Collaboration Brews - do they ever meet your expectations?

Pretty much sums up my view. Most collaborations are disappointing, especially considering the price most of them go for. Most are decent though. Some are poor, I have to wonder if many of them even get a pilot batch brewed.

 

My favorite hands down is the Clown Shoes/ Brash Pimp- I'm not typically a fan of browns but this "double double brown" is fantastic. Other favorites of mine are Nogne O/ Terrapin Imperial Rye Porter, Mikkeler/FFF Boogoop, Jailhouse/ O'Dempsey's Community Service and a very local (aka unknown): Burnt Hickory/ Anderson Brothers Governors Pike Carrot Cake Dubbel (SO delicious!)

My only drain pour collaboration was a soured bottle of Jerome & Spikes Barley Ryne 2010. But for my tastes I also wasn't a fan of SN/DFH Life & Limb and Founders/ Green Flash Lynchpin.

 

I was pretty impressed with the recent Stingo by Boulevard/Pretty Things.

 

Yes. When I'm back visiting Minnesota next month I plan on getting a few more.

 

These 2 are my personal favorites:

Troegs/Fat Heads - Fat scratch fever
Three Floyds/Mikkeller - Boogoop

 

SheWolf and Risgoop were two recent ones I enjoyed...

 

Cigar city and funky Buddha's snack attack was better than expected.. And if you know those two breweries you know they make good stuff.

 

Yes they do, but i don't expect the second coming of Westy 12[/B][/SIZE]

 

I hardcore you by Mikkeller and Brewdog was pretty solid.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed New Belgium/Alpine Super India Pale Ale.

I actually don't really care for Saison du Buff.

 

Conflux 1 is very tasty. Would Ken and Fritz 30th Stout count? also very solid.

 

I don't have higher expectations per say of a collab brew, but I fail to see the point of generic dime-a-dozen collab brews that you see so often. Usually it's IPAs, dubbels or boring imperial stouts that the world can go without.

I'd prefer these visits to be seen as a chance to get together and develop a crazy-ass recipe that will only be sold once if people hate it and could be expanded or improved upon if consumer response is good.

 

Ditto, those were both great.

All the Three Floyds collabos I have had are great, but alot of other ones are letdowns. It's like when two musicians collaborate, they both compromise their vision and technique to match the other's and the result isn't as good as either.