2016 Horizon Society

Except their track record with the actual beer is much better

 

Wakefield or Brothers? Wakefield makes excellent beers.

 

Yep, that's what I meant

 

Mine was a gusher. It didn't taste bad per se, but was not the same beer I had on draft at Resolute Day. The Passionfruit Verdures are overcarbed as well.

 

People honestly need to start voting with their wallets when this stuff happens. Its my worst complaint about most societies; unless they have a proven track record you are taking a huge risk.

For me, I am unwilling pre-pay for a year of food at a restaurant unless the restaurant (and not just the chef) have a successful track record at amazing dining experience, great food and phenominal customer relations.

 

The first year I was a huge advocate for the society, shit I think I was a trustee for half of the members. Out of everyone I was a trustee for only 1 reupped, and that was because he was so impressed with resolute. The only reason I reupped in 2016 was for resolute variants. With all the problems with those it's pretty much cemented my decision for anything horizon related.

 

The whole thing is just so damn FRUSTRATING. To me, the fixes are so simple. Yet Adam and Co. choose the hardest damn path. For what? Being right? Never having to admit fault?

The thing is, the staff at Brothers are first rate. Great people and great service. So that tells me Adam and Co. have to be really good people, b/c they could never keep such a cool staff if they were true assholes. So why can't they just get out of their own way?

I don't get it. They should hire a communications consultant.

 

I'm right there with you. I had 7-9 trustees the first year. Hyped up the horizon society like there was no tomorrow. After being let down the first year I decided to give it another chance.

After the first year I only had 4 trustees that renewed and gained a new one.

This year I have zero people renewing. I did have one friend from out of state decided to join for 2017 and is going to give it a try.

I didn't renew myself because I decided to vote with my wallet. They have let me down two years in row for numerous reasons.

As far as the staff goes they are amazing! I have yet to ever have a bad experience in the tap room. Hell last time I picked up bottles I showed up a day early by mistake and they still pulled my order. Always top notch service there.

 

I'm wrestling with my decision. I do want to support the brewery because of all the nice people it employs. But $150 is a lot of money and they haven't proven they can consistently make good to great beer. Even with that, I would stick with them if the leadership of the brewery wasn't so cold and condescending to its customers.

Sad part is I know they don't really care whether I renew or not. They want fan boi's. The Emperor has no clothes.

 

I opened mine last night and it was infected as well. Mine didn't gush, but the off flavors were prominent. It tastes like a blend of a stout and a Flanders red. Drainpour.

 

Same here finally opened my bottle (#153), it was a slow gusher and a drain pour. I was hoping the Coffee Resolute would salvage the night but that was underwhelming, it needed more coffee. I'm convinced now the Coconut Resolute was a fluke.

 

Reminder.... Tomorrow is the last day to purchase/renew for 2017 HS.

Tomorrow is also the last day to request a refund if you wish to back out.

 

Well just to throw my part, opened a bottle of hazelnut, gushed into the sink as reported. Bottle 418. Smell was harsh but taste showed this beer had promise, just never going to get there. Sad overall, hoping Brothers is willing to take a trade in, happy to trade for same cost credit/beer but being someone who lives in town I don't have the same costs as those who came in specifically for resolute day so understand much of the annoyance. Their response to this will impact my future decision....similar to Deschutes in 2009 with Abyss and Mirror Mirror....they reported infection, offered credit, and fixed the problem. They are still my best verticals (Abyss/BB) and I give the brewery huge props. Lets see if Brothers can match up.

 

I don't have an axe to grind, I've met a couple brothers and their family and really like them. I chose today to cancel my 2017 membership. The last two years have seen far too many bad beers (define how you want) to keep giving them money up front for beers that aren't as promised.

I was a member of the Spring House Society last year and left after many similar issues. They 'seem' to have gotten it together and I truly hope Brothers will too. I'll follow for a year and give blind hope that they may turn it around, but two years is too long to expect a full fledged brewery to work out kinks. This isn't an isolated incident but a long term, continuing episode where the brewery refuses to take full stock of what's going on in their front yard.

 

Update:

We received reports of foamy bottles of Chocolate Hazelnut Resolute right before Christmas and began to investigate. Many of you have already contacted us via our normal method for reporting issues (website contact form) and we appreciate your information as we continue to try to determine the cause for these carbonation issues. If you have not opened your bottles of Chocolate Hazelnut we ask that you do so now and if your bottle experiences any issues please contact us via our webpage to request a refund.

Here is what we know so far. After going through the bottles we hold for testing there is roughly 50% of the bottles that are affected, these bottles are around 2.65-2.7 volumes of CO2, up from the 2.4 they are packaged at and will foam. If your bottle does not foam uncontrollably it has not been affected. These bottles have not shown up on the test media we are able to use in house so we have to wait for lab results to try to find more.

Please contact us at https://www.brotherscraftbrewing.com/contact/ if you have a problem bottle that is excesively foamy and provide your bottle number and any additional information you may have. Thank you for your help as we continue to improve.

 

Weird, 2.7 vols isn't enough to cause gushers

 

Not enough to make them taste off and infected either.