Breweries that might need to step it up?

The fallacy in this is assuming that a brewery needs to operate like an auto manufacturer--offering the consumer a new model design and new colors every spring. Pushing the envelope is not always necessary, and trying to keep pace with 'our' changing palates would be akin to catching bubbles in a jar. The consumer, especially the American one, is a fickle and demanding bitch. If you always try to give them what they want you will eventually lose their interest anyway and they will move on, leaving you with no identity and no core for your business.
Better to make a quality product that you can hang your name on and let your consumers find you. Sure there will be the ones that try you and quickly move on looking for that edge of the envelope hard-on, but there will be many others that will keep coming back to you like a favorite sweater. You make just exactly what they are wanting in certain times, and they know they can count on you to be there. This is a business model that has seen breweries through decades and sometimes centuries of consumer uncertainty and market change. And no, I'm not talking about this country at all here.

Why? They've nailed it. Cheers to ReluctantScooper

 

Dogfish, Southern Tier

 

Definitely not Sierra Nevada.

 

Most likely you weren't around for the brewpub days when many amazing styles were brewed.

Personally, I love their business model and love that they are concentrating on making one beer the best in its style - so rare amongst the ubiquitous jack of all trades, master of none craft breweries.

 

Yet Widmer sales are dragging CBA down while Redhook and Kona brands are expanding. Widmer really needs to find something that resonates (and I'm not talking about beer geeks) to replace their dying american wheat flagship.

 

Yup, this, exactly. I still like their Double Platinum, though.

 

The Duck-Rabbit
website appears to be stuck in 1994

 

You mean the business model of lets pull Drifter? Great idea.

 

This is the problem with the American consumer and human beings in general. I'm all for trying new things, and I like innovation, but some people are just way too fickle. Good beer is good beer, but there seem to be some people who think that as more good beer comes out, somehow the quality of beers they've had changes. I imagine it's difficult for the industry to keep up, and it makes sense to keep brewing good beer and put out new ones when it makes sense to, not every 3 seconds.

 

Weihenstephaner! What's the deal man, hurry up and produce a killer 100 IBU DIPA already? Oh and would it kill you to age some Vitus on coconut flakes?!?!?! Lame!!!

 

Bell's.

 

You want innovation, you want the couture of beer?
Brew it yourself.
Go to the brewpub or taproom of any reputable brewery
Or support the locally distributed nano who is brewing it because they can.

 

I hope North Coast doesn't change. They can keep making Old Rasputin until the day I die. I love the fact I can pick up a 4pk of a world class RIS for $10.99. Stay un-"exciting".

 

I think Pittsburgh breweries in general need to step it up. The only two offerings I've been super impressed with are East End's Gratitude and Full Pint's Rye Rebellion. Most everything else is just... Meh. I'm dying for Pittsburgh breweries to start getting creative and putting out top-notch stuff.

Have yet to see any sours/wilds. Barrel-aged beers are never done. It's depressing cause Pittsburgh is a city that screams creativity. But the brewers, in my opinion, aren't keeping up. Don't get me wrong, there is some good stuff. But nothing great.

 

This is a great example of what I was talking about above (not hacking at you personally young feller).
If there is one thing that Pittsburgh screams, it is honest and hard-working blue-collar dependability. I think Pitt area breweries reflect that. There are some steady ships in those ports in the way of the regular line-ups from Church, East End and Fatheads (if you're bold enough to claim that one), along with others from nearby areas that supply your taps including Full Pint, Helltown and Rivertowne. The brewers are doing exactly what they want to do and their business model supports, and they seem to be supplying a grateful populace judging from what I see on tap when I visit.
Creativity is more than just sours and wilds and barrel-aged mediocrity. Stop by Pipers on Carson and try whatever they have on cask. It just might change your mind about what is top-notch in Pitt.

 

What the heck? Definitely not Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, or Unibroue. That's three world-class breweries we're talking about; whatever they do should be the standard to follow.

I'd agree with Boulder Beer, they used to be special.

 

Totally agree on Rogue. I see more and more of their brews just sitting on shelves. Their good ales (some of the XS line) are overpriced, and did they really need to release ANOTHER new pink bottle (Voodoo Doughnut Pretzel Raspberry & Chocolate)!?

 

No problem with Sierra. Amazing, mass produced beer that I don't have to wait in line or trade my first born to get.

As long as North Coast keeps making Old Rasputin, they can do no wrong.

Rogue needs to step it up or drop their prices.

All Boulder Beer has is Killer Penguin. They need a jumpstart.

 

I think in the uptick of so many other breweries also vying for the same space, and with it, these bell and whistle beers like the voodoo doughnut and its ilk. People may have actually kind of forgotten Rogue has some solid beer in its regular line up. At the brewpub level, these gimmick beers are great, and do what they are supposed to. Challenge your perception of what a beer can or should be. But, it's the staple beers that joe and jane six pack out there in your wider markets who love that (formerly interesting, but now) boring (to us) beer like a pair of favorite jeans that are the ones which put the roof over the breweries head, and allowed them to expand and not the stranger who only turns up for the limited and rare releases where it's more likely the brewer is selling them at almost a loss in the wider market because its a labor of love and an idea that had to be realized because its art in bottled form.
I think Bells understood that when they put Oberon nee: Sol Sun tap handles on the main door of the brewery. You don't forget what got you there. You do. You're done.

 

Smuttynose. Finest Kind is still my go-to IPA and Baltic Porter is one of my all-time favorites, but their big beer line-up could use some upgrades and I'd like to see a refresh of their standard year-round and seasonal beers. Summer and Winter are pretty weak and Star Island Single is a flatout bad beer. Will be interesting to see what they produce once the new brewery is operating.