Changing Tastes: Hopslam & Nugget Nectar

Actually, I have pics of my NN in a glass from the past 5 years. Sure looks/tastes different to me. Not hard to find across the line in PA now..MD is coming. I'm with you on the overpriced Hypeslam though. Not worth any more than $12.99 NN.

 

Next generation of beers has eclipsed these beers.

 

For me a $20.00 six pack would be hard to swallow.

 

Ok --taste preferences and trends change but I still enjoy these annual treats once a year.

And if an extra 0.75 to a dollar a can for 6 beers once a year is a deal breaker then I'm not sure what to tell you.

 

20$ to much for a six?
What did those run ya? Suspect a good $16+

 

If only there was some objective way to prove that these beers DO change from year to year.....

But I agree that our tastes probably change more.

 

Tastes change, for sure. And "palate burnout" can come into play as well (although that can also be a factor in one's changing tastes).
But don't discount the fact that from year to year, there are variables in the raw material used to make the beers. Often, it's more established, better trained, and more experienced brewers who are better equipped and more skilled at rolling with those variables and making adjustments to compensate.
I know that there will be some here that will disagree with the following statement, but I'll say it anyway: good (or even great) beer is actually relatively easy to produce...doing so with consistency and dependable predictability is much more difficult.

 

NN used to be a beer I loved.......last two years I did not buy it as every year I was less impressed. I tried a bottle this year and I am happy I did not buy it. At the $50 a case I cant even think about buying this beer.

Taste changes ,sure. I think that beers get passed by new beers. I remember when 60 minute came out how amazing I thought it was. Today I dont even think about buying it as its not really anything great.

Many beers catch the hype train and to me most are not worth the effort so I do not hunt beer nor do I care if I get them. HS is so elusive around here that I have not had one in 3-4 years and I am ok with that. For the price I can get better local beers with no effort.



Enjoy

 

Good luck with that. A non 16oz pint around here is $8 and many are 10-12oz pours for that price.

Enjoy

 

Pisses me off.....$5 for a 12oz can of Hopslam near me.....frustrating......

 

They charge that much simply because they can charge that much.
One hing I've learned over the years is that a higher price doesn't always mean the quality of the product is uperior (especially in the world of craft beer in recent years).

 

I was all for your post until this claim. Beers do change when they're released once a year. You're telling me every single crop used in the mash is the same year to year? Same quality, same quantity, same farmer, same soil, same weather pattern, etc.? That no new water treatment plants are put in effecting the brewery? That a different brewer made last year's batch of Hopslam vs. this year's? That they didn't reformulate a piece of the recipe?

I do agree with the majority of your post though. I don't chase beers. If I can find someone to trade me for a rare release, great, otherwise I drink what's around me. There are certainly plenty and plenty of options to stay sipping something good without chasing trucks. That said, I do find it quite nice to return to a familiar, annual-release beer as well. Hopslam is the beer I credit for getting me into DIPAs. Before I accidentally picked up a six pack of Hopslam (seriously), I hadn't had a DIPA I remotely enjoyed. Boy how things changed. Fortunately, I frequent one shop and they know me quite well so they'll hold just about one of everything if I ask them. A 6 pack of Hopslam is enough for the year. In fact, I found myself putting a few cans in trades as extras last year. I do look forward to seeing how Hopslam or Sump or Abyss or Founder's Imperial Stout or KBS change from year to year. From a guy where 98% of my beers annually are new-to-me, it's quite nice having something familiar once a year.

Plus, I do enjoy supporting some breweries. There are a few things I'll buy from Founder's and Bell's each year, both because I enjoy them quite a lot, and because I want them to keep coming back. I understand supporting local, but the craft breweries that do so much for us like NB, Lagunitas, Bell's, Founder's, O'Dell's, etc. need support too.

 

All of Bell's beers are pretty overpriced in general...even Two Hearted, as delicious as it is. You usually can find a good alternative for much less $$$. Just my personal opinion.

 

You are correct. While that being said, I will still buy Nugget Nectar because I like it. Yet, with these Neo brewing techniques coming along, the staples of the past are being shadowed by the new hotness. It happens in every aspect of life..(Trends, Rareness and all that jazz).

 

Troegs Nugget Nectar is phenomenal this year. Thought you should all know.

 

I paid $45 for 24 16oz cans of Bells best last fall. Pretty nice price. I think smitten and Oberon are the same price. Porter and base stouts are around 40 for bottles.

Get into Java stout and cherry stout I say $60-$70 a case is too much. Expedition I wil buy a six of. I do pass over Bells a lot due to price but some of their beers are ok priced and they are good.

Enjoy

 

That is a good price. Don't think anyone will argue with you there

 

I get more excited about enjoy by lately (when it's actually the normal variant)