Ballast Point becoming gimmicky?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by 2014LM2X1, Feb 8, 2016.

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  1. 2014LM2X1

    2014LM2X1 Initiate (0) Oct 13, 2014 Massachusetts

    Over the past two weeks, I've seen these in stores:

    1. Pineapple Sculpin
    2. Ginger Big Eye
    3. Mango Even Keel
    4. Watermelon Dorado

    Not to mention Peppermint Victory at Sea over the holidays. Is Constellation weakening the brand by pumping out all these new flavored offerings?

    P.S. To me, these sound like they come right from the PowerPoint of some Constellation marketer who decided that fruit beers are all the rage. I haven't purchased anything from BP since they were bought out and will continue to abstain.
     
  2. Hoos78

    Hoos78 Maven (1,327) Mar 3, 2015 Ohio

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

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

    LloydDobler Pooh-Bah (2,102) Jul 25, 2014 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    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?!
     
  4. CJNAPS

    CJNAPS Pooh-Bah (2,492) Nov 3, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah

    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.
     
    alucard6679 and beertrip like this.
  5. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Not to mention it will be Constellation's fault whatever they do.
     
  6. JFresh21

    JFresh21 Savant (1,036) Mar 6, 2012 Illinois
    Trader

    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.
     
    PerHops likes this.
  7. rather

    rather Initiate (0) May 31, 2013 California

    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
     
    CJNAPS likes this.
  8. IceAce

    IceAce Pooh-Bah (2,274) Jan 8, 2004 California
    Pooh-Bah

    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...
     
  9. algebeeric_topology

    algebeeric_topology Pooh-Bah (2,052) Dec 30, 2014 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    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!
     
    PerHops and IceAce like this.
  10. CJNAPS

    CJNAPS Pooh-Bah (2,492) Nov 3, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I agree, they lost a little respect....but its hard to turn down a truck load of money that backs up to your docks
     
    kemoarps and rather like this.
  11. HeislerGold

    HeislerGold Zealot (577) Oct 19, 2013 Michigan

    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.
     
    m4gdelen4, SawDog505, PerHops and 4 others like this.
  12. corgistout

    corgistout Initiate (0) May 8, 2014 California

    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.
     
    BigMike likes this.
  13. monkeybeerbelly

    monkeybeerbelly Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2012 New York

    Ballast Point becoming gimmicky?

    i must correct you, "became gimmicky"
     
    lateralusbeer and Brolo75 like this.
  14. Oktoberfiesta

    Oktoberfiesta Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2013 New Mexico

    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
     
    monkeybeerbelly and tone77 like this.
  15. Relik

    Relik Zealot (603) Apr 20, 2011 Canada (NS)

    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.
     
    cavedave and Oktoberfiesta like this.
  16. BigMike

    BigMike Pooh-Bah (2,334) May 8, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

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

    Raime Pooh-Bah (1,935) Jun 4, 2012 North Korea
    Pooh-Bah

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

    * Sips beer *
     
  18. BEERMILER12

    BEERMILER12 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,725) Sep 11, 2010 Maine
    Pooh-Bah

    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.
     
    jesskidden and breadwinner like this.
  19. DWheeler379

    DWheeler379 Zealot (747) Jun 15, 2012 Colorado

    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.
     
    JimsArcade likes this.
  20. lalancette7

    lalancette7 Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2015 Vermont

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