What brewery were you most wrong about?

I expected both Treehouse and Alchemist to be overrated, they still blew away my expectations.

 

Sierra Nevada. I avoided it for so long, before I really got into craft beer, until a bartender gave it to me on accident when i ordered something else and I took it as a sign to give it a ride.

 

I try to have an open mind (for better or worse) when I try a beer from a new brewery.
I think the only time I've been dead wrong was at Keesmann in Bamberg. I'd seen their ads around town and they looked a lot like Beck's. Plus, they only have two regular beers and one is "just a pilsner." Plus, they're across the street from the far more famous Mahr's.
I went in thinking I was just grabbing a random pils before heading across the street.
However I couldn't have been more wrong. That pils might be the best beer in the region and Keesmann is probably the one place in town I'll never miss out on as a result.

 

The Alchemist - I didn't think there was ANY WAY IN THE WORLD that Heady Topper could be as good as everyone was raving about. With so much hype, I expected disappointment.

I was not disappointed.

 

Ill second jacks abby...hated their labels and hoponius union(and every other IPL) used to sound gimmicky to me...now its a refreshing change of pace and jacks abby IMO makes the best craft lagers in the northeast

 

I don't even find them frustrating; I just haven't yet had a beer from them YET that I thought was above-average.

 

Sam Adams. Years ago I thought they were pretty good. THEN I started hitting craft beers. Now I can't stand Sam Adams! It's not craft enough to suit my taste buds. Maybe I haven't tried the right one's they offer, but I've tried enough to pass

 

Sixpoint - used to think they were so-so but everytime they come out with something new, it's fantastic.
and on the opposite side...
Dogfish Head - when I first started getting into craft beer, DFH was it. Now, I don't bring it home and only order it out if there's nothing else craft on the beer menu.

 

Lagunitis - I wrote them off and then i visited their brewery and was very impressed.

Founders - I was so stoked to try them when i got to a distribution state, and was let down by FBS and the red rye IPA. I was not let down by their porter though - top 5 of the style I've ever had.

 

Alesmith did nothing for me until I got to try a Viet Speedway Stout. Boy was I wrong about them!

 

Uinta. Recently, distribution expanded to my area & I tried some of their stuff. Dubhe on draft is world class, Baba has become my favorite daily drinker & Labrynth was pretty stellar. Very surprised by the quality of their beers.

 

Brace yourself - Prairie. I was most wrong about Prairie. When their beers showed up here, I had never heard of them. Something about the labels on those bottles made them look like something some yuppie couple had brewed in their basement. You couldn't PAY me to take a chance on one of those 750s.

Once I got into Saisons, I started doing a little research and realized just how highly-regarded their beers are. I tried one and it was so good I had to try them all. Now I pounce on every new Prairie product that shows up. (Thank you BeerAdvocate.com and all you wonderful BAs who post reviews! Thanks to you, this website does what it's supposed to do - it helps us find the beer-loves of our lives!!!).

 

glad to have you back in the fold bro

 

Funny you say that. I love Two Hearted, and I've always really liked HopDevil but never really considered them alike at all, maybe there is some similar taste I am missing.

 

DogFish Head for me. I used to think they were just mostly wierd experimental beers, but since they have come back to WI I've found I like alot of there stuff quite a bit.

 

I think that they have a very similar fruity, slightly spicy flavor. What put me off of Two Hearted was that it seemed to be lacking at the back end. I love a lingering hoppy finish (like Hop Devil does for me). Two Hearted just disappeared.

 

Being from Delaware I avoided Dogfish Head thinking it was becoming too big for itself too quick...enjoyed a few of the small local guys (Sly Fox and Twin Lakes) then shared a aged 120 and then started trying the aged ale series and actually found out I enjoyed most of them. Now they are my go to beer 90 Minute and Palo Santos Marron are by far my favorites.