New England Whales?

Heady Topper is an iconic beer, it's high on the ratings because 1) it's one of the original "hyped" double IPAs,2) production wise the alchemist has it available year round, so it has significantly more ratings than most Hill Farmstead beers which plays better into the ratings weighting algorithm, and 3) its really good.

You have to take the "top beer lists" with a grain of salt because a decent amount of limited/rare and/or newer beers won't make the list due to having significantly fewer ratings

 

I’d say they are doing more than OK. They pulled out of MA because CT demand was so high as noted above, which was awhile before the G-Bot name change. And they made a decision to change the name of a beer. Is it really a fiasco because a bunch of people talked about it online?And the Sea Hag you had may have been from an old keg. I had fresh Hag last Christmas and it was awesome.

 

Is that a rhetorical question? I did say “in my opinion”, it wasn’t some sort of scientific fact. Objectively speaking, I would put more value into your opinion since you certainly seem to consume their products more than I do.

Also, you quoted the wrong person, I haven’t had Sea Hag in like 4 or 5 years. Again, I’m glad to hear they’re doing so well. It’s not like I had any ill will towards them or something.

 

Yes. They consistently pump out a very high quality product in a wide variety of styles. I live about half an hour from the brewery so I not only purchase their distro beers, but also frequently buy direct. In both cases their beer is always dated on the bottom of the can and honestly in my case I don't think I've ever seen any Nebco beers in the wild that are over 2 months old with the majority being under 1 month.

They also look out for their customers. On one occasion I was getting gouged by a packy for Gandhi bot (They were splitting up 4 packs and selling them for 7 bucks a can). I called the brewery and complained and by the next time the bot came through the packy was selling 4 packs for $16.95.

 

They do FBD releases all the time...2 in the last month actually. Usually lasts 2-3 days.

 

This makes me realize I need to dive into my inventory. Been sitting on several years of this for special occasions. The beer was Sublime on draft and well worth the cold mornings in line once a year!

 

No they do not. Treehouse/Trillium/HF and the like are pretty far ahead

 

they've been releasing it almost every 5-6 weeks lately

 

they're still good but whatever you remember is still what they are they don't really push the envelope or release new great beers like everyone else. Know mostly its all just different shades of gray with say Treehouse but they are always trying new stuff Nebco seems to rest on it's laurels to me

 

HF is in a class by itself, but I greatly prefer NEBCO to Trillium.

 

I'm curious who "and the like" are.? River Roost for IPAs perhaps? Other half? I agree with the post above that HF is in a class of their own. [TH and Trillium are just not the same for me. Diabetes stouts and (mostly, IMHO) thick rather flavorless IPAs (it didn't used to be like that.)]

NEBCO, again IMHO, releases all kinds of great beers. The Weiss trash series over the past two summers were great (raspberry, blackberry, apricot, etc). I don't suppose you tried the (decanted, admittedly small batch) raspberry spite and resentment? Both rounds, especially the first round, of the Hoppy Pils were great. Double Fuzzy, some spin cycles, and Dose are solid DIPA offerings. And I'd put fresh galaxy pale ale up against any most any pale ale outside of Greensboro, VT.

I even heard they won a medal at GABF this year for Schnitzingiggles festbier.

 

and the like: trillium/treehouse/Bissell bro’s/vitamin sea/HF/Foam/alchemist (listed NE breweries only). Sure I’m forgetting a couple but those are the main breweries in NE that people seek out stuff from. I wouldn’t consider NEBCO on the same level as those breweries, especially since the main convo is in the context of “sought after beers”. I’m sure NEBCO makes solid stuff and some of the beers might be better than the breweries list, but they’re definitely not sought after

 

“Sought after” is not always an indicator of beer quality as I’m sure you know. I’ll take all the NEBCO I can get over any and all “sought after” Vitamin Sea.

 

Agreed, this isn't really an opinion. This is based on ratings, rarity, trade bait...etc.

Notch is likely my favorite New England brewery, but The Standard isn't going be valuable on the trade market any time soon.

 

Vitamin Sea fascinates me.

 

I need to drink beer with you. The Standard is a favorite.

 

How so?

 

Have you tried their beers? They are very good

 

Admittedly I have not tried their stuff. But it's crazy how they hyped themselves long ahead of their opening (professional logo and artwork by a well known artist in the beer community) and in less than a year they're being regarded with the likes of HF (lol), Tree House, Trillium, etc.

 

I'm very plugged into the beer scene in New England in both a consumer and professional standpoint and I do not know a single person who has had a Vitamin Sea beer (outside of this message board).

Edit: Yes, I get it. People have had it. Seem to love it. It's highly unlikely I ever go there. I'm speaking anecdotally -- and not saying anything good or bad -- that I don't know who these people are who go.