Sisyphus thoughts?

I find Sisyphus arduous, tedious, and ultimately unfulfilling. It is like I have to work really really hard to get that one beer, and then I have to start all over again.

 

I'm rooting for them because I like their concept and they are on the right track with most of their brews. I think their darker beers (oatmeal stout, imperial brown) have been better than their hoppy ones. The DIPA and brett IPA aren't your typical west-coast style dry-hopped affairs, but are more fruity and bitter. The brett has been very different the two different times I've had it; the first time was funky (good) and the second was more like a Belgian (tasty, but not what I was hoping for). The oatmeal pale is an odd one and I'm not sure what to think of it. All in all, I think they're making good beer but just not of the top tier caliber we've gotten used to in MN because of the market saturation. But they're just starting out, so I wanna see what they do.

The head brewer did mention that they've purchased used barrels from Panther distillery, so there should be some BA stuff to try soon.

 

This site has been a little short on Greek mythological humor, thanks for remedying that

 

My take from another thread:

Finally hit up Sisyphus last night. Easy to get to from the West burbs and easy free parking to be found on the street. The tap room wasn't too crowded with folks playing shuffle board and board games. The beer was decent the workers were very friendly. I liked the Oatmeal Stout the best. The DIPA was a pretty tasty mango/tropical fruit bomb, not too hoppy. The Brett IPA was interesting, might need a few more to make a call on it. I will definitely be making more appearances.

 

Based on my first visit opening night I was not impressed. The beers didn't seem to taste much difference and really weren't that good. I'm hoping they have bounced back and produce some good stuff. In the meantime Bauhaus has turned into my jam. THough I hope they start branching out more.

 

I only had 2 beers there, but I thought the DIPA was very enjoyable (brewer mentioned he used the same yeast at the alchemist) The imperial brown was well.. an imperial brown. Cant say that really plays into my favorite styles, but then again, wasn't a drain pour by any means. They are running a 2bbl system , so a lot of turnover, he mentioned that he hadn't planned on having any mainstay beers at the moment. I like the idea of variety.

 

Stopped by a couple weeks ago. Really want them to work out as well as it looks like a nice, laid-back space. The Brett IPA was quite interesting, though the brewery itself doesn't have enough styles (or at least enough of the styles that I really like) to get me to put it into my rotation. Yet. Really hope it gets there though.

 

Hey all,

I just wanted to say hi! My name is Sam and I am the owner/brewer/everything else at Sisyphus. I want to thank all of you for coming in so far. I wish that some of you had left with a better impression, but there's nothing I can do about that now, other than promise that I take feedback from the beer community very seriously, and we have made great strides since week 1 and 2. Just this week we put batches #27-#30 into our fermenters, and our beer keeps getting better and better each week.

I just hope that those of you who weren't impressed the first time will give us another chance! We are working on barrel aged beers as someone above mentioned, more stuff with Brett, and even more different stuff.

I'm always bartending when we are open, so if you feel like coming in, please say hi. There's nothing I like more than talking beer with beer people. Mention this post and I'll give you half off your first drink.

And if you have any suggestions for the space, or beers you would like to see on tap, please let me know. Like I said, I take feedback very seriously and strive everyday to improve our product and what we are able to offer.

 

I'd love to see beers with any sour bacteria (brett, lacto, pedio, or just about anything else. Heck, just take the dreggs from a bottle of De Cam, Giradin, Hanssens, 3F ect) and or Barrel aged stuff. Also, anything with Rye. I've been loving rye beer lately.

I feel like there is already a plethora of awesome IPA's, pale ales, easy drinking lagers ect. I know sours and BA stuff is tough, especially for a small operation, but if you get it right, it would set you apart very quickly. Also, IMO, be wary of weird adjuncts like flowers, peppers, herbs ect. Very few spiced beers do much for me.

Best of luck to you! We love having brewer insight on the forums. Cool of you to chime in.

 

Thanks much! We have our "Rye-Curious," a hoppy rye, coming up soon, and also a Saison w/ Rye. We just ordered our first set of barrels and they should be showing up soon, and we'll be putting them to work as quickly as possible.

For the sours, we probably won't have any true sours for a while, but we do use Brett as a primary fermenter in two of our beers so far. And I agree on the flowers/peppers/herbs...those are not typically things I enjoy in the beers I drink.

 

I've been to almost all of the brewpubs and taprooms in the Twin Cities area, including two stops at Sisyphus, consuming one beer during each stop. I thought the Brett IPA was very good. It definitely emphasized the "Brett" side of its name more than the "IPA" side, for better or for worse (I say for better). I thought the Double IPA was excellent and outstandingly complex, even within the competitive Double IPA style, and it's one of the best local beers I've had in awhile. For comparison, I drank Town Hall's Citra Mania IPA -- also excellent -- a few days before I tried Sisyphus' Double IPA, and I preferred the Sisyphus Double IPA. If I had to judge by just those two beers from Sisyphus and the similarly limited number of beers I've tried from other places, and judge on beer alone, I'd have to call Sisyphus the best brewery to open in the Twin Cities area since Dangerous Man. I've been very surprised by the mixed reviews it has been receiving on this site.

 

Me, I like 'em.

 

I think Sisyphus has been doing a great job so far. I like it better each time I've gone. Really liked the imperial brown. Sam is really approachable and really wants honest feedback.

 

I visited a few weeks back on a Friday , Same time as former Mayor RT, It was great chatting with you and your Wife (apologies as I forgot her name). Really enjoying the idea of a fast turnover and variety,(except the DIPA, keep that on at all times ).

I know many of us on here are beer nerds (self admitted or not). I'm going to make a generalization and say that SOME of us are prone to only search for the next Top #10 beer and overlook beers that are still very enjoyable. Sisyphus is what craft beer should be about, a great local environment to share a solid beer with other like minded individuals. I look forward to coming back soon and trying more offerings. Cheers!

 

Kudos to Sam for chiming in. Other small brewers should take note of the direction this thread went after his comments.

 

I would also add that BAs should be commenting as if breweries are always reading what we write (because they often are). Sometimes we Minnesotans can be nasty when we think no one is watching...

So if you're not willing to say what you think to the brewer's face, don't say it at all!

 

I'd agree, up to a point. I think sometimes we should be more willing to say what we think to the brewer's face. I'm sure Sam would rather get constructive feedback than wonder why people are staying away (not that they are, but in the hypothetical). Nothing wrong with "I wish you the best of luck, but it wasn't my thing because x, y, and z."
But I do agree that we can be a bit too dickish here in our posts. I think it's mostly because we think it makes us more entertaining.