Breweries that have lost their way/identity

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Ahonky, Apr 18, 2019.

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  1. Ahonky

    Ahonky Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2018 New York

    We could argue over the current state of beer in the US. Some feel it is as healthy as can be...the more breweries the better, while others see the more paradoxical nature of homogenization simplifying the landscape into three broad ideas of what beer is.

    Whatever your POV is, you can probably name a brewery or two who have lost their way in the process

    For me, it is Victory Brewing. Completely lost their way.
     
    #1 Ahonky, Apr 18, 2019
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  2. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    How so? I miss a couple of beers from the past that have been retired, but they still brew all of their core beers like Prima Pils, Storm King, Hop Devil, Golden Monkey. Taste as good as ever to me and the pricing is good too.
     
    #2 Jacobier10, Apr 18, 2019
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  3. ShanePB

    ShanePB Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    I hate to see the slide that Weyerbacher is on, but I'd say they could probably fit into this discussion. They just seem completely uninspired and stagnant.
     
    #3 ShanePB, Apr 18, 2019
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  4. ypsifly

    ypsifly Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2004 Michigan

    Stone. They were much better as a leading innovator, now they just march to the beat of the IPA drum like so many others.
     
    #4 ypsifly, Apr 18, 2019
    Takeanotherswing, AlcahueteJ, CannedWaggoneer and 47 others like this.
  5. ShanePB

    ShanePB Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Aside from their Enjoy By series, which I admittedly always enjoy, I agree with you. It seems like 90% of all new beers they release are IPAs, and not good ones at that.
     
    #5 ShanePB, Apr 18, 2019
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  6. jamshard2mash

    jamshard2mash Initiate (0) May 4, 2017 California
    Trader

    Stone IPAs are malt bombs now and way too sweet for my tastes.
     
    #6 jamshard2mash, Apr 18, 2019
  7. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Came here to mention them as well. What I loved about them were the big, bold beers like Arrogant , Lukcy and Old Guardian as well as “lighter” beers like Sublime and their shockingly low abv Levitation. Everything now really lacks the depth that they were so good at before. Everything went out the window when they started chasing hops for hop sake.
     
    #7 gopens44, Apr 18, 2019
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  8. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Agree.

    It feels like they are in the same place as they were 20 years ago. Sure this is part of their financial issues.

    Besides double Simcoe(can’t say the last time I saw this) and Last Chance do they even make an IPA?

    Not really sure they ever had a way to lose.

    Enjoy
     
    #8 Giantspace, Apr 18, 2019
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  9. eppCOS

    eppCOS Grand Pooh-Bah (4,570) Jun 27, 2015 Colorado
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    National: Stone
    Regional/national (10 years ago) I would have said New Belgium
    Local: Bristol
     
    #9 eppCOS, Apr 18, 2019
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  10. Ahonky

    Ahonky Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2018 New York

    The uninspired proliferation of Golden Monkey (really, a fucking mango GM). The endless stream of MOR india pale ales (No Brainer, Vital). Abandoning the German heritage (Moonglow gone, St Vic gone, St Boisterous gone). The horrific new design campaign. Seemingly burying Old Horizontal. Limey Gose?

    I was a huge fan of their. They annoy me so much now that I barely purchase Prima.

    I have no means of justifying this, but I blame Bill and not Ron
     
    #10 Ahonky, Apr 18, 2019
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  11. SmashAdams

    SmashAdams Savant (1,127) Feb 3, 2015 New Jersey

    I think Stillwater. I used to love all the sour/wild/saison beers they put out (Stateside, Cellar Door, Moneytree, Hopvine Bling, Shoegaze, Insetto). They were so good at subtly blending flavors and interesting ingredients. Now I can't even find most of those beers and they are putting out one lactose IPA after another. The only recent beer from them that fits in with their older style is Action Bronson's 7000 which is excellent.
     
    #11 SmashAdams, Apr 18, 2019
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  12. SmashAdams

    SmashAdams Savant (1,127) Feb 3, 2015 New Jersey

    Didn't they just reformulate Prima too? I wonder how different it is. I haven't tried it yet, and come to think of it I haven't had Prima in forever because it's always way past its date on shelves.
     
    #12 SmashAdams, Apr 18, 2019
  13. Ahonky

    Ahonky Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2018 New York

    If they reformulated Prima that is the final nail in their coffin!
     
    #13 Ahonky, Apr 18, 2019
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  14. BayAreaJoe

    BayAreaJoe Pooh-Bah (1,724) Nov 23, 2017 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Ballast Point
    Anchor Brewing
     
    #14 BayAreaJoe, Apr 18, 2019
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  15. Tdizzle

    Tdizzle Initiate (0) Dec 19, 2006 California

    Stone. I loved their core beers, and their seasonals were absolutely incredible: Old Guardian, Double Bastard, and RIS.
     
    #15 Tdizzle, Apr 18, 2019
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  16. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Packaging, not beer.
     
    #16 drtth, Apr 18, 2019
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  17. ShanePB

    ShanePB Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    This is what irks me the most about Victory nowadays. Also, absolutely agree with you on their "re-branding". Ugh, absolutely terrible.
     
    #17 ShanePB, Apr 18, 2019
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  18. ChazMania

    ChazMania Savant (1,028) Jun 13, 2006 California

    Another vote for Stone. They were my #1 brewery for many years, when I moved to SD county 6.5 years ago, they were still #1. With all the other local options freshly available, I think I've bought Stone once in the last year. When Mitch Steele left and Greg Koch changed roles and they got a new CEO, they beer portfolio plummeted hard and fast.
     
    #18 ChazMania, Apr 18, 2019
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  19. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    It has been mentioned before but I too will post: Stone.

    IMO they could just change their name to IPA Brewing Co. and then drop their suit against MillerCoors.

    Cheers!
     
    #19 JackHorzempa, Apr 18, 2019
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  20. PatrickCT

    PatrickCT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,776) Feb 18, 2015 Connecticut

    A brewery that no one will probably mention on here is Saranac. They had a nice line up of lagers. I am sure they are doing what they must to stay current but I am not a fan of their IPAs.
     
    #20 PatrickCT, Apr 18, 2019
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