Most Improved Breweries & Those Losing Their Shine

Nothing against Saranac, but I feel they were forced to step up their game to play with the big boys.

 

Yin and Yang, dude. Yin and Yang.

 

Very true. But they have brought several new releases to market, and from my persepctive, all very good. As I mentioned above though, they have made some crappy sacrifices to do so, and for that I am saddened by the loss of the Saints. That said, Troegs Cultivator is one hell of a maibock that makes it that much easier to accept the death of St B (dead to me, as I don't ever see it on tap in NY)

 

+1 for DFH losing its shine. As much as love their beer, the stuff that they do best, is the stuff that they do the less of. It seems that their new releases, as of late, at least to the general consensus, have been less and less appealing.

I'll agree with Victory being improved, as well as Otter Creek. As some have already stated, I don't think that Victory was ever in decline, just that they have added some killer beer to their rotation.

 

We've got a small local brewer, http://greatsouthbaybrewery.com/ that has really stepped up their game over the past year. They moved to a larger location and started brewing on site instead of contracting and have come up with some nice new brews.

 

Great South Bay - Field 5 Golden IPA and Dirty Deeds Russian Imperial Stout. Two really good beers. I heard they just put out a sour, but I haven't had it. Guess I could just drive 5 miles to the brewery and get some, or just surf BA aimlessly for the next 2 hours.

 

Amen to that. I do miss the saints.

 

Ha- Brewery is only open Thursday-Saturday! I think the sour is called Devils Deeds, different (sours are not a style I get yet). I liked their Hopsy Daisy Session IPA (a nicely hopped APA) as well.

 

Beachwood. I don't know how they were back in the day (I only had my first brew of theirs maybe two years ago) but they've been killing it with every single IPA, they have had steady bottle releases recently, they're gaining more and more steam, and most importantly, I've now stopped driving down to San Diego with BWBBQ only 15 minutes away.

Oh and Hops of Fury > Pliny the Younger.

 

Much improved ? I'll go with Long Trail. Limbo & their imperial choc porter. Great stuff.

 

Beachwood's only been brewing for about 3 years, and they've been excellent out of the gate.

 

The delegate from MN nominates Summit. Theyve had some good stuff in their Unchained series, not to mention Saga, and they're now more relevant than they were a few years ago.

 

I like seeing Flying Fish get some love. They've had a strong push the last couple years, and the new brewery is giving them space to expand their lineup.

 

I'm a DFH fan till I die because they were my gateway beer, but damn, their big new release in the last year is 61 min! Wtf? They need to launch some good beer, stat.

 

Came here to post something similar. Many are posting that breweries have "improved" when all they've done is play to the crowd. Otter Creek simply put out hoppier beers (Fresh Slice and Citra Mantra) and so did Long Trail (Limbo). In Victory's case they just added a couple stellar double IPAs to a line-up that was already great, it was simply in styles most may not have enjoyed.

I have no doubt most top US brewers can make a world class double IPA, and more to the point, they can make tasty hoppy beers. I don't necessarily see this as improvement in brewing beer, I see it as a smart business move.

And you are correct, Victory Hopdevil is still their overall best seller (on draft). Their best selling bottled beer is currently Golden Monkey. I'm sure this will change with their newer offerings though.

 

The problem I have with Saranac is the few beers that I think they make really well, are buried in their mixed 12 packs and hard to get in quantity. Their white IPA, Blackforest and Lake Effect Lagers I think are outstanding but I rarely/never can find them in 6 pack format.

 

I guess you are from western PA? I've never had a Full Pint beer that I've enjoyed. If you want a good brewery out here, look no further than Helltown. Their IPAs are as good as anything I've had. As good as Jai Alai, Dreadnaught, Pliny, Heady, Hopslam, Sculpin, etc. Idle Hands is top tier.

 

I'm a supporter of the DFH. I like their originality in flavors and experimentation.

I thought their Piercing Pils was very solid for a pilsner with a slight twist. Although $10.99 for a 4 pack of pilsner eliminates any chance of it being my summer session beer. Not at that pricepoint.

Also I had a 6 flight sampler at their brewpub in Rehobeth back a few weeks ago. Got 6 of their brewpub only rarities and at least 2-3 of those were amazing. I think people think they are "off" just because they don't have a citrus bomb top IPA out at the moment like other brewers have been doing.

 

I think Sierra Nevada has lost a little shine IMO. Cancelling the Tumbler was just wrong and adding Ruthless Rye and Flipside were both so/so at best. Their 4-way IPA variety pack I just had, all 3 new ones were very lame tasting beers as well. Rumors about killing the Kellerweise? That would be a huge blow IMO, that is one of the best Hef. in America.