A few of our breweries are the equivalent of Olympic level athletes, they can compete with anybody in the world. Most of our breweries are much like most of us, in decent shape but could probably stand to get a bit more exercise. A few of our breweries could use a ride in the Beerbulance, and go to the E.R. I just had another brew from Island Hoppin', and it was less than stellar. Without just pissing on breweries you don't like, which breweries do you think could use some help, and what steps do you think they could take? Again, don't just beat up a brewery, or brewer, try to give 'em a hand. In my example, Island Hoppin' is out there on Orcas, and maybe the water isn't the best, and there aren't any other brewers around to bounce thoughts off of (like swinging by the other guys brewery with a couple bottles/growlers, and get his feedback). Try to play nice y'all.
1) I enjoy Two Beers ISA once in a while, but that damn can gushes upon each opening. The more recent Presidential Pils didn't seem to have this issue ... 2) Emerald City Beer Co. - Tallboys (tallgirls?) of Dottie have been MIA for months. I know they switched distributors in late June, but hopefully they become available again soon. My cousin always asks me to stock my beer fridge with Dottie's. Canning other offerings at some point would be great as well, but perhaps that's further down the road.
I generally don't like calling out breweries like this, but I'll play. I preface this by saying I wish only good things for these and all our local breweries. Georgetown makes one of my favorite local IPAs, Lucille, and I haven't had the pleasure of trying Lovely Reida yet. But I think they seem to be a little complacent and basically seem to crank out a shit ton of Manny's. The fact that they are tap only doesn't help. I'd lump Mac and Jack's into this category as well with their African Amber. Neither brewery seems to be struggling, but they just seem very safe and conservative. Hale's has been around since the Reagan administration and makes some good beer. They're clearly doing something right to have survived this long. But they also seem to play it pretty safe most of the time. I did really enjoy the bourbon barrel aged imperial stout and still think El Jefe is one of the best local hefeweizens I've tried. Maritime Pacific is kind of in the same boat as Hale's. I've had only one or two beers from them but they just seem to limp along with Islander and Jolly Roger. For some reason Imperial Pale Ale on draft is way better than bottled, at least in my experience. They are like two different beers. I guess in all these cases I see a lot of unrealized potential, but then I also know nothing about running a brewery so I think it's a little unfair of me to presume to judge them.
"decent shape but could probably stand to get a bit more exercise" "they seem to be a little complacent" "they also seem to play it pretty safe" "they just seem to limp along" "a lot of unrealized potential" For what it's worth, these sentiments are exactly what I was getting at a few months back when I called them all LAZY. I know I ruffled a few feathers but statements like these tell me I really wasn't too far off. To the OP: I'll call out Elysian. I know I've said it before but their entire line up confuses me. If you look at all their stuff, it leaves me wondering who they are and what they are about. There's no through line in their marketing. If I wasn't a fan of Dick Cantwell or knowledgeable (somewhat) about beer I'm not sure what I would think about them.
Well, our best breweries match anyone's. Our average breweries are as average as any other places average breweries. How do we, as consumers, and as active members of the beer community (more involved than the "average" craft consumer), help the "weak sisters" get better? How do WE help be the tide that lifts all boats? Nothing against "trend of the moment" (remember the great IBU wars of the mid-late 00's? Currently is barrels and Sours), but it's the damn rare brewery that survive by catering to us. By helping the breweries get better overall, it benefits all beer drinkers by having a higher overall quality brew available. I'm not sure I agree with your assessment of "lazy", I maybe think it's a lack of knowledge, skill, experience, or reference points. But, I brewed a few batches of extract beer a decade and a half ago, so I don't have a realistic, useable knowledge of brewing.
This might get a little philosophical, but I don't know if what you're suggesting is even possible. I see beer like just about everything else: it's a bell curve and everything is relative. You're going to have roughly 10% or 15% superstars, 70% or 80% average/mediocre, and 10% or 15% crap. Now who's in these categories is always a little bit in flux, but you're never going to have 50% of breweries above average. The top 10% or 15% are always pushing things further such that no matter how good the next tier is, they're not going to be in the same league. I'd argue this is more or less true even in a beer mecca like Portland. As for what we do as consumers, do what you're already doing: buy the good beer and don't buy the bad beer. The rest will take care of itself.
I didn't mean to imply that we should have only Lake Wobegon breweries. But, here's something about me, I'm an inherent helper. If I'm out for a walk, and I see somebody having bike problems, I'll ask if they need a hand. I have decent bike skills, and I carry a Leatherman, I could be useful in that situation. I've worked in bars. If I'm in a bar I've never been in before, and they get a sudden rush, I'll go grab some empty glasses and put them near a bus station. I can't help myself, I'm the world's gruffest, most profanity spouting boy scout ever. I see these local breweries that are lacking a bit, and I want to help, but I don't know how, brewing is not in my skillset. I'll talk to the brewers, give them my honest opinions, but I just want everything to be better. You're correct, the majority can't be above average. But, maybe, if we all help each other, the floor becomes higher. The two threads that got me going on this were the "Everybody's opening a brewery" and "Fremont vs Black Raven" threads. Sure, if we're ranking breweries (and we are), somebody is going to come in last (and it is certainly not Henry). Why not try to help everybody get better? Yes, I'm an incurable romantic who likes Unicorns, SpaklePony's, and puppies. Plus, I'm motherfucking greedy, I want more good beer!
Well I'm not sure how your penchant for killing hobos fits into all of this, but lets' set that aside for now. I can appreciate your desire/instinct to help, but I guess I view things a little differently. It's the breweries' business to design, brew, package, market, and distribute beer and it's my business as a consumer to decide if I'm going to buy it. Unless a brewery were to literally ask me for help or advice (and this actually has happened to a limited degree), I doubt such efforts would be useful or even welcome. Plus, there's a pretty substantial difference between changing a flat on a bike and suggesting alterations to a brewery's product line or business plan. I'm pretty good at what I do professionally and, to be honest, I'm not sure how receptive I'd be to some guy walking in off the street, standing over my shoulder, and telling me how I could do it better. But I wish you luck.
Hobos shoulda just handed over the warm Coors Lights. And again, perhaps I was unclear. I don't just tell brewers/owners of any business how to do their gig. But, if I'm sitting at a pub (brewpub, at a brewers night, at a fest etc.) and the brewer/owner/sales rep asks my opinion, I'm not the type to just say "Oh, it's fine" if I honestly thinks it needs something. Most are pretty receptive to at least listening, and they'll often explain why they chose the route they did. And, it's an emergency, North Dakota is starting to breath down our necks, oooooh look! A hobo with some Mickey's! Gotta go!
Give brewers beers from around the country. You'd be shocked how many times I've given a brewer a beer and they'll be like "three Floyd's. Where's this?" or "bells brewing huh. Is that a popular brewery?" My favorite was sharing one of my favorite hoppy beers and some brewers exclaiming, "how'd they get that smell!" I'm thinking "but you guys are the brewers!!" So yeah. Make friends with some brewers and share some beer with them. Everyone wins.
My first impression is that it's kind of shocking to think that brewers don't know who Three Floyds or Bell's are. But then if I think about places I've worked and positions I've held, I know that it's pretty easy to get so immersed in what you and your company are doing that you fail to see the forest for the trees. I guess I would assume that most brewers would have the same passion for and interest in beer—all beer—as the people here on BA. But maybe for a lot of them, even if they started out with a lot of fervor and creativity, eventually it just becomes another job.
MANY brewers started off in a different sector (education, IT, law, etc) and launch with little to no idea about the surrounding craft culture. I'd say most don't of course but there are enough that it probably influences the direction their breweries head. Examples include brewers doing mediocre beer just to keep it organic. Making their flagship beer based on what used to be popular when they were younger (ambers/reds). Or launching products based on what their regular tap room customers suggest. Again... Most people don't. But enough do that it's worth noting.
OH GOD! Slippery Pig Wingman 192 Brickyard Diamond Knot(use to be a a WA staple, now a joke, the growler I brought to a BJCP class was a diacetyl bomb and a joke) Dirty Bucket Elkhead Epic NW Peaks Olde World Ales Just to name a few...
Agree with pretty much everything you say, though I tend to think Georgetown is less complacent than Mac & Jacks. There's nothing wrong with keeping a brewery line-up small, if it's good, and I think their's is better than M&J's, but that's just my own opinion. As for Maritime Pacific, not that much from them makes it to eastern Washington, so I find it hard to judge.
