Most Improved Breweries & Those Losing Their Shine

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by RblWthACoz, Apr 9, 2014.

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  1. RblWthACoz

    RblWthACoz Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2006 Pennsylvania

    Which breweries do you think have vastly improved over past performance and track record?
    And on the same theme, which do you think have gone downhill or just aren't doing it for you anymore?

    For me...

    Improved - Otter Creek!

    I hope they keep doing what they're doing. Love the new branding, and the beer, of course. Citra Mantra was unbelievably good and a superb take on a hopped lager. Haven't had a stinker yet from any of the new releases I have tried. I think a lot of their previous beers were good, and a few not so. They seem to be on the right track.

    Full Pint

    Paw Paw Berliner Weisse? Berliner Weisse and the syrup to match? Nerd's Reserve releases? This seems a far step away from the more marketing focused releases of the past and more of an innovation-themed endeavor, which I am all for. I just wish they'd announce their releases a bit more loudly so I know when to get appropriately distracted from less worthy things.

    Needs Improvement - East End

    Two straight years of flat Gratitude ('11 & '12 - a.k.a. Flatitude) blows my mind; and not in a good way. You should have things dialed in after 7 years of making a beer. Or have learned from the previous issues so that it doesn't happen again on the 8th. Seems like an issue that shouldn't be happening after being in the game for so long.

    No new interesting beers on the main lineup. Too many bland one-offs. Special releases are sometimes nice, but nothing that really gets me excited for their arrival; and it's the same stuff every year.

    No bottling for mass market; only extremely over-priced bombers and liter growlers that sit on their shelves like the worst turds. And no cans. They seem behind the times in brewery progression.

    I think they've switched from a theme of innovation and the exciting to one focusing on sales and market dominance.
     
    #1 RblWthACoz, Apr 9, 2014
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  2. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Long Trail seems to have stepped up their game lately- Limbo was amazing, and Culmination was a great chocolate porter.
     
    #2 GreesyFizeek, Apr 9, 2014
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  3. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    But Ramble was an abomination
     
    #3 Harnkus, Apr 9, 2014
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  4. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    Victory seems revitalized, but at a cost to the significant slashing of seasonal lager favorites (bottles saints)
     
    #4 Harnkus, Apr 9, 2014
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  5. mani

    mani Initiate (0) Jun 16, 2012 New Jersey

    Victory should be included for most improved. I think they've been killing it lately.
     
    #5 mani, Apr 9, 2014
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  6. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Haven't tried Ramble, but haven't heard much good about it. What was the problem?
     
    #6 GreesyFizeek, Apr 9, 2014
  7. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I still haven't tried either Saint and would love to at some point, makes me sad it's not bottled.
     
    #7 GreesyFizeek, Apr 9, 2014
  8. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    Lemon pepper Kolsch. That's the problem. Heavy on both adjuncts too. Horrible drain pour. I gave it 5 tries. The last bottle I might smash against the clouds
     
    #8 Harnkus, Apr 9, 2014
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  9. jampics2

    jampics2 Pooh-Bah (2,414) Dec 19, 2008 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I find Full Pint to be an extremely mediocre brewery.
     
    #9 jampics2, Apr 9, 2014
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  10. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,967) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    Smuttynose - needs improving, the big bottle series has mainly been 'meh'

    Great Lakes - Keep doing what you're doing - excellent all around portfolio
     
    #10 keithmurray, Apr 9, 2014
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  11. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I remember seeing one of their brown bag series on tap and it was a Lemon Pepper Kolsch, tried a sample of it and quickly moved on.
     
    #11 GreesyFizeek, Apr 9, 2014
  12. Celtics76

    Celtics76 Pooh-Bah (1,781) Sep 5, 2011 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah

    They have an Irish Stout that isn't all that great either. So I would rank them behind Otter Creek as far as most improved (Limbo is great though)
     
    #12 Celtics76, Apr 9, 2014
  13. RblWthACoz

    RblWthACoz Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2006 Pennsylvania

    Agree. I think they're moving in the right direction though with the unusual stuff they're doing and planning. I think there's been a lot of limbo with structure and leadership that has restricted their potential.
     
    #13 RblWthACoz, Apr 9, 2014
  14. Ross_Miller

    Ross_Miller Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2014 Maryland

    does anyone else feel like saranac is much better now than they were 2-3 years ago? Still not a mind blowing brewery by any means, but certainly not the constant let down that they used to be for me.
     
    #14 Ross_Miller, Apr 9, 2014
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  15. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I thought their new IPA, Legacy, was quite good.
     
    #15 GreesyFizeek, Apr 9, 2014
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  16. braugon

    braugon Initiate (0) Mar 14, 2013 Connecticut

    Victory never fell off though.
     
    #16 braugon, Apr 9, 2014
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  17. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,252) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    I think Victory has been doing great for a long time, they're just shifting some of their attention to the current trends with IPA's. HopDevil was the #1 beer on BA back when I first found the site and it still sells really well. For what it is - it's still pretty amazing and quality has never been better.

    I'm not sure if I can name a brewer that has gone from the doghouse to absolutely killing it or vice versa. Most of the best breweries have been doing well for a while. The cellar dwellars tend to have a reason they do what they do and I'm not sure any of them have made a 180 in my eyes.

    I think the new thing might be breweries that have probably always been making good beer, but are finally starting to get some distribution and attention.
     
    #17 Domingo, Apr 9, 2014
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  18. AngryBotBrews

    AngryBotBrews Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2013 California

    Beachwood FTW!
     
    #18 AngryBotBrews, Apr 9, 2014
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  19. RblWthACoz

    RblWthACoz Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2006 Pennsylvania

    Somewhat, yes.
    Agree. When I lived in Brooklyn I tried a ton of stuff from them that was great, but draft-only and very limited release. As was mentioned, attention and distribution; the latter being an important part to getting the love.
     
    #19 RblWthACoz, Apr 9, 2014
  20. Kadonny

    Kadonny Pooh-Bah (2,616) Sep 5, 2007 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Good topic. My answers:

    Improved: Victory and Otter Creek. Victory with their new releases and re-release of Old Ho and OC for their new seasonals.

    On decline: Dogfish Head. I'm tired of the ginger/lemon/cocoa nib/elderberry old ale brewed with chilis. Tired of it. Brew more 60 Minute that tastes awesome all the time (consistency) and brew more 75 Minute and sell it on draft. In fact, just brew more of all your Minute beers and make sure they are all as consistently great as they can be.
     
    #20 Kadonny, Apr 9, 2014
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