IPA Factory Breweries

Probably about a year ago. I remember the Derivatives used to sell out pretty quick, within the week.

 

They still have the original location in Herndon, not sure what they do there other than can sales. They also have the location in Herndon where they were trying to open a brew pub but it's still 'under construction', they do have a 'beer garden' at that location but it's just some tents and tables in a gravel parking lot where they serve cans.

Aslin pretty much follows the OPs timeline, they are at #5 where their beers are now sitting in grocery stores and headed towards #6 with their move towards making lagers.

 

Yes I’m seeing Aslin, Equilibrium cans and other top NEIPA makers with occasional can drops in my local stores now. I almost always pass on them because they are going for $6-$8 per can and there is a lot of competition now for NEIPAs by local, regional and National makers so my weekly beer budget money goes towards cheaper options on my weekly store buying. Several years ago I used to drive 1-2 times a year out of state to stand in line, pay $18-$20 a four pack pricing to mule home maybe a case or so of beer to work thru over 2-4 weeks. It was a great treat, these well crafted NEIPA beers were unique, rare and delicious and there was no competition and nothing close to this quality in my local area. That has changed. Plus some of the quality seems to be inconsistent now with some of these brewers where before each new offering always seemed to be spectaclar. Not willing to gamble on a $7-$8 can let alone a $20-$23 4 pack.

 

I was the definition of a 'ticker' for many years. I spent a lot of money, and unfortunately, the only thing I really got from it is that many new beers are not worth it, especially at to-go only prices. It's easier to order a couple sample sizes at a new-to-me brewery and try their beer vs. buying a $20 4-pack or two and blowing my beer budget on, what very well could be, mediocre beer.

To steal a George Carlin joke, think about an average beer, then realize half of all beer made is below that average. Unfortunately, I paid the price of $5+ per 16oz can for a long time to learn this lesson. Now I pick up from one local brewery or pick up a SN, Athletic, or Odell pack at the store.

 

I was thinking about Aslin. I Love them and used to wait in line for their releases and then make the trek to Alexandria when they expanded and could keep the supply consistent. They’ve started distributing all over now, even to crappy liquor stores in my neighborhood without refrigeration. In DC I’ve watched their cans wallow for months, their double IPAs surely spoiled and ruined by now. Suddenly it just doesn’t seem as appealing to drive all the way there anymore. That’s a problem with a lot of these places, if they’re going to charge $20 for 4 cans, they need to make sure they distribute to a place with proper refrigeration.

 

That is indeed a very intriguing question. It seems to me that contemporary IPA Factory Breweries cater to customers that are constantly seeking a 'shiny new thing'.

It would be interesting to know how much HopHands beers Tired Hands sells as compared to the new 'shiny' IPAs they produce every week (or so). Do Tired Hands customers really support purchasing the 'same old' beer?

Cheers!

 

I sorta thought about this last evening as I drank a Juicy/Hazy IPA from a local brewery last evening. The beer was 'good' but not as 'wowing' as I remembered past batches of this same beer brand. I thought to myself: "Hmm, seems to be an inconsistent batch."

Do you think that in the beginning of the Juicy/Hazy IPA movement (e.g., 5+ years ago) we did not notice batch variation since we were just so damn excited to drink this new sort of beer type? But with time and experience we are more 'attuned' beer consumers?

Cheers!

 

Aslin may have brewed a few one off lagers before moving to Alexandria but they started doing more since the move and now they seem to have a couple available at any given time. The lagers I've had from them are ok, a little heavy but fairly priced (for local craft) at like $11/4-pack.

They've also started doing seltzers and have 2 other side projects in the works with a winery of some sort and a cidery. They appear to be grasping but I could be completely wrong about that.

 

That is another intriguing question.

A year+ ago it seemed to me their business 'evolution' approach was to open additional outlets for their beer. They were considering opening a new location in Kimberton, PA but apparently things did not work out well for them in their 'negotiations' with the local township zoning board. Tired Hands does self distribute their kegged beers (which I presume is well down now due to the pandemic) and they could do the same with their canned product but needless to say they would not make as much profit by selling their canned beers via distribution. My guess is that as long as their 'shiny new thing' beers are selling well they will continue with business as usual.

On a Tired Hands related matter I drank a new beer from them last evening: Modern Gulpie which is a Light Lager (4% ABV). They are selling this brand in the six-pack/12 ounce can format for $12.50. This is very much a new venture for them:

• The first time they have packaged in the six-pack/12 ounce can format to my knowledge
• The first time they had a price less than 13 bucks to the best of my recollection

I wonder how well this Light Lager will sell for them?

Cheers!

 

I definitely noticed an off batch or two of Trillium early on but I think that there were so few breweries doing what they were doing, I was more forgiving. Even Hill had some off batches. I think competition has made it more important to maintain a certain standard more so than people's palates. But that's just my perspective.

 

I have seen where 4, 5 and 6 happen with larger regional breweries as well. Cigar City started distributing to Michigan a few years ago. It is very hard to find product like Jai Alai close to fresh. That was a beer I would seek out whenever I went to Florida and it was something I would bring back for friends. Surly started distributing to Michigan within the last year or so. Their stuff is never fresh (<2 months). I stopped looking a while back, but it was usually more than 4 months old. Toppling Goliath just started distributing to Michigan but only in Metro Detroit. I have not seen it on store shelves yet. Last time I was in Chicago and bought beer the Pseudo Sue was more than 2 months old. Zombie Dust was more than 3 months old. I know there is discussion of some of these not being as good as they used to be, but I think freshness and availability contribute to this. I'm looking at you Jai Alai and Zombie Dust.

 

I'm not saying Other Half does this, but I am sure many breweries with a large portfolios make a wide variety in order to hide deficiencies with their process. I guessing it results in many customers thinking that they really like/dislike certain hop combinations simply because a particular batch ended up better/worse than the standard for that brewery.

 

Here's my two cents...
I respect a brewery that can make multiple styles well more than just one, but as long as you are making that one style well then I have no complaints. That said for companies putting out a new IPA every week, I feel are either hiding that they can't make the same beer twice or are out just to please one part of the craft beer crowd.

As far as the breweries that used to only sell out of their brewery/taproom and now are distributing in COVID, I imagine a lot of it has to do not only on not wanting to miss out on profit from taproom sales, but also needing to maintain the hop contracts they've established to get the latest and greatest hops and you gotta make beer to use hops.

Lastly, my opinion on all the $15-20 4 packs of IPAs on the shelves. I'm hesitant to try new ones from breweries I haven't had a chance to try yet. I've been burned too many times by breweries making sub par examples of the style and charging big dollars for it.

P.S. Lactose doesn't belong in every style.

 

How about now? Have you noticed that the IPA Factory Breweries are producing batches of beer (same brand) that varies in quality?

But needless to say the price (e.g., $20 per four-pack) remains consistent.

Cheers!

 

While not true distribution, my local brewery, near Harrisburg, got a delivery of six different Tired Hands cans today.

 

Jack, I don't really frequent or chase haze cans like I used to. I honestly can't say.