A Blast From The Past

Glory days of craft beer right there.

 

YES, It use to just be a sandbox, but now it's a vast desert and the search for variety is a real challenge. So I home brew to fill the void, but even that has evolved to having to get ingredients online. I remember having a local homebrew shop were I could get grain, hops, yeast and bombers of Hop Stupid.

 

I miss the variety of Belgian imports you used to be able to get. Now most places just have Chimay, St. Bernardus, Duvel, Chouffee, and DuPont. Maybe Westmalle and Leffe. Oh, and Lindemann's, but only the fruit stuff, never the Cuvee Renee or Faro.

 

That founders imperial stout was glorious.

 

2013? Goddamn man, you’re old!

 

Yep, sure do reminisce about the past, not only for the prices but also for the fact that since beginning around 2018-2019, many of my old standbys from old reliable breweries just don't seem to age as well nor have the same punchy-in-your-face barrel aging as older versions.

I'll freely admit that my tastebuds have dulled due to my own aging in the last 8 years but whether or not it's a barrel-aged brew (see my previous comments about which breweries I can still taste any evidence of barrel aging), a boozy barleywine or triple ipa (Bigfoot, Hopslam, Waldos, etc.) or other less strong brews, so many of my favorites of yore just don't taste as flavorful anymore, even within days/weeks of being fresh when consumed.

Like I said, I know a lot of it has to do with my being 8 years older, but to have so many old reliables across so many styles no longer taste as potent? I'd like to think my getting older can't be the entire issue.

And before anybody asks, there's no medical issue with me either in the last 8 years other than I still consume waaay too much beer on a daily basis.

 

I just went though this thread, and realized that this post makes it seem like this selection is great and I was being somewhat sarcastic. It isn't. There was so much more available 12-15 years ago.

 

The old Ballast Point labels were so good.

 

I remember having to get up early on Black Friday to go stand in line for an hour until the liquor store opened just so I could get my limit of two bottles of regular BCBS. I still kind of miss that.

 

There was a sweet spot when special beer releases were happening (and fun) before people started taking things too seriously. You know the type. The folks that showed up to beer releases with 4 mules so they could get more bottles that they had pre-traded for more beers they'd never drink. At least out here, those people started showing up around 2016, so things were a lot of fun for about a decade prior. With craft beer struggling at the moment, I'd even happily go back to those days. At least people cared. These days places don't even bother with special releases.

 

I remember the days when a brewer would brew what he or she wanted to brew and not be dictated by accountants. Or have their time brewing beer split up between beer and (insert trendy beverage here).

 

This is precisely why I find Vinobrew such an interesting concept.

 

I miss these days as well. Brewery options were less but variety seemed more, and there was a special feeling with certain brands knowing they were local to your area or region. Something about knowing you can readily get something good a fresh that other areas of the country can't and vice versa. I don't have the time like I used too but from around 2016 and a few years following my homebrewing was similar to Fuzzbalz making styles I wanted to drink but could not find on shelves.

 

FWIW I have the same 'feeling' here.

It seems that because there are more craft breweries in 2025 than there were a decade+ ago that beer choices are 'better' (well, they are from a brewery choice perspective) but I am with you that when it comes to beer styles/brands that 'back in the day' things were 'better'.

Cheers!

 

I am jones'ing for a fresh Anchor Steam and Liberty Ale about now.....

Damn, I miss that brewery, and all they originally stood for! Help, Fritz!

 

seems like more SKUs, less choice...I know that doesn't make sense.