One Trick Pony

Folks can dispute my choice, and I expect they will. But first let's get out of the way I don't feel one trick pony necessarily to be a bad thing.

Other Half in Brooklyn/Upstate NY, do hoppy pale ales very, very well. Don't know why they would bother to make anything else, but they do. I know folks will argue that stout that was great, or didn't you taste that one release of... etc., etc. My take is Other Half brew amazing hoppy beers in pale ale styles and that is the pony's one trick.

 

The first one that comes to my mind is Brewery Ommegang. Their Belgian style beers are great, all other styles are so-so.

 

I'm with you on Prairie. Love their stouts. BA Birthday Bomb is my latest favorite.

I always think of Clown Shoes as a one trick pony. That trick being really good BA stouts/porters. To be fair I haven't tried any of their non-stout offerings in awhile. Maybe I'll pick up some singles at my local bottle shop and see if they're still a one trick pony.

 

I agree with @cavedave being a 1 trick pony is not a bad thing. There is a new brewery close to me Untied. Most of their beers are good enough but their Imperial Stouts are home runs.

 

I disagree with that characterization of Jester King. It uses a farmhouse yeast in pretty much all of its beers, but it tackles a remarkably wide array of styles within that self-imposed limitation. Heck, other than Atrial Rubicite, it's probably best known for an imperial stout (Black Metal). It also makes stouts of the non-imperial variety, porters, IPAs, APAs, bitters, mild ales, altbiers, various non-sour and non-saison Belgian ales, wheat ales, kvasses -- and makes them well -- as well as running the gamut of the many traditional sour and farmhouse styles and sour and/or farmhouse style-busters, with and without flavoring adjuncts. It's actually a quite versatile brewery that showcases a wide range of styles and flavors.

 

well My favorite beer in the world is definition of a 1 trick pony, (sort of)

Orval ftw, I know they make a Orval vet but for most of us, its 1 and done.

cheers

 

Exactly! I mean look at Rodenbach, Dupont, countless others...If the trick is that good I'll be buying a ticket to the show regardless.

Maybe it makes a difference if you're sitting at the brewery and want a change of pace, but that's about it.

Btw, one time I figured I'd give the Other Half ESB a shot, and I did find it to be a memorable experience. Just not in a good way .

 

A one trick pony is better than a no trick pony. Seems to be a few of those around as well.

 

Well, by your definition of a one-trick pony, they would include folks like Cantillon (Lambics), Duvel Moortgat, etc.

 

I came here to say this. Well done!

 

Yep, one beer and done with sales to the public, but what a beer!

 

Agree, I've learned to pass on anything they out out that strays from what I know they're good at (and they do make exceptional Belgian style ales)

 

I disagree. I enjoy my stouts to be above 14% ABV and sweeter than liquified diabetes. You just don't get it.

 

Prairie makes fantastic saisons.

If they'd date their stuff in a way that I could read at the store and understand, I would have Prairie Standard in my fridge at all times. And their others saisons I have tried have all largely been great.

I know they also seem to have a ton of rotating kettle sours popping up locally, though not a style I buy packages of to attest to their quality. And they have that Double IPA.

I really don't think their a one trick pony, though they are a bit focused on select styles.

 

But they do a variety within that Belgian style range, which to me makes it much different than one trick pony. There's definite differences between a saison, a dubbel, a wit, a stout, etc.

 

All those breweries who make nothing but IPAs.

 

Most people think that American Solera is a one trick pony with the wild ales. But if you ever get a chance to go by one of their taprooms in Tulsa try one of their NEIPA's, they are some of the best I have ever had.

 

Left hand. They are known for their milk stout, their Oktoberfest is a sleeper. Everything else is ok.

 

Guinness