Other Half (2021)

Still enjoying strata/mosaic more than the two Freak week beers I’ve gotten. But athlete is pretty great.

 

I think Athlete and Plaid are pretty good. Wouldn’t repurchase any of the others though.

 

A new mixed case is up on the shipping site. All (?) of this week's freak week collabs.

 

Got it!

 

The post this morning says “Stay tuned for our 7th Anniversary week releases next week.” That sounds like 7th Anni IPA, etc. and whatever BA stout, but it seems like a week too early? I thought last year they came out like Feb. 8.

 

It's not the same weekend every year exactly. End of January, beginning of February for sure, but not locked in.

 

Feels like it's either the weekend before or after the Superbowl.

 

Thought it was going to be the week after this, now my beer consumption timing is all screwed up. Guess I'll have to get drunk every day this week to make fridge space

 

That's exactly what I've been doing.

 

Are these beers as bad as some people say they are? I've only tried the collabs from last week and they're pretty good.

Seems like people on Facebook are a lot more critical of OH and what they're putting out. They're bashing Florida Plates and saying other breweries will be distancing themselves from Other Half. I liked Florida Plates.

 

Trillium definitely went to shit beer wise (wage issue notwithstanding) for a bit but they really corrected it.

They are cranking out the best NEIPA's right now and I prefer them to OH currently, which would have been unthinkable a year ago. Their core (Streets) aren't what they were but the Daily Servings and all of their "special" DIPAs have been insane.

 

Yeah, it didn't make sense to me.

I just hope they figure it out soon. Any idea what it could be?

 

Damn, the first time ever that Other Half didn't put out a universally renowned beer and the backlash is immediate. Very tragic.

 

Some of the beers haven't been the same but I still enjoy them. I don't think they warrant drain pouring as some do.

 

I mean they're expensive and people are used to a certain "standard" (no better way to put it). Other Half has a reputation for making the best IPAs, so when I shell out $100+ after not having it a while it sucks to have it not like I remember.

Ultimately it's on the consumer to vote with their dollar, so we'll see what happens in the next few months if Other Half will eventually ramp up distro if direct sales aren't cutting it. If the current trends keep up I wouldn't be surprised.

Look at what happened to Equilibrium, they used to be the craft beer darling with brewery only sales. Their quality has really nosedived over the past year or so and now they distribute all over the place

 

Onto my fourth can of OHDC X CRAK If You Like IPA Dilute 3:1 TIPA and can't recommend it enough. No yeasty melon esters whatsoever--just sharp, bright juicy Citra and Strata pure hop character. The Nelson white grape/savory/earthiness is fairly reserved, which is my only (minor) complaint about the beer. The green astringency I detected in the first couple cans has entirely receded.

I'm pretty convinced it's being underrated on Untappd, because this is way better than a lot of the OHBK collabs I've had as of late, which have all been melon bombs (the District 96 one being the worst culprit). It's definitely boozier than usual for an OH TIPA, but I'm OK with that. I might be of the minority opinion that a 10% beer should taste like... well, a 10% beer.

 

Definitely a tad boozier but I really enjoyed it. Bought it on impulse when I went to pick up the D96 collab and I'm really glad I did.