beers on the down trend.

I think KBS has fallen off in popularity due to the massive increase is BA stouts hitting the market recently. Still an outstanding beer, just not as unique as it once was.

 

Masala Mama. I remember years ago when it was one of the most sought after IPAs here on BA, now you never hear about it.

PS: I always thought it was overrated, but I digress.

 

I think the increase in BA stouts has made it slightly less talked about, but the fact that it still sells out within a few hours to a couple days (depending on location) tells me it has certainly not lost any popularity. Totally agree with your last statement.

 

Not true in the case of Founders Breakfast Stout. Production has increased and regular FBS is still one of the best stouts out there.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/11/fourth_major_expansion_in_5_ye.html

 

90 Minute IPA for me

 

sarcasm doesn't translate that well. i always think it's funny when people make these blanket /end thread statements

cheers

 

I think a lot of this has to do with availability (or tradeability). For some reason, more availability seems to lead to a lower rating.

 

Actually, you can't. You can buy 6 four-packs, though!

 

They did within the past year (can't remember exactly when).

 

Well, one of those beers tastes an awful lot like Westvleteren 12. I would never dissuade someone for trying it for themselves, though. Lots of beers won't live up to the hype for some folks, but they will for others. The 8 is still in my personal top 10 all-time favorites.

 

Not to be that guy, but have you had Abyss with 3+ years on it? It really develops into something special. Fresh out of the bottle, it doesn't do a ton for me, but fresh/young on draft is really good, too, IMO.

 

1.) Abyss
2.) Sucaba
3.) St. Bernardus Abt. 12
4.) RR Consecration
5.) Sculpin

 

I don't actually get your statement: 'fading into the crowd" could mean a lot of different things.

Are you saying:

1. These beers have gotten worse ... they used to be good but aren't as good any more?
2. These beers are still what they always were ... but now there are so many beers that are as good or better that they don't stand out any more?
3. That the styles are just not as desired any more so they feel "old fashioned" (i.e. Abyss hasn't turned into a bourbon bomb infused with cocoa nibs, jalapenos, smoked sea salt, and count chocula)
4. Or that beer advocates and the market just chase what's new so no one is paying attention to them?

My 2 cents are that 3 and 4 are more likely. Both are still world class in my opinion. I definitely don't feel they've gotten worse or that so much progress has been made that they're obsolete. No one outside of Belgium has managed to make a quad approaching Westy (though there have been some great American "spins" on the style) ... and I still find Abyss to have, depending on the vintage / age, greater elegance / drinkability / nuance than most of the super sweet, huge ABV, spirit forward, adjunct happy stouts that seem to be the trend. Many of these stouts show really well in a tasting where you get 3 or 4 ounces and they're going to seem way more impressive than Abyss. But give me a 12 oz pour of Abyss. Not every beer needs to be a sledgehammer.

 

Yeah this is definitely not talked about enough. Great beers sit on the shelf at my liquor store (eg. Storm King (which was already mentioned), Dirt Wolf, Arctic Panzer Wolf -actually a lot of Three Floyds Bombers) while beers like Zombie Dust sell out in minutes. Nothing against how good Zombie Dust, I think it's excellent, but I feel that most people are gathering trade fodder or only listen to the top 250 beer list, which I think we can all agree is severely flawed.

 

Westy 12 is a great beer. Not $30+ a bottle great, though

 

Preach it, brother!

 

The beer I'm tipping into my mouth right now is on a downward trend

 

Ironically, most of them are the beers that used to be either rare or regional but have become far more common. In some cases the beers are still great (like Westy 12) and in others (Dark Lord) they were exposed.
I think in a few years you'll probably see similar fallout with the top 250 of today.

 

I noticed with a rise in price also, about 15% at my local total wine

 

THANK YOU !