3 Floyds Brewing (2023)

On this point, I'm not confused. As @beardown2489 indicates, Sue pre-2013-14 was more similar to ZD and Brickstone APA. And King Sue? I recall at DLD in 2014, which I recall specifically because I didn't go in 2013, and it was (I think) the second year of the A-B-C-D groupings, King Sue was my second, and then third, pours of the day after getting my DL first thing that morning. (Pete, who used to tend bar at Floyds, was pouring at the guest table and I gave him the high sign and he hooked me up because the line was out the door to get pours of it - I don't feel bad about that, in retrospect)

And it was glorious. Almost akin to Pliny, it was a devine DIPA. Sigh. I still have it my memory as one of my top five favorite beers.

 

I throw my experience into the ring as well. First had Sue and Zee on tap together at a rural bar in Chaseburg WI called the Hideaway in 2012. I still remember my buddy going with Sue while I grabbed my classic Two Hearted to start. We sat down and my buddy turns to me and says "Smell this beer and tell me what you smell." After a wiff I understood, I'd never smelled a beer that smelled like a straight up armpit and gym locker. Still remains one of my clearest beer memories.

On the note of what Sue looked like. It was clear, and didn't look much different than my pour of Two Hearted. Hazy Sue didnt really start till around late 2014-2015. My first few bottles of King were also clear.

 

The debate over Sue’s opacity 10 years ago is going to be tough for most people to correctly remember given how memories change over time so it is understandable that most people misremember it was actually more of a reddish beverage

 

I had King Sue at DLD 2014 on draft as well and it certainly had a notable amount of haze vs your typical clear IPA. Also the first time I had it so it was quite memorable.

 

So, without people simply straight up clarifying what they truly desire out of APAs and IPAs, I'm starting to get a clearer picture of the nostalgia that is being lost in the haze.

You're all saying you'd prefer something closer to West Coast, yes?

Well...here's the thing, who is buying that? Who is demanding that?

As I've mentioned, Fat Head's near me does stellar WCIPA. They just yet again cleaned house for several categories in the World Beer Cup, and consistently clear shelves in Ohio despite constantly pushing product out. Are Ohioans the only people in the world actually consuming West Coast style ales, or is everyone else getting their fix with non-retail homebrew? Because Fat Head's doesn't really expand far outside of the state--although they could probably swing it--and I don't see anyone talking up their local West Coast styles or ISO the same.

So what gives?

Maybe TG should make a throwback PS, but they probably wouldn't want to muddle the brand as it currently stands and has for the better part of a decade. And would it sell better than "hazy" Sue? Likely not.

And yet, this discussion started out of criticism of FFF's "hazy" not committing far enough to the haze. It's funny I'd almost expect that to actually be closer to the middle ground for someone who isn't down with current PS.

If clearer, crisper and slightly more bitter ales were actually lucrative, wouldn't there be more access to them on the market?

 

From what I heard there was talk last year of brewing up a batch of "OG" Sue on the pilot system but that never came to fruition.

IMO the haze isn't the issue, they just cant nail the mouthfeel and hop flavor I'm looking for with each attempt I've had of theirs. But this is been true for many years and many breweries for me. It's the main reason why I still stock up on whatever fresh Sue I can find while I'm down in WI as its hard to find a real competitor at the price and quality level even after all these years.

 

I have pictures of beer. I just never bothered to learn how to upload them on this website

 

Yeah, I tend to agree. The first true hazy IPA I tried was The Get Fresh Flow from Mikerphone when they were brewing out of Une Annee, I think. That beer absolutely blew my mind. I drink it now, and I still enjoy it (Nelson is my favorite), but it's not really any better than a lot of other hazy IPAs you can get anywhere.

Palates change. The first time I tried BCBS was probably 2009 or so, and I thought it was way too intense and couldn't even finish it. I tried it again in probably 2013 or so, and I thought it was freaking awesome and started buying bottles the next year. Now, it's just "good" but not really any better than a lot of other BA stouts. Did the beer get worse? I think not.

 

Grabbed a mix pack from Madison and I gotta say, Pride and Joy is fantastic. Love 3000 version but the OG is just something else to have as I havent had one in 10ish years. Really wonder why this isn't still produced like Alpha and Gumballhead as I cant image sales were that much different.

 

Pretty sure Pride & Joy and Jinxproof were both discontinued due to low sales. Alpha and Gumbalhead were doing much better at the time. Then they introduced two new year round hoppy beers (Space Station Middle Finger & Lazer Snake) I believe Gumballhead is still a great seller, not sure on Alpha King. Zombie Dust is everywhere though. I think the market is shifting a bit now and they see there is a place for these beers again, instead of a lineup of all hoppy pale ales.

 

Finally tried Lord High Fixer... What an awful beer. Sad I only grabbed 1 mix 12 due to wanting more P&J, but I had a feeling that LHF would be bad. Boy was I right.

 

You didn't ask me...but it's like you're reading my diary.

I've just stopped buying hazebois altogether lately; I can't be disappointed if I don't drink 'em!

 

Good question. It has been a dry spell for me for a while with hazies in a sense of trying new ones unless its a mix pack from what I would call a "trusty" brewery or something under 6% from the same catagory. But even the last few trusted beers I've had from even my favorite producer TG have been a little lack luster (Sue, DDH Sue and DDH King). Even with the sue I am drinking atm I am having a rough time finishing the last 1/3 of it. May just be me.

But with 3floyds I feel like they have never hit the mark with any hazy. I really wish they would try their hands at more session beers as they really are one of the kings in this space.

Overall though it seems I may be heading down the same path as you and many others where my once IPA heavy freezer is now stacked with pils, hoppy lagers, and session ales with the hazies quickly losing more and more space. I would hope its not a person hate of the style and just a unenthusiastic modern approach from brewers lately who now are just making a burnt out style. IMO no one has ever built a better NEIPA or hazy then old school Sue, and I guess by now my hope of finding one is long gone.

 

Did you have their Lunar Throne? That was a top tier hazy imo.

I suspect this will be cyclical and we are swinging back to 2010s. People are liking lighter stuff again and in a few years we’ll move to ipa craze and then a few years later back to NEIPA mania.

And that Pride and Joy this year is surprisingly good. Was an after thought when I bought the variety pack but tried it yesterday and it is probably the best beer in the pack.

 

Truly believe P&J and 3000 are their best beers. Hoping to see it stick around in the mix pack or be brought back for a full release.

 

You did not query me, but for the past couple of years, the Chicago Beer Society's Summer event has been "Hazy Days of Summer". As a member, I get advance notice and a discount code. But I am not going this year. I am unenthused by a phalanx of hazy beers, be they india pale ales or lagers. To me, it is not worth it. But I do hope it does well for C.B.S. I am setting that Saturday in abeyance because I suspect Metra will again have its special Saturday runs on the Heritage line to Joliet, and that will be when I can get to the ICBG breweries in Lockport.

 

I think it has for sure gotten hazier. I totally understand that beers evolve over time, but it's a bummer it's diverged from my pallet preferences.

Also, I haven't been able to get fresh gumballhead here in Denver, but what I have gotten has turned from a summer crusher for me to a beer that's borderline acridic. I'm in Chicago this weekend and hope to find them both around town.. for science, fingers crossed I'm just wrong or have been getting some old batches.