Controversial Beer Opinions Thread

Yeah, I'm starting to realize that higher end beer is getting rediculously priced. Even a 15%ABV stout for $20. I just got a fairly hard to find Willet Reserve Bourbon 750ml (45%ABV) for $39 a liquor store recently (got a 2oz pour in a restaurant for $20 which was outrageous but another story). That Willet bottle will last me probably 6-12months of sample pours, sharing with friends and the taste of it is amazing. That $20 750ml BA stout although the taste may be amazing as well, will be gone in one sitting/less than a 1/2 hour if sharing with a few friends. Kinda puts price and enjoyment of the beverage into perspective a little.

 

I'm not a fan of Short's. I've tried many beers of theirs, but never got why they're so popular. Probably the best beer of theirs I tried was their bellaire brown, but I'm guessing that isn't the beer keeping their lights on. Oh, and space rock was ok at a ball game.

 

I don't agree, a head is a vastly overrated part of the beer. Best pint of Bass I ever had was as still as a mountain stream yet drank like it was 6.5% rather than 4.4% ABV.
A small head does the job of a larger one. It is stealing from the customer to sell froth at the same price as liquid.
An excellent local brewer told me that he could get a large head if he used poor quality malt. "But I would use Thos Fawcetts floor malted Maris Otter even if it costs twice as much as ordinary malt"

 

There really is nothing wrong with chugging beer. It's not dangerous to the person doing it AFAIK. It isn't creating danger for others. And it's kind of an inclusive activity, in that it takes no talent, intelligence, skill, or training. And it does get you all fucked up quicker.

So for those without talent, intelligence, skill, or training it is an activity that is wide open, and makes it possible for them to get attention they likely can't get any other way..

 

It isn’t stealing if the price and pour size are listed on the menu and you end up with the listed amount of liquid in the glass.

My preference is to have a glass with an extra 2 oz of space for foam

Edit: I do agree that you shouldn’t be charged for foam

 

My problem is that it always makes me feel awkward whether I give a big tip or a small one. I shouldn't have to be the one that your employees depend on to make their wages and I shouldn't have to feel like an asshole if I don't feel like paying 20% extra over the price marked on your menus just to keep it at that price. Charge me more and pay your employees yourself

 

There's part of me that agrees with you and part of me that doesn't. If it's just a faceless establishment that I'll probably never visit again, then I'd rather not tip. If it's my local pub, I'd rather give more money to people who do a great job and rather frequently go out of their way to make my experience more enjoyable.

 

how would they do that? Being friendly? News for you if you're an unfriendly bar tender you're in the long line of work

 

Sure, friendly's a nice thing, but free rounds and entrees that aren't on the menu are almost as good.

 

-I haven't had a Lagunitas beer I'd ever want again. (I've only had 8, and those don't entice me try anything else from them)
-I can almost say the same for Ballast Point, tried a dozen would only really go out of my way for one of those
-

 

Don't know which ones that you've had, but Lagunitas is a damn solid brewery. Maybe I just have a soft spot for them. Being out in Colorado in the early 2000s, they were one of my standbys. Still are here in PA with the Chicago brewery and extended distribution.

Before the Sculpin variations got out of hand, I always appreciated that beer. Same goes for Victory at Sea.

 

Can you provide a few examples?

 

I used to feel that way, drank a lot of their stuff. Then maybe 8-10 years ago, something changed. Maybe with the brewery, maybe with me, but, their beers just started started having the same crappy flavor profile, even Hairy Eyeball and Brown Shugga. Then Tony started becoming a mad man on social media, which pushed me farther away, then the sale to Heineken was the final nail in the coffin. They don't even exist for me anymore.

 

Just Google "Basque Ciders" and you'll get some decent options.

 

Don't see much of their limited release/seasonal stuff here, but bombers of Hop Stoopid are always reasonably priced and big cans of 12th of Never are as well. I also find it nice to see IPA or Sucks on tap.

I know a lot of people who were turned off by these two things. I was not one of them, but I understand why.

 

I couldn't finish Brown Shugga, 12th of Never was a drain pour, their Pilsner is mediocre at best and their attempt at a Dopplebock - "Doppel Weizen" is one of the worst beers I ever had. Billed as a Weizenbock, it tasted like a really bad IPA that had zero characteristics of a Weizenbock except that it was a liquid.

Victory at Sea, I would seek out again. Sculpin does nothing for me.

 

Highly recommend Millstone out of Monkton, MD. Not sure how widely distributed they are though. Bottles run $15-$25 usually so not cheap.

http://www.millstonecellars.com/

 

Damn. Love me Lagunitas. Between their IPAs and their BBA stout, it doesn't get much better. Oh ya it does, their pricing.

 

If I had the option between a Lagunitas Hop Stoopid or a Lawson's Sip of Sunshine, I'd take the Hop Stoopid. SOS is way overrated IMO.

 

Just to show I'm not projecting an East Coast vs. West Coast Bias, beers from Six Point do nothing for me. I've had 8 beers from them and the only one of those I sort of liked was their pilsner. The other seven beers, were "one and done" and don't have leave me inclined to try any other beers from them.