Ballast Point becoming gimmicky?

Howdy partner...many of these concerns have been discussed in this thread:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/ballast-point-mango-even-keel.375812/

 

Damned if you do and damned if you don't. A brewery decides to go outside the box and be innovative and they are labeled "gimmicky", but if they just keep plugging away with what they have already been doing, they are boring. These guys can't win either way. Do you want different offerings, or will you be fine with just drinking the same beers for the rest of your life?!

 

Your missing out because the Mango Even keel was good. But they can keep the watermelon Dorado and Pineapple Sculpin, haven't had the new big eye yet.

 

Not to mention it will be Constellation's fault whatever they do.

 

I'm cool with it. It's called voting with your feet or in this case $$$. They will examine the sales and if people buy them they will make em.

Goose island has done pineapple and peppermint beers. Both were excellent. I'm all for new stuff.

 

I will take the regular version of any of their flavored beer. Mango even keel ties the regular for me but gets a slight edge because my gf likes it.
BP really has lost respect. if they had release some new BEER not just some of their current line plus some shit thrown in (artificial/natural flavors) I would cut them some slack but I'm sure sleeping in money is wonderful

 

BP has always been cutting edge...from Thai Chili Wahoo to Victory at Cereal.

Constellation hasn't even owned them long enough to even begin to scratch the surface. Time to lighten up Francis...

 

This has been going on BP since before Constellation picked them up. It's just what they like doing I guess. I'm excited for at least 3 of those beers!

 

I agree, they lost a little respect....but its hard to turn down a truck load of money that backs up to your docks

 

That's not gimmicky. Fruit beers have been plentiful for a long long time and ginger isn't exactly some new bandwagon for brewers to hop on. This is just a brewery making beer.

 

These were all pilot beers at the brewery for over a year before they were released, so no. They are simply fan favorites that made it to bottles. I don't think having fun with some new variations makes a brewery gimmicky. Maybe if they replaced their core beers with the flavored ones.

 

Ballast Point becoming gimmicky?

i must correct you, "became gimmicky"

 

How are these flavors added to the beer? Post fermentation as strictly a flavor additive (like creamer or sugar in coffee)?

I havent gotten a straight answer yet from anyone from any brewery. All we hear is "brewed with grapefruit, grapefruit juice" or "tangerine, orange, and orange peel". I know one can add zest to the boil. Anything beyond that feels a touch like cheating.

If one runs a stout through a bag of coffee beans, those flavors are intense. One can turn an average stout into a world class offering. AT the end of the day, it's not really the yeast working any sort of magic if it's all done after the fact. Then again, that's what dry hopping is all about (after the boil).

Maybe people don't care so much about how it's made. I guess I'm just trying to see if I can brew this on my own.

There was a thread in here awhile back about adding a splash of juice to IPAs. In theory, this may be how those orange flavors get added.

Early on with home brewing, many warned of using real fruits in any sort of fermentation. One would have to make sure those items were super super clean or off flavors and infection could happen, so they would recommend flavor extracts. Maybe that's also used here.

This just got me thinking.. Carry on, ramble over

 

Well if you add the fruit to the fermentation a lot the flavor and scent will blow off with the CO2. Added during Conditioning is ideal because the flavors are still fresh once they hit the serving vessel.
You can add flavors in the mash, in the boil, you can add them like you would dry hop a beer all will impart something, but its however you want to express that flavor.
Extracts are a good way as they are mostly just alcohol and whatever the source of the flavor is, you could also soak your flavoring is a grain alcohol to kill off any bugs/yeast that may be on the surface.

 

I have no problem with them. If its not your cup of tea, move on.

 

To continue drinking mass amounts of grapefruit sculpin or to care what people think about me drinking mass amounts of grapefruit sculpin.....

* Sips beer *

 

As others have said, they aren't new beers. They were mostly brewery-only/draft-only beers that have been recently released in cans and bottles. Sure, the increased income helped with that, but they are in no way Constellation-born beers. Constellation was much more interested in their spirits and pre-made hard drinks than their beer line.

 

That's not true. I don't know why people keep saying that. Constellation didn't buy their spirits. I heard this from their East Coast Sales Manager on a podcast, before and after the sale went through.

 

Mango even keel was one of the most godawful beers I've ever had.