How many "mulligans" do you give a brewery?

Probably depends on how extensive their success rate is for me historically. When Stone released Belgo-Anise IRS in 2011, I didn't stop drinking Stone. I just didn't care for that beer. Same with Firestone Walker and Velvet Merlin - which I find to be quite average. Those breweries would have to go way south for a long time before they fell out of favor with me.

If it's a random brewery that just got distributed in my area, there is a much shorter leash. I'm more forgiving to my new local breweries because I know it takes a while to dial in your system. But if I buy a bottled beer from a brewery I've never tried before and I strongly dislike it, it's doubtful I will pick them up again, unless specifically recommended to me by a friend.

 

I view breweries like musicians. Some are one hit wonders, while others have catalogs worth of great material. It is what it is, and beer education is the best way to discern these things.

 

Like FutureJack said it totally depends on History. I think the perfect example for me is Pipeworks. The certanily have some misses but I buy every release from them because 9 out of 10 are complete hits. So someone like that gets unlimited mulligans in my book.

 

Those dudes are the mad scientists - hard not to give them a chance every time.

 

I know. Sometimes I even tell my self im not gonna like it but it gets a try everytime. Althouhg to be fair I thouhgt I was gonna hate the margarita wheat but it wasnt too bad.

 

2 Words: Cucumber Saison...thought it would be gross...I was surprised (bought it none the less).

 

Depends on the kind of mulligan. Are we talking a beer that I don't personally like (oniony, for instance) or are we talking nearly universal off-notes like diacetyl, acetadehyde, or unintentional infections? I think there's a big difference personally. I can respect a well-made adventurous beer that I don't personally like. However if something is full-on "off" - that's a bigger issue.

 

A place with a good track record will get a fair number of chances. A new place will get a couple to a few shots over their first couple years. One that tends to disappoint will get written off.

 

From my experience in the breweries I like - they do not make bad beer. Maybe I don't like that style or the particular interpretation of that style but no one should be putting out bad beer.

 

If ALL of the beers are mediocre (or worse) then maybe 1 mulligan, perhaps 2 (in terms of visits). After that, I'm never going back.



For nearly all breweries there are beers I don't like. So I don't hold that against them.

The problem I have is the breweries with pretty much all mediocre beers.

 

There are few I've kind of given up on. New Belgium's Lips of Faith & DFH come to mind. If I have any doubts about the general concept of the beer, I'll pass. Not sure I'll ever buy another from anyone with polouts ( I think that is the correct spelling ) again, ever...

edit: pluot

 

I rarely if ever totally write off a brewery. The only one that I think I've written off is Stone. That's not a knock on them, I just don't really find their products to be that appealing for the sort of things that I like to drink.

 

IMO a brewery that you discern as a personal favorite means you go there not only for the great beer they serve but also for other factors like vibe, ambience, food, look and feel, mission statement etc. As an example: One of my favorites in Chicago is Revolution and while I can't say I've thoroughly enjoyed every one of their beers, I CAN say that I will keep coming back not only for their beer but for everything else they continue to offer up.

 

Funny you mention that; Pluot was my single highest +rDev.

 

Night Shift had an entire flight full of Mulligans for me when I visited the brewery and I've pretty much written them off. 2 in the flight were full-blown diacetyl, others lacked flavor and the best of the bunch was an average Berliner Weiss.

 

That was just not a flavor I dug at all.....

 

I can see that. I agree with your overall opinion of the LoF-series though; there's a ton of bizarre and unusual flavors or flavor combinations. Some work well, some don't. They're all well-brewed beers, but they mostly fall on the fringe that people will generally either love or hate.

 

Two is usually what I will give a new brewery. Once a brewery becomes a favorite though, they are golden and I will try just about anything they put out.

 

Rogue was 3 and out