Original Beer VS Additive Variations

I can't think of any top shelf beer that I like that was made better by an added flavor.

 

Just recently I had Oskar Blues Passion fruit Pinner and wasn't a fan. Regular Pinner though, I thought was a pretty solid session ipa

 

Tasmanian Hatter IPA and Michigan Hatter are much better than regular Mad Hatter by New Holland.

 

I personally despise the emerging trend of adding something to existing ingredients and calling it a new product.

If all these new grapefruit concoctions help our citrus growers in the USA, then I'm all for it.

But I really don't care for industrialized trends coming and going based on ability to buy commodity. Like cocoa nibs...Praire, this Praire that...I could care less.

I am hoping the new trend for larger scale craft brew will be to buy bulk commodity of locally made goods and use that as adjunct. It's a win for everybody.

However these business oriented craft products are making homogenized trends...when one brewer does one thing, the other seems to follow suit.

Instead of getting a real unique seasonal, we get the homogenized version of what the bean counters deem a successful product. Our cross over products are being dictated by what is safe for markets.

I want more risk and more unique products.

 

Vanilla bean Dark Lord.......
Vietnamese coffee speedway....
Mocha Wednesday

 

I know I wouldn't any of those beers more than I would like the base beer.

 

Mayhabs they do, Mayhabs they don't. Iows, it depends. I am a big fan of base beers in general, if they meet my liking, but quite a few benefit from a wee bit extra.

 

As far as IPA's are concerned I haven't liked a fruit juice version over the base beer yet.

With Goses and Berliners it's the opposite so far though. I think the fruit adds a layer of complexity over simple tartness of the base.

And with stouts it has been hit or miss sometimes for me. When coffee is added and the beer is overwhelmed or becomes astringent I'm not a fan, but if the coffee mixes with toasty barley and chocolate malt it can be a wonderful addition.

 

I like Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout but love the Cassian Sunset variant that adds cinnamon and vanilla.

I like Prairie Bomb but love the Pirate Bomb variant which is aged in rum barrels. I suppose one could argue that aging in rum barrels is more than an additive.

 

I have to disagree with this one. Oskar blues is great but the regular Pinner does not do it for me. Picked up a sixer of the Passion fruit pinner and it was great. maybe that's because I was on a boat and it was hot as heck out.

Pinneapple sculpin > grapefruit sculpin > sculpin

 

Carton has been dropping O'dub variant BOMBS on us this summer and I won't lie, I couldn't be happier.

 

I like pineapple sculpin better than the original.

 

Ballast Point Victory at Sea > Peppermint VAS

 

Screw all of the added flavors.
I'd just like to see the smaller brewers concentrate on trying to make better beer. Lately it seems more to be going in the other direction.

 

Ska Modus Hoperandi > Modus Manderina
NB Fat Hoppy Ale > Fat Tire

 

Ozark Beer Company's BDCS is amazing. However, the Onyx Coffee BDCS is a truly outstanding beer.