Breweries you've done a 180 on

I've gone 180 in the negative direction for a lot of breweries that I loved as a newbie. Years ago I loved Redhook, Shiner, Shipyard, Pyramid and a bunch of other breweries that were unique because they were not local. Now I'm not impressed by anything they do.

 

Shiner Cheer is still delicious

 

If I had access to NB, I would love to try some of their beers. Haven't had a single one

 

Positive 180 would be Odd 13. I had them at a beer fest a couple years ago and the beer seemed flavorless, than a year ago or so I started trying some of their things and especially after Codename Superfan they are one of my favorite breweries.

Also Positive 180 is Boulevard. I had some of their core beers in college and was never a big fan of them. I have recently started trying some of their Smokestack Series and things like Tank 7 and The Calling are awesome.

Negative 180 would be Boulder Beer Company. I drank a lot of them in College, now none of their beers seem very special and I haven't purchased one in a while.

 

-180: Rogue. Seems like I'm not the only one.

-90: Brooklyn. Used to love them and a Garrett Oliver leghumper, but they've done some bad stuff (Quintaceratops, anyone?)

+90: Upstate NY beer. We've done some bad stuff here. I mean really bad. But it seems like maybe we've turned a corner and there are some breweries pumping out really good stuff now.

+180: Oddly enough, Ballast Point. Maybe my tastes have changed, but I remember not liking their stuff at the beginning. Now, my go to West Coast stuff.

Otter Creek and Clown Shows are still on my s#!+ list, but based on this thread, maybe I need to give them more of a chance.

 

Brouwerij de Koninck

 

New Belgium. When I first got into craft, I thought they were the Colorado equivalent of Sam Adams: a massive brewery making boring, mediocre beers but remaining successful because of branding. But when I actually tried all their stuff I began to slowly change my mind. Beers like Fat Tire and Ranger are definitely not cutting-edge, but are very tasty and drinkable. Their Belgian ales are great for the price, and the sours are wonderful. I think one reason that some people look down on them is that they don't make the sorts of barrel-aged imperial stouts and triple IPAs that are all the rage these days.

 

Harsh. Don't expect very many to agree with you on that.

They are world class. Just old news. Not the cool new kid on the block.

 

You got into craft beer for the wrong reason.

 

I used to hate on Sam Adams, but I value their place on the market. Well priced beer that is well crafted. They have some duds, no doubt, but they have to cater to more groups of people considering their size. Boston Lager is a very nice beer, and Noble Pils is an excellent pilsener. My primary gripe with them is the size of their line up. I wish they would consolidate a bit a focus on a smaller group of core offerings. I don't need 74 different varieties of Witbier. Cold Snap is an overly sweet pile of garbage

 

I think I may have posted on this thread already, but recently, Long Trail. First there was Limbo, good brew. Then there was Space Juice, another good option. Now Unearthed, very good stout, showing up on tap everywhere around me and in bottles at every store. For easy to find options. They are great.

 

+180: Sierra Nevada.
-180: Great Lakes.

 

My local grocery store stopped carrying Sierra Nevada for some reason so I've rediscovered Boston Lager - really a great all purpose beer.
Also been drinking more Brooklyn Brewery regular beers - Insulated Lager and Brown Ale. All at great prices and well done. The truth is - sometimes I want a regular beer - nothing too crazy and sometimes there aren't a lot of good choices otherwise.

 

Great divide. Avery.

 

Kane. They aren't doing anything to acknowledge where they really are at. Their releases are long lines and they move slow. I know a lot of locals who don't know of or care to know of this site that are pissed off and done with them. I'm right about there, I mean maybe it's been bad luck but I haven't been able to get anything this year. Missing on Morning Bell was pretty much the final straw for me.

 

Lagunitas. Every time I try them these days, I'm hit over the head with that cloying, malty sweetness, no matter what the specific beer.

 

So you grow all your own food, harvest your own cotton to make clothes, dont own a car, live off the grid, I hope you dont have a cell phone or computer either.

I dont get the Hate for big beer. Everyone buys from big everything else and does not seem to give a shit. AS long as VAS is brewed the same I will buy it. If AB made a top notch IPA or stout I liked I would buy it if it was in line with others of the style.

Its very cool to try and support local and small companies but at this point Lagunitas is not small. Sierra Nevada is quite large but they are supported by most here.

Enjoy

 

Hopslam. Used to love it. Now......ugh.

 

Great Lakes

Didn't care for:

Dortmunder Gold
Eliot Ness
Commodor Perry
Edmund Fitzgerald
Rye of the Tiger

Loved these which made the 180:

Chillwave
Lake Erie Monster
Nosferatu
Blackout Stout

Never give up.

 

It's not about small or large, it's about business practices. ABI's are anti-choice, arrogant, nearly illegal, and frustrating. Sierra and Lagunitas' are not. Heineken is a family business with a decent reputation as a business, despite the crappy beer and annoying marketing.

As far as beer vs. food vs. electronics, the answer is primarily because as big craft beer fans, we care about our hobby and its values far more than other industries. There's also lots of options out there (like food, but unlike smartphones).

Finally, a lot of us that bemoan big beer also try our best to support local, to support real food, to support other types of crafts and companies we believe are doing the right thing. I'm not perfect on it, but I think about it and like to think I am pretty consistent.