Bad Breweries/Brewpubs Remain Open

I'm scratching my head trying to figure out this one. I've been to almost all of the breweries in West Michigan (a few that just opened in 2014 are still on my list to visit), but I can't guess which place this one might be since you said they've been open a few years. I have one brewery in mind that fits the description, but I'd call it central Michigan. Can you elaborate?

 

We have a few here in Denver. I won't call anyone out, but a quick search of the Mountain Forum will probably lead you to them.
I attribute much of it to their location as that's a HUGE factor when there are breweries on every corner.
Plus, I think some of them will eventually collapse...it'll just take some time.

 

I think some of the issue with 'bad' breweries staying in business is the fact that craft beer is expanding so rapidly that newcomer patrons think that the taste of lousy beer is 'normal' for these 'new style of beers' and they continue to support that brewery and drink 'bad' beer. I've read Places reviews here on BA that I am amazed at the accolades given to beers that I know don't deserve it. I've been drinking craft for 15+ years, so I think I have a trained tongue to be able to make that evaluation, and, with the latest updates to the BA site, now I have the tool to mark a review downward on the rating list.

 

The bad beer at my local BTS (Brewpub That Sucks) gave my two new favorite local breweries the confidence to open. So though I hate their beer nowadays, and never go in, I do thank Gilded Otter.

Edit: oops is it okay to name names?

 

Seriously, back to the Olive Garden analogy . . . I think we forget here on BA that 95% of people don't give a shit about how "good" the beer at a brewpub is. Perfect example: BJ's, Rock Bottom, or a dozen other chain brewpubs. All it has to be is a tiny bit better than BMC, provide a nice little post-9-to-5 buzz, and wash down that Bloomin' Onion or whatever other fried atrocity they're serving.

 

Not a fan, but at least they are consistent. Now some of the bad brew pubs I've been in ( been a awhile ), just depress/anger me.

 

Shoreline Brewery. Michigan City, Indiana. The beer is flat, and served from dirty tap lines. Their Zombie Dust clone didn't taste like Zombie Dust, either. The food was pretty good, though.

 

I do think a lot of sub-par BPs flourish due to great locations. I've only come across one bad one that was hard to find/get to/away from heavy foot traffic. The only things that had going for it: was across from a strip club & the beer was cheap. It ended changing owners & becoming much better place to go.

 

Funny enough, I'll take the beers at most chain brewpubs over a LOT of breweries opening up.
While their styles aren't typically exciting or genre-pushing, they're usually well made by good/experienced brewers and are technically excellent.
I don't think the Olive Garden analogy is really appropriate as a brewer at BJ's or CB & Potts (RAM) is probably taking fewer shortcuts and utilizing fewer gimmicks than "ABC small brewery."

 

contract brewing?

 

I guess my point is that your typical BJ's customer is no more thinking about the technical excellence of the beer than the Olive Garden customer is thinking about the authenticity of the puttanesca. It's just there to get the job done.

 

While we're no a big brew pub patrons (most of them seem pretty poorly operated to me), we do eat out pretty often. I don't think this is confined to beer. My wife and I were recently talking about what passes for "good" in our area. Maybe we are just getting old and cranky, but the last few places we've tried that were "highly recommended" basically sucked, yet people are lined up out the door. Got in an argument with the owner at one place - said I wasn't happy with the quality and preparation of an item. He said I must be wrong because "everybody" raves about that particular offering, best around, yada yada yada. I guess if "everybody" likes inedible, then he's right. I think it ties to JayORear's point above - it is just there to fill a hole - satisfy the lowest common denominator, mediocre is the new good. Place we get fried fish from recently switched to frozen fries - asked why and they said cost and time. WTF? I'd pay a buck more for hand-cut fries and you've already got the fryers and the staff. But people are "OK" with it (but I think deep down that is not true) and this small lessening in quality becomes the new norm. Does the establishment care that we've bought fish and chips there almost every week for ten years and we might not spend our $16 there - no, because the majority of people will just say "oh, well...that's the way it is".

I don't think there is much doubt that standards are declining - restaurants, beer, or in general for that matter. Got into it with some dudes that cut a line recently - basically knocked people aside and went right to the front. I spoke up. People in line said "be quiet...it isn't worth it"...kind of an example of the same thing. When did rude, inconsiderate behavior become acceptable? Same thing. Tragedy of The Commons...

OK...sorry folks...rant mode <OFF>. Resume your normal programming...

 

There are definitely a few around Colorado. I feel like they offer completely mediocre to "mind as well be BMC" beers and the only thing I can think of is the majority of people who go there for beer think they are getting awesome craft beers but they really have no idea. You know the same people who claim Guinness is the heaviest beer around and blue moon is the best wheat beer in the world.

 

MINAHS

 

Agreed, I also like Rockbottom ( or at least enjoyed the Co Springs outlet, back in the good old days of living in the springs ).

 

Yeah, I just quit asking people unless I see their tastebuds are somewhat in line with me or the wife. Around here, people confuse cheap with good...

 

I absolutely disagree about "standards declining" wrt beer and food. Pretty much everywhere I've traveled, the options are better than they've ever been. I think that's obviously demonstrable with beer (for example, look at this site's Top 250: how many are more than 15 years old?), and even with food, restaurant options are better and less cookie-cutter in most places than they've ever been. Even at fast food places, options are much better than they were 20 years ago, because McD's etc. now finally feel they need to compete on quality at least somewhat.

And as far as people being rude, everyone always seems to think that the "next" generation is worse in pretty much every way than the previous one, despite most statistical metrics (crime rates, openness to outsiders, etc.) showing the exact opposite. There have always been assholes, and the behavior you described is still just as unacceptable as it ever was.

 

nailed it. I wanted to say that, but held my tongue.

 

Ironically, the assholes I am talking about were even older than me. I'm 56, so yeah, I have a lot of semi-old school mentality but I never said anything indicating this was a generational issue. I'm saying it is wrong regardless and we're agreed on that, and people's acceptance of it makes it even worse.

I see your point about choices, but what people perceive as good is what I was talking about. When we look for someplace to go around my area, it's pretty much a choice of what's least offensive unless I want to head into Providence. Everything is average at best. I think there are ore choices, but I'll remain unconvinced that there are more better choices. Yes - the cookie cutter places have had to up their game some, but when people think Applebee's or something like that is the BEST??? That I can't accept.

Cheers, mate!

 

No please rant away. We need more folks to speak up. I been into many of the places ranked on this site and others that are no where near a 3 much less a 4.5 to a 5.