Your Epic Whale Fail

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by themind, Aug 9, 2014.

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  1. themind

    themind Initiate (0) Mar 14, 2011 New Jersey

    What whale of a beer have you sought out that just failed to impress? the monster you have been seeking that simply was all hype.
     
    #1 themind, Aug 9, 2014
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  2. Droopy487

    Droopy487 Initiate (0) Dec 3, 2013 Tennessee

    Pliny the Elder
     
    #2 Droopy487, Aug 9, 2014
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  3. vrbulldog22

    vrbulldog22 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2010 Ohio

    King Henry comes to mind. Don't get me wrong; I still definitely enjoyed it, it just didn't live up to a lot that I'd heard about it.
     
    #3 vrbulldog22, Aug 9, 2014
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  4. GR_Beer_Nut

    GR_Beer_Nut Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2012 Michigan

    Dark lord and I didn't even have to go out of my way for any.
     
    #4 GR_Beer_Nut, Aug 9, 2014
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  5. ChangSing

    ChangSing Zealot (640) May 5, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    Darklord. I had it for the first time a few months ago and was not impressed. I'd rather just have some Mean Old Tom or Old Rasputin, both of which I can grab off the shelf.
     
    #5 ChangSing, Aug 9, 2014
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  6. DavidK

    DavidK Initiate (0) Aug 31, 2013 Illinois

    Dark Lord. A buddy and I split it. We were rather unimpressed. 2013 version
     
    #6 DavidK, Aug 9, 2014
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  7. azorie

    azorie Pooh-Bah (2,471) Mar 18, 2006 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    I would say I do not seek these out, but I was given 2 Phiny's in 1 week once. I liked the older one the best. needless to say, its just another west coast IPA to me. not that special. sure It was more malt forward (see review if any 1 cares).
    But it was a whale at the time on this site, fighting for no1. whats funny to me, as I never really care about hype, but on this 1 TBH I have to say it could have factored in there. Since then I been out there.
     
    #7 azorie, Aug 9, 2014
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  8. Tsar_Riga

    Tsar_Riga Grand Pooh-Bah (3,349) Sep 9, 2013 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    KBS was good, but not the revelation it is rated to be.
     
    #8 Tsar_Riga, Aug 9, 2014
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  9. AdmiralOzone

    AdmiralOzone Grand Pooh-Bah (4,352) Jun 26, 2014 Minnesota
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I hope it never happens.
     
    #9 AdmiralOzone, Aug 9, 2014
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  10. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Any time you get only one sample of a beer, chances are simply too high that you won't be impressed - especially if it's a hoppy beer!

    I've had PtE several times courtesy of our West coast friend, Jay, and it's slightly different every time. The very first one I had, it was everything the hype promised and more. I've had about 30 Headies or so in my craft beer life, and every one has been fantastic, but not every one has been the #1, world-beater that the rankings imply.

    Westy 12? Great. Better than Rochefort 10? Not the one bottle I had....but I've had a lot of bottles of Rochefort 10. Would I be willing to say that every bottle of Westy 12 is identical to the one I had? Hell no.

    Too many variables to seek out one bottle of a whale, and then proclaim that it didn't live up to the hype. Sample size, friends.
     
    #10 Roguer, Aug 9, 2014
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  11. azorie

    azorie Pooh-Bah (2,471) Mar 18, 2006 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    yes quite true, at least 3 is a good rule.
     
    #11 azorie, Aug 9, 2014
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  12. belvedere86

    belvedere86 Pooh-Bah (1,716) Apr 1, 2013 Belgium
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Darkness and dark lord
     
    #12 belvedere86, Aug 9, 2014
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  13. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Wait... You mean my taste buds aren't going to give me consistent results every single time and all the time and that my palate isn't the world standard palate against which all things can be measured.... I'm shocked. Shocked, I say...

    :slight_smile:
     
    #13 drtth, Aug 9, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2014
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  14. mattcrill

    mattcrill Pooh-Bah (1,845) Mar 16, 2004 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    Dark Lord FTW...granted, some years (and I think the first time) I had it, it was very good.

    But it was a very inconsistent beer year-to-year.

    The one time I had it, it was very thin and out of balance.

    Sometimes the hype is just too big to overcome.

    Given the explosive growth in craft beer over the last 5 years, I think you can find very solid local examples of styles without killing yourself.

    I have access to many "whale-like" breweries and beers that I can pick up at the grocery store.

    It's a good time to love craft beer without killing yourself to find a whale.

    Now, if you want to go to one of these "release parties" to share beer, homebrews, try some one-offs, and meet some ultra-cool BA's I say, "go for it". But I would never go to a "release party" with the sole expectation to grab one or two bombers of some over-hyped elixir. It just sets you up for failure on multiple fronts. Just my 2 cents. YMMV.
     
    #14 mattcrill, Aug 9, 2014
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  15. johnjohnbeer

    johnjohnbeer Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2012 Ohio

    Pliney The Elder is a great beer, but its not mind blowing like a fresh Heady.
     
    #15 johnjohnbeer, Aug 9, 2014
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  16. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    None. I don't seek whales because I have access to lots and lots of good beers and because I can't get out of the back of my mind what happened to Ahab when he found his whale.
     
    #16 drtth, Aug 9, 2014
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  17. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    THANK you!
     
    #17 TongoRad, Aug 9, 2014
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  18. BeerBeast

    BeerBeast Pooh-Bah (2,491) Oct 9, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    For me it was Hopslam. Glad I tried it once.
     
    #18 BeerBeast, Aug 9, 2014
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  19. MgoJohnStamos

    MgoJohnStamos Initiate (0) Jun 15, 2013 Michigan

    Gumballhead was all hype for me. It was a good beer, but didnt blow my socks off. I would only put it a step above Oberon and maybe on par with Whitsun.
     
    #19 MgoJohnStamos, Aug 9, 2014
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  20. miketd

    miketd Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2006 Ohio

    Dark Lord was he first... many followed.

    Off the top, Black Tuesday, HOTD Dave and Hunaphu were failures I remember.
     
    #20 miketd, Aug 9, 2014
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