Bad Breweries/Brewpubs Remain Open

not sure where comparing a list of the top 250 beers (ON BA) equates with rude folks and poor food, being sold as great food....care to explain? just trying to understand your point.

If a bar carries the top 250 list in stock for decent prices call me, I will go visit it. lol

 

Unfortunately now that the market for Craft is in full swing it's going to continue to be like most other industries. Lots of Bad Movies, Bad Food, Bad Music and a whole lot of people who do not know the difference paying for it.

 

There is a local brewery here that I do not know how they continue on. Their beers are awful and everyone agrees, constant issues with health code violations and the owner is a total jerk. Yet year after year they keep on going, shocks me.

 

Maybe there are enough people they disagree with the hype and like them?

I did a blind taste test a few years back (actually multiple, but one that applies here) in which I intentional purchased beers in the style across the range of BA ratings. The lowest one was a C+ (back when the grading system existed). I had people rank the beers and rate them 1-5 BA style. What do you know, most of the beers average was very close to the BA score, including that "bad" beer. However, about 1/3 of the people gave it a very good score, and one person had it as their favorite in the group. **shrug**

In some ways, a lower score with a wider distribution of scores could lead to a beer than outsells a consistent, but higher average, score.

 

Well, there are still BJ's Breweries and Karl Strauss open here in LA, neither of which is worth much as a brewery in my book. Must be the food. Not a fan of that myself, either, so I am mystified.

There are some breweries in this state that remain open year after year despite making infected, unpredictable messes or just plain awful beer (Bayhawk Ales, anyone? Indian Wells?) and I am mystified that they remain viable.

 

I've seen a few people here reference Rock Bottom. I think that all locations serve their highly mediocre regular offerings, but what's interesting is the unique seasonals or special beers seem to differ by location. In my experience, depending on the individual acumen of the brewing staff, these can range from disgusting swill to surprisingly complex beers.

EDIT: It's been 2 years since I've stepped foot in a Rock Bottom so I could be totally off base. Fwiw, I know I've had some good Belgian styles in the south suburbs somewhere (Orland Park maybe?) and was not at all impressed at another location in the north burbs.

 

As an aside, once you've been to Tired Hands, you're wrecked for life. The best "brewpub" experience I've ever had.

 

Be careful, according to some on here consistency is the highest measure of quality, so you just said that Olive Garden is awesome!

 

He said standards, for "food, beer, and in general" were declining, so I addressed all 3, and looking at the wealth of Jewish options on the Top 250 is definitely relevant to beer.

EDIT: Ha, my phone auto-corrected "newish" to "Jewish", but it's funny so I'm keeping it.

 

OP seems to be referring to small, local breweries. I don't get out to bars/ brewpubs much what with family and work and all but i wonder the same about many larger, craft breweries. i've never seen anyone buying anything from breweries like River Horse, Flying Dog,Full Sail, and many other makers of mediocre beer that i wonder hope big can they possibly be elsewhere that they manage to gross millions annually??

 

well I would not compare one with another myself. and yea that was funny.

 

I agree and also when a new place opens it draws a bunch of people from the area to try them for the first time. Makes them seem more popular then are when the initial hype wears off.

 

Lost Sailor on cask at Great Taste has been my favorite beer there for several years running. i've kinda always thought it would be cool to stop in at the brewery one day for a few pints.

is it really that bad?

 

There is a minimum standard you can expect. Not gonna be great, not horrible. Sadly, the OG is better than the 1 " Italian " joint in my town...

 

In my former city, the OG would have 1-2 hr waits on weekend while the insanely awesome locally owned italian place was busy, but rarely had a wait. I never could comprehend it. And there were a number of other locally owned that were better than OG that never had a wait.

In my current city, I havent found any local Italian places that have wowed me yet.

 

I tend to stay away from the 'chains' if I can. That being said, I have been to Rock Bottom and BJ's, and although the beer didn't blow me away, I think it is far from bad. I prefer Rock Bottom, actually. Also, if a brewery/BP has a great atmosphere, it is easier to down some mediocre beer. Lastly, everyone has a bad day. I recently visited 3 floyds, and was nervous about the service based on what some have said, but everyone was amazing. If I had gone in a day earlier or later, maybe everyone would have been in a pissy mood.

 

ABC lol

 

I spent the last few summers in South Dakota. Some brew pubs/breweries just do not have any competition for hundreds of miles. You get a crappy brewery/pub or none at all, plus food is a huge thing too.

 

I like the idea of a contract brewpub.

 

You need to hit Peekskill Brewery next time east, then you will really be wrecked for life.