeaOfShells, Jan 31, 2013.

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  1. SeaOfShells

    SeaOfShells Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2011 California

    Maybe I'm out of my league, but I never hear anyone talk about Stillwater. I stay away because the price of his beers are outrageous (as with Mikkeller and Evil Twin). A local shop carries a ton of Stillwater, but I've never actually seen anyone buy it. So I ask this; is there a Stillwater beer worth pulling the trigger on?
     
    #1 SeaOfShells, Jan 31, 2013
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  2. BleepBloopBlap

    BleepBloopBlap Zealot (503) Aug 19, 2011 Massachusetts

    I really enjoyed the Stateside Saison a lot.

    I always think about getting other ones too, but inevitably end up getting something else when considering the price point.
     
    #2 BleepBloopBlap, Jan 31, 2013
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  3. Knapp85

    Knapp85 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,712) Dec 25, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22150/63490

    In my personal opinion.

    I buy everything they put out at least once. Hardly ever twice but I love their labels and I feel that the beer is quite good also. It's nothing to give your left nut for but they're solid brews.
     
    #3 Knapp85, Jan 31, 2013
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  4. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,191) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Enjoyed As Follows quite a bit, and Saison Darkly. oops Saison Darkly is retired.
     
    #4 Smakawhat, Jan 31, 2013
  5. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,874) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've only had Existent on tap somewhere and really liked it. But I echo another post above, I keep meaning to try some of their bottles but pricing deters me.
     
    #5 jbertsch, Jan 31, 2013
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  6. SeaOfShells

    SeaOfShells Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2011 California

    The labels are very eye catching.
     
    #6 SeaOfShells, Jan 31, 2013
  7. wrycon

    wrycon Zealot (637) Apr 22, 2009 Minnesota

    I really like Existent. It falls right into my taste wheelhouse. There's a store over the border in WI I hit semi-regularly and my first glance is at the Stillwater for Existent.
     
    #7 wrycon, Jan 31, 2013
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  8. Knapp85

    Knapp85 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,712) Dec 25, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Jaded is also a very good beer from there as well... just looking back at my notes.

    Jaded
    A Saison Darkly
    Folklore

    all are real good, maybe just do like one at a time instead of buying all at once.
     
    #8 Knapp85, Jan 31, 2013
  9. Thads324

    Thads324 Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2010 Connecticut

    Too expensive for what they are. Around here (CT) I can get a 750 ml of most of the great allagash beers for about $10 more, which is more quantity of IMO a better beer. 6-8 dollars for those small bottles is just stupid. If I'm spending that much for a small bottle ill buy Jacobite
     
    #9 Thads324, Jan 31, 2013
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  10. DeutschesBier

    DeutschesBier Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2009 Maryland

    http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/stillwater-the-tale-of-van-winkle.35483/

    There was a heated discussion about Stillwater on that thread before. It got locked down, eventually.

    Bottom line for me, I enjoy the Stillwater beers that I do try. I really love Cellar Door in the Summer Months. However, I usually wait until local beer stores start marking them $2, $3, $4 off because they just don't move at those prices. I can't justify paying $12-$15 for a 750ml of Saison when so many other great examples are out there.
     
    #10 DeutschesBier, Jan 31, 2013
  11. John_M

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

    I've tried a good number of the Stillwater beers, most of which are solid. Admittedly, I can't really think of any that I would call extraordinary, but most are interesting and worth checking out. Just my two cents, but most of the BA reviews for these beers strike me as pretty much dead on (though like anythinig else, I wouldn't put too much stock in any BA score that is based on just one or two reviews).

    My biggest complaint about Stillwater beers is the pricing. It's been pointed out to Brian S. (the brewer at Stillwater) that his prices are high, especially when one considers that most are contract brewed at the DOG brewery in Westminster, Md., with most priced considerably higher than their Belgian counterparts. It's often pointed out to him that the price for his flagship beer (the stateside saison) is nearly twice as expensive as the Dupont Saison here in the states. While the stateside saison is tasty, I don't think many consumers would suggest it's in the same league as the Dupont Saison.

    So far, I've heard little justification for that pricing, and the explanations provided by Brain S. have not been very convincing (at least not to me). However, perhaps he'll do a better job on this thread. Brian S. has a BA account, and my impression is that he checks threads about his beer pretty frequently (or at least whenever the subject comes up, which isn't all that often). Cheers!
     
    #11 John_M, Jan 31, 2013
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  12. SeaOfShells

    SeaOfShells Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2011 California

    Which is why I can't pull the trigger when I can snatch up a Hennepin for half the price.
     
    #12 SeaOfShells, Jan 31, 2013
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  13. stonermouse

    stonermouse Pundit (877) Aug 16, 2006 Massachusetts

    Many of Stillwater's labels are designed by Lee Verzosa, a tattoo artist at Ghost Town Odditorium in MD. Just a bit of trivia for you... I love tattoos even more than beer, so this was an interesting note that I picked up at last year's EBF.
     
    #13 stonermouse, Jan 31, 2013
  14. SeaOfShells

    SeaOfShells Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2011 California

    I think the artwork is awesome. Thanks for the info.
     
    #14 SeaOfShells, Jan 31, 2013
  15. ncaudle

    ncaudle Initiate (0) May 28, 2010 Virginia

    the BA Stateside is one of my favorite brews.
    Saison Darkly (only when fresh) Outblack, Existent and Jaded are really good too.

    like Evil Twin, Stillwater is contracted to 12%. even though some of his beers are brewed domestically, they still have to go through an extra parties hands for distribution.
     
    #15 ncaudle, Jan 31, 2013
  16. C20Percent

    C20Percent Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2011 Virginia

    I've only ever had Stateside and thought it was kind of boring -- just better than average. I still have Cellar Door and Debutante at home waiting for drinking.
     
    #16 C20Percent, Jan 31, 2013
  17. jwheeler87

    jwheeler87 Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2011 Massachusetts

    I bought two of his beers recently (Folklore and Existent). I had the Existent a few weeks ago, and thought it was delicious. The Folklore I have had before because a friend couldn't stand it. I think it is great.
     
    #17 jwheeler87, Jan 31, 2013
  18. imbrue001

    imbrue001 Zealot (673) Aug 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    As Follows is really good, Cellar Door..
    actually they're all really good.

    Not sure why the complaining about price. In MD they are like 8.99 -9.99 a 750. Some of the smaller beers are like 6 or 7$...so don't buy those. Meanwhile ALL the Evil Twin beers are outrageous. I guess its different in other states.
     
    #18 imbrue001, Jan 31, 2013
  19. tjensen3618

    tjensen3618 Maven (1,391) Mar 23, 2008 California

    I have never bought a beer from Stillwater, Mikeller, Evil Twin, Nebraska or any other gypsy/contact or start-up brewery who decides to charge >$12 for a bomber of their beer.

    Sure, Ive probably missed out on a few gems from breweries like that, but I've saved myself a bunch of money that I can spend on Lagunitas, Stone, Sierra, FW & homebrewing
     
    #19 tjensen3618, Jan 31, 2013
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  20. BleepBloopBlap

    BleepBloopBlap Zealot (503) Aug 19, 2011 Massachusetts

    FWIW - In the Boston area, Stillwater ales are all $12 and up.
     
    #20 BleepBloopBlap, Jan 31, 2013
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