Long time lurker, first time poster, so sorry if this isn't desired here, but I thought it would be a good idea. As we enter August, the fall variety packs start to premiere and give us a first taste of what will be available for the first half of the football season. New England is great for variety packs, so let's share first sightings of variety packs hitting distribution and what's inside them. I've tried to gather as much information as I can, and that can be seen here: 2015 Fall Variety Packs Sam Adams: (4x3) Boston Lager, Harvest Pumpkin, Octoberfest, and Hoppy Red (new) Sierra Nevada: Pale, Flipside, Vienna, Tumbler Blue Moon: (4x3, RIP 6x2) Belgian White, Cinnamon Horchata, White IPA, Chai Spiced Other New Variety Packs: The Shed: Mountain, IPA, Profanity, Nosedive Harpoon: UFO White, Hefe, RAZ, Big Squeeze Rogue: Brutal, Hazelnut, Shakespeare Oatmeal, Dead Guy Boulevard: Black Pale Ale, Belgian-style IPA, Pale Ale, Unfiltered Wheat 2014 Fall Variety Packs (for comparison): Harpoon: UFO Pumpkin, IPA, Rye IPA, Octoberfest Long Trail: Long Trail, IPA, Harvest, Pumpkin Magic Hat: #9, Jynx, Hi 9, Wilhelm Scream Saranac: Legacy IPA, Black Forest, Pumpkin, Octoberfest, Dark-toberfest, Autumn Pils I am sure I'm missing some, so feel free to say which ones you are looking forward to. Currently, I am a little disappointed that Sam Adams hasn't returned to the 6x2 variety packs, but it seems that everyone is tending away from that. I'm thinking Harpoon and Long Trail will be my go to's, but SN is always good too. The season of pumpkin flavored everything is fast approaching and all we can do is embrace it.
Saw a cool one in Yankee Brew News today. Wachusett New England Sports pack. BelliCzech Pils, Bruin Pale, Monsta(oldie but goodie) and Triple Double Larry. Hope its a play on Larry Legends number not that he was a big Triple Double guy. Which I don't recall him being. Mostly excited to see 3 new beers by Wachusett.
Wow I will definitely be in on the Wachusett pack. I was gifted some tickets to a Pats game this fall and looks like a few of these 12-packs will be in order!
Nice work MVP and Patches! The Canacopia is about what I expected from Wachusett, which means its certainly worth picking up. The City of Champions pack is exciting though, three new brews and the ever tasty Green Monsta? I'm in on that too! Just out of curiosity, where did you find the images and is there a hint as to when they are coming out? As a side note, hopefully Wachusett cans their Milk Stout again. I'm sure it isn't the cheapest to include in a variety pack, but I'd love if they included it in a pack that had four different beers-- having 6 Quinn's made that recent pack tough to buy multiple times; more so because of just wanting to drink different beers and not for lack of quality. Another side note, Triple Double Larry is clever and sounds delicious. I've been holding out for a Dubbel Bastard, but seeing a local brewery get adventurous with Belgian yeast is refreshing.
Wachusett is always solid. Honestly only 1 beer of theirs I don't enjoy. Pumkan and that's because I don't like pumpkin beers.
How about the new Otter Creek one? don't know if it's specifically fall, (the rep I talked to a couple weeks ago referred to it as such) but it has the Backseat Burner, Over Easy, Overgrown and a new one, Couch Surfer Oatmeal Stout.
nice! Bella Czech pils is an outstanding beer name. personally, I can't wait for the Shed mix pack. Maybe it's nostalgia for the old bar in Stowe, but Mountain Ale & IPA hold up well even in today's crowded market and I enjoyed Profanity. I'm sure the last one (stout? porter?) will be strong too.
Is Jacks Abby mix-12 still around? I'd buy that often: Hoponius Union, Smoke and Dagger, Calyptra, and Leisure Time Lager
Bacon's in Hudson tweeted that they got some JA variety packs in today. Not sure what beers are included.
I can confidently say that the only variety pack that brings and inkling of interest is the Sierra Nevada pack. I also dislike pumpkin beers and I'm hoping that a purchase of Warlock this year might change that.
I can't say I ever buy Wachusett beer. But I'd buy that mix pack just for the Pils. Larry is a decent DIPA when fresh, so the Belgian version is a bit intriguing to try
Saw the Harpoon fall variety pack in Brighton last night, can confirm it's the same as last year: UFO Pumpkin, IPA, Rye IPA, Octoberfest
Found and bought The Shed one. The Profanity was better than I thought it would be and the whole pack is very solid. Also saw the Otter Creek one, but I've been trying to resist buying a new 12 pack until I finish my previous one. Saw the Long Trail and it was the same as last year. Harpoon and Long Trail and good pick ups, but hoping the Two Roads one is easy to find, that one sounds great!
