Breweries between NYC and Syracuse

I think it's their reliance on Ringwood that they were trying to get away from. Was an industry darling in the early 90s, but the buttery dactyl notes seemed to get worse without good strain maintenance. (See: Shipyard).
But I picked up a Druid Fluid last year when it was released for a stroll down memory lane and it still was enjoyable. That's where the Ringwood is tolerable, or even shines.

 

Yeah, you make a good point there. I’m one of the rare few who enjoys a well-made ale w/ ringwood. When done properly, they can be really great beers IMO.

My wife and I went on a mini-honeymoon in Maine, along the way we had some pours of McGritty’s Halloween Ale, Pub Ale in Portland as well as some pours of ESB and a few others at Federal Jack’s. Everything drank really nicely, zero diacetyl just good beer with that slightly fruity/estery hint of ringwood. IMO the strain doesn’t hold up well in packaging form. We had a really great time at both places. We also hit up Maine Beer and Bissell Brothers and I’m tempted to say the two “old dogs” we went to were every bit as good (and even more fun, from a social experience)

 

Shipyard's Old Thumper was a showcase for a great beer made with Ringwood.

 

It was a major bummer when they threw out their old recipe for Beast Bitter, and replaced it with a hopped-up citra version, which tastes like soap in comparison. They went too far with the whole hopping up their beers in response to the market thing.

OG Beast Bitter was a thing of beauty.

 

Honest to god who has ever had an ESB and said, "I think this could use some tropical fruit hops?"

I love citra hops. I love IPAs. But an ESB is an ESB and should never be anything but an ESB. Treehouse may be the most hop-heavy brewery on Earth and you don't see them trying to hop up Old Man. Hell even Other Half back in the day made a traditional ESB.

Just bad, shortsighted form on MA's part.