Overrated Beers?

I hear what you're saying, but there's a problem with assuming that you know what it will taste like, and the problem is that you will miss out on some great beers. I'm guessing that you're talking about double IPAs, and there are some great beers in that style. So it pays to listen to the hype when it's for a long-lived beer such as Heady or Pliny. But YMMV.

 

Anything The Alchemist. I actually find their hoppy beers gross.

And while not bad, I'm continually underwhelmed by Trillium, Other Half and Tired Hands beers.

 

Which hoppy beers/breweries do not underwhelm you?

Cheers!

 

Fair enough. Being smacked in the face with hops and bitterness isnt normally my thing but I admit it can be exciting. l'll probably try it eventually. Didnt say I hate those beers and think they are the worst thing ever btw. Just not among my favorites.

 

Earlier this morning I received an e-mail from a local beer retailer he just got some beers from The Alchemist in:

“16oz 4pk & Single Cans

Alchemist

Focal Banger


16oz 4pk & Single Cans

Alchemist

Heady Topper”

I personally will not be heading over to buy those beers. Not because I don’t think they are high quality beers but because they are too pricey (for me).

Cheers!

 

I never expect a beer to live up to its hype. It's doubtful IMO that any brewery can brew a beer that is head and shoulders .better than the other top brews of the same style.

 

What was the price tag on em? Out of curiosity. I'm finding it harder and harder to justify spending over 20$ for a 4pk of IPAs. MBC Lunch was 8.20 last time I checked. 35$ for 4 ridiculous. I look forward to start homebrewing.

 

Well for haze, I haven't had them in years but I think Tree House lived up to the hype.

For WC, well - because they're not hyped - they tend to deliver on their promise more. Most West Coast breweries do it well understandably and Maine Beer Co does a decent job, albeit at a higher price.

 

Probably fair to qualify that heady (and company) are what, 12 bucks x 4pack, at the brewery? Not to mention, arguably the beer that prompted the entire haze craze we live in now, whether one likes that or not, it's definitely an important beer.

My favorite Alchemist beers are Luscious and Beelzebub (both stouts), so I in no way have strong feelings about Heady, but I do think it's a special beer.

Now Treehouse on the other hand...

 

In the e-mails he doesn't list the price. This particular retailer is a small beer shop and the prices are typically a buck (or more) than what are charged at my local supermarkets. My last purchase of Heady Topper was over a year ago and I paid about 20 bucks at my Wegmans supermarket. I remember saying to myself at checkout: Self, this is the last time I am buying this beer.

Just too pricey (for me).

Cheers!

 

Are there any Juicy/Hazy IPAs brewed by West Coast breweries that 'thrill' you? Maybe the Juicy/Hazy IPAs from Monkish?

Cheers!

P.S. And FWIW I generally prefer non-hazy IPAs but I personally think that Tired Hands produces high quality Juicy/Hazy IPAs (I am a fan of Alien Church and Pineal).

 

I can’t think of a single beer over the years that has had some hype surrounding it that I didn’t think was at least really good, if not exceptional. Heady Topper, Pliny the Elder, CBS, KBBS, Westvleteren 12, anything I’ve had from Cantillon, Hill Farmstead, Side Project, etc. not that any of them deserve the secondary values they can command, but the beers themselves have all been really good or better.

I find the opposite situation is true: beers with no hype that should be talked about more. Things like Aecht Schlenkerla Urbock or Jever Pilsner. Zero hype, exceptional beers.

 

I too am a fan of these sorts of beers but finding them fresh at my local beer retailers is an uncommon event.

Cheers!

 

Hype gave me high hopes for these, but I was underwhelmed...although all of these were obviously well-made and I understand their appeal.

-Sculpin
-Nugget Nectar
-Founders Breakfast Stout
-3 Floyd's Alpha King
-Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout
-Ayinger Celebrator
-Jai Alai
-Left Hand Milk Stout

 

Isn't that the case with just about every single beer with you?

If you want a tuna steak, farm raised salmon is not a substitute.

 

Always a challenge. Jever is one that we tend to get quite fresh from time to time, as long as you are shopping at the right time.

We only get Schlenkerla Marzen here. That is, except when we have a smoked beer event like last weekend and have all of these from freshly arrived kegs at a local brewery’s tap room:

 

Good grief!

 

DFH 120 Minute.
Every Barleywine ever.
Every Doppelbock ever.

 

I feel like Monkish beers in 2015-2017'ish are different from what they produce now. I go to LA('ish) every year and I haven't been impressed by Monkish in quite some time. As they've grown, they got more brewing staff and even if Henry is still(?) the brewmaster, whoever helms the Head Brewer has a major stamp on how their beers taste. Cellarmaker to a less extent has the same dynamic.

But I do think Slice Beer Co in Lincoln, CA makes the best hazy/juicy IPAs in the West. As a tiny brewery, Zack is the (only?) brewer, so of course their hoppy beers are consistent and delicious. He was doing amazing things as head brewer of Moonraker, so no surprise he's matching and even surpassing what he was doing there. Slice's WCIPAs are fantastic too!

 

I suppose we now know your two least favorite beer styles?

Cheers!

P.S. Later this evening I will be enjoying a Troegs Doppelbock!