Great Notion

If your palate is to be trusted, I guess I won't have to be hellbent on getting myself down to Portland (or back to New England, whence I came) anytime soon. Smoothie Edition is a very tasty beer, and something of a novelty in our market, but I personally think it's a refreshing change of pace, an occasional indulgence, and nothing more. I'd rather have 3 Magnets (a brewery I highly rate, btw) other I/IPAs 8 or 9 times out of 10 instead. This style works well with breakfast/brunch, like a mimosa, but I'm generally not looking for something somewhat reminiscent of SunnyD in the PM. Still, it's nice to have another option...

 

I'll gladly take a $7 22oz of Little Juice Smoothie Edition delivered to my local bottleshop over a $15 Great Notion crowler I have to travel to Portland for. Both are delicious beers, but it's not like we're dealing with a scarcity of great beers. Kudos to Three Magnets for packaging a beer style with a notoriously short shelf life.

 

Honestly I don't understand folks balking at 12-15 bucks for crawlers when people are fine driving to tilamook every week or paying 25 dollars for average 22oz beers or 40 dollar sours. Why I do think the price point is a bit high I have a choice to buy it if I like. I'm really having a hard time understanding how some places are off limits when it comes to complaints but others aren't.

 

Not a bad beer by any means, but Little Juice Smoothie is still pretty bitter and not reflective of what's going on back East or at Great Notion.

 

I don't drive to Tillamook every week, I don't pay $25 for 22oz beers and I don't buy $40 sours. So thank you, but I'll continue to be out outspoken, beat a dead horse, and reiterate that I think $15 crowlers are outrageous.

 

Looking forward to this collaboration!

"Great Notion & Block 15 teamed up blending techniques and ideas from both breweries creating this special ale. Peach Punch is a big luscious IPA, fermented with Peaches & Apricots, and dry hopped with massive amounts of Galaxy & Mosaic hops. 7.5% abv (PYITE)"
https://www.facebook.com/events/1562280547402120/

 

Another great notion win win in my book. Finding delicious ways to remind me how sharing can make beer awesome. Looking forward to it!

 

I agree that the crowler price is a bit more than I'd like to pay, but then again I do because I really like the beer. Would I like to see them match the pricing a bit more, yes.

 

I wasn't singling you out by any means but I do know that I have brought up many problems with de garde and been pummeled by people defending them and for things that go beyond pricing. I'm with you that 15 dollars for a beer in a can is a bit much, but then again what does tank slapper go for in a growler? Some places that do it charge 15 or 20 dollars then you have to buy a growler if you don't have one. Depending on what you like, they are about even in my book. They are more on the high end, but again it depends on what you're into. I feel that the only way things change is by the customer(s) telling places that they won't support them if something doesn't change, and the best way to do that is with money. The only problem is most of the time this doesn't happen and/or people get singled out and given crap.

 

I'll reiterate, $15 for a crowler of a core ipa is ridiculous next to the $9 crowlers of Notorious.

 

Then don't buy it and let's talk about more important things like how delicious the Block 15 collaboration has the potential to be.

 

NE-style IPAs with NW-levels of bitterness are my thing. Pulp Free, the cloudy IPA from Breakside/Fat Head's commissioned by the SE Portland Growler Guys earlier this year, was phenomenal. The thought of Block 15 working some magic with Great Notion = a whole bunch of AW + YEAH. I don't need to line up for a crowler of that. Just pour me a glass and I'll spend some quality time with it.

 

Because we consumers pay it, taking away any incentive for the brewery to lower the price.

 

Yup, slippery slope stuff. Back when they were still relevant in the craft beer world, Rogue was proud to be the industry leader for pricing. They were the first to switch to 50L kegs, smaller than the standard American 1/2bbl, and still kept the same pricing. We've only ourselves to blame.

 

Thanks Obama Rogue

 

I think the difference is that GN beers are DIFFERENT. yes boneyard/barley browns/block 15 make great IPAs, but there are a ton of IPAs that are pretty damn close (green flash, alpine, FW Double Jack, breakside, etc. etc.) Like them or not, GN is making beers that are pretty unique for our corner of the world. Not only are they unique, but they are freaking delicious.

If Boneyard tried to do the same thing with their pricing, I could get a glass of Crux or Buoy and not bat and eye. Way too many west coast IPAs available that are similar in taste/

 

Can't believe you brought up crux as affordable!!