Troon Brewing

I agree it was less crazy than I thought it might be, got there around 715. I didnt realize there were beers pouring up in another room until it was too late, would have been nice to know. Also, the in charge (GM or whomever) was a bit to zealous in calling last call and getting people out the door imo. I was buying my drink tickets a few seconds after walking in around 715/20 and I heard someone say something about last call, the guy selling the tickets said no worries as long as you have tickets you will get your pours. I did, but by 8pm last call was said and pours were over. I had to get 2 beers at once and basically throw them down quickly as I was being rushed out. The event was listed as 5-9 on FB, but they were forcing last call around 8 and getting people out b4 9 even rolled around. I get calling it a bit earlier, but an hour before the posted end time was kind of disappointing. I rushed there right from work to make sure I had time to hang and have some beers but I still felt rushed even though I got there a few hours before it was supposed to end. I know BFT is closed on Mondays generally but I felt like whomever was running things wanted to just get people out and close since it was their normal day off

 

Yeah, very abrupt end to the night. Door opened about an hour early though. Not that this is in any way helpful to anyone who arrived later in the evening. But may have been a factor.

 

So the bottles... how were they?

 

Yeah, anniversary was great. Staff were friendly, beer was amazing, people were joyous. Glad he got the beer-to-go crowd taken care of so the event could be as amazing as it was.

It was a bit strange hearing last call and checking my phone and seeing it was 8... and the bouncer wouldn't let me back in to use the restroom after I got some fresh air. Event was pretty informal until then, hah.

 

yeah, all fine and well with doors opening early, but yeah it doesnt help those who came later because they work later hours. I got to enjoy a few beers so it was still a good time for me, just felt like I could have spent a little more there if they had let me

 

Any update on the quality of the anniversary bottles?

Like someone else mentioned, 27 - 28 a bottle was a little too steep for me, even though I was out and close enough to grab bottles if I wanted. I couldn't justify spending that on a grisette, or any beers where the describing factors are acidity and carbonation levels, with one of the bottles being a gusher ("will lose a small amount of foam"). I've also never had a super impressive beer by Troon.

Just my 2 cents, and I'm sure plenty of people will defend Troon and speak to the quality of their beer.

 

Agreed, gushing bottles is a defect not a feature of your beer. If you need to warn people about carb issues maybe you shouldn't be releasing it.

 

I opened the grisette Sunday night. Well before the recommended 24 hours but it was post eagles cowboys debacle and I was looking for comfort. This was the bottle that Alex notes as “especially” carbonated and to have a glass ready.

I had said glass ready and upon opening it did gush but not too much. I was able to pour immediately into glass and did not lose much beer. It also stopped foaming after a few seconds. I’ve had gushers before that last for many minutes and you seem to never be able to pour. This was not the case.

The beer was tasty. It drank fuller than the 4 abv. Appropriate tartness. Purplish hue. I could have drank whole bottle but I was sharing. I’m looking forward to trying the other two.

 

This is one of the problems with NJ beer tho... why release a beer that has a QC issue like when it's known before the release. Surefire way to make sure that I don't regularly buy your product, if at all.

They could have just as easily released the other 2 bottles for $55 a set and still sold out, while collecting loss insurance minus a deductible for the rest.

 

I'm all for QC, for breweries not releasing subpar products and for consumers not encouraging their release, and for generally holding breweries to a higher standard than many consumers currently do... but I didn't think a slightly over-carbed beer is that big of a deal, unless it's indicative of infection (which it doesn't like there is here)?

Anyway, I was hoping to pop the grisette tomorrow so I guess I'll find out as well.

 

Mine was heavily carbonated but none foamed out. And that style of beer is supposed to be heavily carbonated.

I think dumping out all of those bottles of his first brew for heavy carbonation and potential for light foaming would be silly. Especially since he has clearly demonstrated quality control is not a consistent issue with his beer.

I mean, I've had bottles from the big lambic producers literally shoot the cork out when I removed the cage. Which to me is a far scarier prospect, but it is sort of a common thing with these long-term sours. For whatever reason.

 

Mine had a little over foaming and then I was immediately able to pour and enjoy with no excessive head. I remember popping a green flash rayvon vert that foamed constantly and wasn’t able to be poured and enjoyed. This was nothing like that. And I did pop it earlier than his recommended time frame.

 

I've experienced gushers, exploding glass bottles, oxidation, dms, ba beers that soured unexpectedly, all manor of protein or yeast boogers, beers that had zero carb, and things I've forgotten to list.. and I'm not even speaking about NJ craft beer.

Quite frankly I'd have to see some actual data before I'd be willing to say qc is more of an issue in NJ craft than elsewhere. Has any such data ever been compiled?

As a side note, I believe almost every bottle of champagne I've ever purchased had a warning to chill and keep still for a period of time prior to opening to prevent gushing.

Maybe Troon is the true champagne of beers?

 

Opened a Treatise tonight (slowly). Carbed about exactly what I expect for the style, nothing gushed and no beer was lost. I don't typically gravitate towards grisettes because they can be one dimensional, but the vinous element of this one keeps it much more interesting without becoming overpowering. Tart and citrus, but definitely doesn't approach the tongue-scorching levels of deGarde or Side Project, super drinkable.

Opened this one first as I figured it would be my least favorite of the three but it sets a high bar.

- A Guy Who is Very Impressed with Troon Rarely and Thinks They're Typically Just "Good"